Men's Rosary

Our actions are important. The outcome of many things is dependent on our actions and the actions of others. We decide what we are going to do and when we are going to do it. We also decide why we will do a particular thing. The problem becomes the choice we make. Even when the reason is good the choice of action can be wrong. “There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12) We must not rely on ourselves or the promptings of the world to decide the right action but rely on God’s way and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Too many times, we can do the wrong things for all the right reasons. It is easy to fall into this trap. We keep things from others to spare their feelings when we should be truthful. We may not speak out against a wrong at work to not “make waves” or jeopardize our position when we should stand for justice even if the cost is great. Sometimes we may even refrain from speaking boldly about our Faith so as not to make people feel uncomfortable when we should always be sharing the Good News with others. We must do the “right things for the right reasons.” It will serve no purpose to assume we are prayerful and be doing things the wrong way – contrary to God’s way. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your own passions.” (James 4:3)

Our ways are never the right ways, our actions, never the right actions. Only God’s ways are the right ways, his actions the correct actions. We are not in charge; we must reject pride and listen to God. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) It is our responsibility to discover what God wants of and for us and to act accordingly. There must be a paradigm shift from deciding to discerning. This will be the path of living according to God’s will and becoming the person he meant us to be. Answering this call will make us more effective in every aspect of life; as husband, father, son, brother, friend, servant of the Church, employee, employer, the list goes on and on! “When we are whom we are called to be, we will set the world ablaze.” (St. Catherine of Siena)

When we go to Mass, are we going to encounter the risen Lord, or because it is what we are supposed to do? When we pray, do we put ourselves in God’s presence and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, or do we give God a to-do list of what we think we need? I think of the Agony in the Garden. Christ asked for himself to be spared but only if it was the Father’s will. He came to prayer with his needs but, more importantly, to discern the Father’s will. He then acted accordingly. The way to act in the right way in all circumstances is to allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit. Letting go of the guidance of the world and our own pride and yielding to God, will ensure right action. Putting the future in God’s hands and refraining from having plans and expectations of how things should be will lead us to where we are supposed to be and where we are supposed to serve. It will enable us to live a Godly life. We will act according to God’s will.

“Lay all your cares about the future trustingly in God’s hands and let yourself be guided by the Lord just like a little child.”  – St. Edith Stine