In tune with God's will - Saturday, March 19th

Readings of the Day

Gospel: Matthew 1: 16, 18-21, 24a
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

• decide: to make a final choice or judgment about; to select as a course of action; to infer on the basis of evidence (conclude).
• What criteria do I use to discern God's will?  Do I use the intelligence He has given me to cooperate in a process of discernment?  Or do I wait for "an angel" to come?  Once I have made a decision, am I open to God changing my course of action through "angels" or other circumstances?
• intention: a determination to act in a certain way; resolve; an instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.
• Do I purify my intention often?  By this, do I offer my decisions and actions to God, asking for His help and reaffirming my desire to do His will over mine?  Is my determination to fulfill His plan for my life over and above what I think I'm called to?
• do (did): to bring to pass; carry out; execute or bring about; to perform an act, duty, role, etc.
• Once I see clearly God's will - whether it is in line with what I decided or not - how immediately do I carry it out?  How joyfully and serenely do I perform my duties, especially when they are contrary to what I'm "comfortable" with, or to what seems reasonable to me?  What have been the fruits when I followed God's will, even when it didn't make sense in that moment?

Definitions from http://www.merriman-webster.com/ and http://www.dictionary.com/.