Doing God’s Will

I confess and affirm now and always, that your most holy will contains all good and all the most sublime perfection … [Hence] may your most holy and most plain will especially in the unfavorable things, be my paradise. (OOCC, X, pp. 377, 379; STA, 437)

St. Vincent Pallotti always wanted to accomplish in his life the most holy will of God. For the holy will of God contained all good and the most sublime perfection. But finding the will of God was not an easy job. It always involved the difficult tasks of seeking, discerning, choosing and doing what God wants of us in a given situation. Jesus had to make such a choice when he was twelve years old. He had gone along with his parents to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. But without the knowledge and permission of his parents, he decided to stay at the temple, probably along with some of his friends who were already studying the Jewish law in Jerusalem. He might have nurtured a desire to stay and study in Jerusalem. His parents came searching for him. When they found him, they expressed their desire that he go home with them to Nazareth. Jesus said ‘yes’ to them, knowing that this was what his Father had wanted of him then. Doing God’s will that came through his parents made Jesus advance in wisdom, which made him acceptable before God and the people. Like Jesus, St. Vincent Pallotti constantly sought and did the will of God, even in the most unfavorable situations. He felt that doing the will of the Father was his paradise.

Do I seek, discern, choose and do what God wants of me? Am I ready to do the will of God both in favorable and unfavorable situations ? Do I imitate the spirit that guided Jesus and St. Vincent Pallotti in accomplishing the plan of the Father?

He [Jesus] went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them … And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man. (Lk. 2: 51-52)