Doing God's Will

We are familiar with Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Be proactive. Begin with the end in mind. Put first things first. Think win-win. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Synergize. Sharpen the saw.

Let’s focus on two of these habits. Begin with the end in mind and put first things first. What is the end of your life? What is it that you must put at the top of your priorities?

Christ's aim was to glorify his heavenly Father. All he said and did gave glory to his Father. There is one word that expresses the totality of Christ's mission. Obedience. Obedience to his Father's will was his glory. "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work" (Jn 4:34). Jesus kept his Father's word even when tempted to forgo the cross. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death— his death on the cross (Phil. 2:8).

Jesus came into this world to set an example for us. He desires that we follow him in giving glory to his Father and that we may share his joy completely (Jn 17:13). For our sake, he consecrated himself, and it is his prayer that we “also may be consecrated in truth” (Jn 17:17).

The scriptural word for consecration comes from the same Hebrew word which means holy or set apart for God. This word also means to be equipped with the qualities of mind and heart and character for such a task or service. Just as Jesus was called by the Father to serve in holiness and truth, so we, too, are called and equipped for the task of serving God in the world as his ambassadors. Our mission in life, then, is to consecrate our lives to God. To offer our lives as a sacrifice that is pleasing to God. Is your life consecrated to God?

Jesus calls each one of us to a life of holiness, without exception – whoever we are, whatever station of life or health we are in, rich or poor, healthy or sick, young or old. Our mission is one and the same. To be with him, and through him, to be with his Father. "You and I belong to Christ's family, for he himself has chosen us before the foundation of the world, to be saints, to be blameless in his sight, for love of him, having predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his Will. We have been chosen gratuitously by Our Lord. His choice of us sets us a clear goal. Our goal is personal sanctity" (Escriva, Friends of God, 2).

The essential idea that Jesus wants to impress upon us is this: Our true happiness comes from God alone. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. We are in this world, but we are not of this world, meaning, nothing in this world can bring us true joy. One saint (St. Basil) said that we should not consider the rich man happy solely because of his riches, the powerful man because of his authority, the strong man because of his health or the learned man because of his great eloquence. All these can be instruments of virtue for those who use them rightly, but in themselves they do not hold the secret of happiness.

Happiness is found in our obedience to God. Jesus asks us to put him first in all our endeavors, to place him in the summit of all our activities. In eating, in drinking, do everything as for God's glory (1 Cor 10:32). "Don't let your life be barren. Be useful. Make yourself felt. Shine forth with the torch of your faith and your love," urges St. Josemaria Escriva (The Way, 1).

Obedience to His command. To love him, to serve him, and to make him known to others. "To be a Christian in the world doesn't mean isolating oneself — on the contrary! It means loving all mankind and burning with a desire to enkindle in everyone the fire of the love of God" (Escriva, The Forge, 375).

Obedience to His will. To make him an integral part of our daily activities, by fulfilling our duties at home and in our office, and by being more self-giving to others with our time and talents.

Obedience to His Church. To receive the sacraments, go to confession, hear Mass especially on Sunday. "Jesus is our model. Let us imitate him. Let us imitate him by serving the Holy Church and all mankind" (Escriva, The Forge, 138).

May the Blessed Mother, who by her “Fiat” showed her total obedience to the Will of God, help us and strengthen us in our efforts to pattern our lives closer to the life of her Son, Jesus Christ, whose glory is our aim and priority.