The Prophet Ezekiel reminds us today that we often cannot see and hear the Truth even though we have eyes and ears. We tend to want to look at things through the perspective of the world, or perhaps through the perspective of our own pride, as opposed to looking at things through the perspective of God. We tend to fall into the secular worldview as opposed to staying steadfastly in the sacramental worldview.
In his monthly challenge, Archbishop Lori urges us to pursue the mind of God. He said, “God is beyond human understanding, yet he has revealed himself to us most perfectly in the person of Jesus Christ. Through prayer we can come to know God more fully, and we grow in understanding of his plan when we make a habit of conforming our will to his holy will. We follow Christ in discipleship when we pray daily to the Father as he did: ‘Not my will but yours be done’”.
Today is also the feast day of Blessed Michael McGivney. Archbishop Lori invites us to study the Blessed Michael McGivney Cor Session Guide, noting in particular how Father McGivney always sought to align his will with that of God.
Archbishop follows that invitation with these questions: How can you strive to better understand things from God’s perspective? How can you discern when your thoughts are merely human thoughts and not of God? What virtues of Blessed Michael McGivney can you imitate in order to submit yourself more fully to God’s holy will?
Our Gospel reading calls Christians to live lives marked by forgiveness, mercy, reconciliation, and faithful love. Blessed Michael McGivney lived these teachings in concrete ways:
He forgave and welcomed sinners.
He showed mercy through pastoral care.
He promoted reconciliation with God through confession.
He protected the dignity of marriage and family.
He founded an organization built on charity, unity, fraternity, and faith.
Blessed Michael McGivney serves as an example of someone who not only preached Christ's teachings but organized an entire movement to put them into practice. He submitted himself to the holy will of God. He truly embraced and lived out the sacramental worldview. He lived an authentic Christian life.
We are called to do the same as we do not forget the works of the Lord!
Thanks be to God!
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