Last Sunday Fr. Mitchell’s summon ended with a thought that changed my way of thinking. He said that when we do God’s will, we delight Him and that gives us peace.
By now you know that I analyze thoughts and ideas to a great degree. My normal motive for doing God’s will is to not offend Him because I love Him. Knowing that He loves me more than I can understand makes it easier because I know that He will bless me and help me …He simply knows what is best for me. The pain of sinning (hurting Him) is also very real and a great deterrent.
But to make Him happy never occurred to me. I thought about how when I was in San Jose doing things for my mom. I did some of her chores when she went to the store. I wanted to surprise her and make her happy. I was happy that she did not have to do the chores. Her smile and the joy in her voice made me feel good.
I have never envisioned Jesus smiling at me, or the joy in His voice when I choose not to sin or when I do a good deed. Imagine with me, Jesus smiling at us right now.
It is a new dynamic and a new internal motivation. How can I make God happy?
Avoiding sin just got easier and the warmth that I feel when I do something good just got hotter. Trusting God is easier too. I think I am less stressed and a lot more at peace.
Who can free us from the body of sin and death? I thank God daily for his mercy and grace that brought salvation unto all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live godly, righteously and uncontaminated by the world, looking for the blessed hope of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ who redeemed us, washing us in his own blood, and cleansed us from all iniquity that he might prepare unto himself a peculiar people, zealous unto good works! God bless you Paul!
ReplyDeleteI used to know an artist who painted happy Jesuses. Most often, He is seen as sombre, philosophical, gentle, but in these oils He was laughing--sometimes with a great belly laugh. I think seeing Jesus as happy and happy with us is a great joy.
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