hear his voice."
Knowing God's will is hard enough; discernment is a gift from God. But even if we are
Knowing God's will is hard enough; discernment is a gift from God. But even if we are
gifted enough to be able
to discern God 's will,
how do we get the courage and
conviction to actually do His will?
In Sunday's first reading Ezekiel is enjoined
by the Lord to warn the wicked among
the house of Israel and try to turn them from
their ways. (Ezekiel 33: 7-9)
In the Gospel, too, Jesus instructs the disciples
how to deal with a brother who sins against
a disciple. (Matthew 18: 15-17)
Doing the will of God must have been difficult
even for the prophet Ezekiel.
How much more so is the will of God
a challenge for ordinary people like us?
Even the disciples must have been in awe
of what Jesus was commanding them to do.
Our spiritual history is full of occasions
where the faithful were known to have
hardened their hearts and refused to listen
to God's voice, though they had seen
His works, as our psalmist mentions.
But after all, He is our God, as the Psalm says,
and we are the people He shepherds.
Our job is to kneel before the Lord who
made us and to carry out His will the best
we can. And if we are careful to listen to
His voice, He will empower us to do His will,
just as Jesus empowered the disciples
to rise up to the challenge of the Great
Commission and to become ordinary men
performing extraordinary deeds.
Amen
1. Our psalmist encourages us not to harden our hearts if we hear God's voice. Do you find it difficult sometimes to carry out God's will in your life even if you believe He is speaking to you? Give an example.
2. The Psalm reminds us that we are like sheep and the Lord is our shepherd. Are you willing to be just an ordinary sheep among His flock? If so, what does it mean to you to be shepherded by the Lord?
conviction to actually do His will?
In Sunday's first reading Ezekiel is enjoined
by the Lord to warn the wicked among
the house of Israel and try to turn them from
their ways. (Ezekiel 33: 7-9)
In the Gospel, too, Jesus instructs the disciples
how to deal with a brother who sins against
a disciple. (Matthew 18: 15-17)
Doing the will of God must have been difficult
even for the prophet Ezekiel.
How much more so is the will of God
a challenge for ordinary people like us?
Even the disciples must have been in awe
of what Jesus was commanding them to do.
Our spiritual history is full of occasions
where the faithful were known to have
hardened their hearts and refused to listen
to God's voice, though they had seen
His works, as our psalmist mentions.
But after all, He is our God, as the Psalm says,
and we are the people He shepherds.
Our job is to kneel before the Lord who
made us and to carry out His will the best
we can. And if we are careful to listen to
His voice, He will empower us to do His will,
just as Jesus empowered the disciples
to rise up to the challenge of the Great
Commission and to become ordinary men
performing extraordinary deeds.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist encourages us not to harden our hearts if we hear God's voice. Do you find it difficult sometimes to carry out God's will in your life even if you believe He is speaking to you? Give an example.
2. The Psalm reminds us that we are like sheep and the Lord is our shepherd. Are you willing to be just an ordinary sheep among His flock? If so, what does it mean to you to be shepherded by the Lord?
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