The Power of Faith

In today's first reading, Jeremiah 11: 18-20, the prophet tells us that he knew about the plot against him "because the Lord had informed" him. And  yet, he says, "I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me: 'Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more.'" 

I was reminded of the efforts being made, especially by leaders in our country today, to plot out the names and good works of persons who have gone before them. What prompts us to want to erase another's good name or good works? If we personally are doing so, we need to take notice and examine our motivations.  That being said, we know, from the Scriptures, that the scribes and Pharisees and the leaders of the people in Israel attempted to do just that concerning Jesus,  but Jesus' works and message continues to touch people deeply to this very day!  Jesus continues to transform us into the persons God desires us to be. No one attempting to destroy His message or presence will be able to do so. Good will always triumph over evil. It did in Jesus' day and it will happen in the world of today, as well!

I believe this! My belief strengthens me to strive to do good and to strive on a daily basis to bring my will into harmony with God's will! What is your belief and how does it impact your life?

Discernment: what is motivating me?

Part of discerning where a desire originates--is it from God or a force blocking us from doing God's will--is to examine what one's motivation is.  Am I being moved by pride or humility, selfishness or altruism? Do I want to look better than another person or show up the other person?   Am I trying to get ahead? Am I motivated by greed? by anger or revenge? Or do I truly want to be doing what God wants of me as revealed to me in the Gospels? Do I truly want to be serving the Lord and to be of service to others as Jesus was? Am I acting out of love--love for God, love for others, truly loving myself and thus choosing what is best for me (what God is asking of me, choosing life, not death)? In short,how pure is my desire?

Source: Discernment of Spirits by Warren Sazama, SJ, National Religious Vocation Conference, Chicago, IL 60615.