On 1st June 2008 I was at the Sunday Mass in my parish church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Dwarka, New Delhi. While listening to the Gospel reading I felt as if the Lord was speaking to me in person. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you: go away from me, you evil-doers.’ (Mt 7:21-23).

This scripture passage struck me forcefully. I felt the Word was alive and active and was addressing real life situations, in and around me; gently but severely. In fact, I sensed that the text was a warning, not just a word of caution, to some of us who use gifts and charisms in our ministry – that on Judgement Day, we might hear the Lord say, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evil-doers.”

Is there anything wrong in calling “Lord, Lord”? Doesn’t the Word of God ask us to prophesy, cast out demons and do mighty works in the Lord’s name? Then what does Jesus want to convey to us through this passage? Dear friends, we could be prophesying, casting out demons and working miracles in the Lord’s name, but at the same time doing it all for self-glory and extraneous considerations. What makes deeds carried out in the power of God to be branded as ‘evil’?

The proof of love is obedience

There is only one proof of love – that proof is obedience. There is no point in saying that we love a person, and then doing things that break the heart of that person. If we love Jesus, He becomes the centre of our life and deeds. The ones who love Jesus will do everything in His honour and not for themselves. “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves.. and follow me” (Luke 9.23). We become “evil-doers” when instead of denying ourselves, we become egocentric – put love of self at the centre of our activities – and at the same time claim to ‘follow Jesus closely.’

It is said of Blessed Stephanie of Soncino, a Dominican nun, that she was one day carried in spirit to Heaven to see the happiness of the saints. She saw their souls mingling with the choirs of angels according to each one’s degree of merit, and noticed among the Seraphim several persons she had known before their deaths. When asked why these souls were raised to such a high degree of glory, she was told that it was because of the conformity and perfect union of their will with God’s, while they lived on the earth. If conformity to the will of God raises souls to the highest degree of glory in heaven, to be among the Seraphim, will it not definitely raise them on earth to the highest degree of grace and perfection? St Alphonsus de Liguori says in his book, Uniformity with God’s Will: “Perfection is founded entirely on the love of God; Charity is the bond of perfection. And perfect love of God means the complete union of our will with God’s.” Illustrating it further, the saint gives the example: “A man had two servants. One works unremittingly all day long – but according to his own devices; the other conceivably, works less, but he does do what he is told. The latter of course, is going to find favour in the eyes of his master; the other will not.”

Teach me to do your will

No matter how much we may sweat and toil, that will not become pleasing to God unless it is in conformity with the will of God. Jesus himself taught us to pray in order that we may do the will of God on earth as the saints do it in heaven.: “Thy will be done earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt 6:10). Our Lord bade St Catherine of Genoa to make a notable pause at these words whenever she said the Our Father, praying that God’s holy will be fulfilled on earth with the same perfection with which the saints do it in heaven. David asked God for one thing alone – to teach him to do His will, saying “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God” (Ps 143: 10). This submission and conformity in all things to God’s will gained for David the honour of being called “a man after His heart”; “I have found”, He says, “David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart who will do all that I desire.”

The sole purpose of Jesus’ life was to do the Father’s will

Today’s world has put self-love, self-will, self-realization, etc.. etc… at the centre of our thoughts and actions. However, as disciples of Jesus, our thoughts and actions should conform to that of Jesus: “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.” (Jn 5:19). His very sustenance, what gave Him life, was doing the Father’s will: “my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (Jn 4.34). “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me” (Jn 6.38). What humility! What obedience! What submission to the will of His Father! The sole purpose for which Jesus lived and died was to do the Father’s will because “the Father loves the Son” (Jn 5.20). Is such self-abnegation possible for us? Nothing matters other than surrendering of our life to the will of God. St Paul exhorts us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12.2). However, discerning the will of God in a given situation is not an easy task. In his book, “What does God Want? A Practical Guide to Make Decisions”, Fr Michael Scanlan has proposed the following five tests for helping us to discern God’s Will.

1. The Conformity Test. The first test is to compare our proposed decision or action to the will of God for His people as revealed in Scripture, Tradition and the authoritative teachings of the Church. To undergo this test, it is helpful reading relevant sections from the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church etc. One may also consult one’s Spiritual Director if there is any question about what the Bible or Church teaches, on the matter. Anything that is not in conformity with God’s law and the teaching of the Church should be rejected as something not from God.

2. The Conversion Test. Our decisions and actions should actually bring us closer to God. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thes 4.3). This test is to see if the proposed decision or action will draw us into a closer union with God or lead us away from Him. Conversion is the process of becoming holier through the decisions and actions of our life. The Conversion Test is especially important when the choice that we make involves more money, fame or power.

3. The Consistency Test. The third test is to see if the decision or action is consistent with the way God has spoken to me or dealt with me in the past. God often reveals His plans for us in a phased manner. Over here one has to examine and see if the current guidance is part of a larger plan of God that has been communicated to me in a way that I have seen before, such as while reading Scripture, praying or talking with a friend.

4. The Confirmation Test. Circumstances will often confirm or deny the validity of the proposition, such as opening or closing of doors, resources becoming or not becoming available, support of other faithful Christians coming forth or otherwise, or possibilities turning into solid realities or fading away. In certain cases the confirmation may come by way of fruits that the decision or actions bring in our lives, such as inner peace and joy. We should also keep the eyes of faith open to confirmations received through extraordinary signs and startling coincidences.

5. The Conviction Test. The final test is to see if I have an inner conviction that this course of action is indeed the right one. The first four tests emphasize the making up of the mind. Conviction is the test of the heart. We need to distinguish between peace in the heart and conclusion of the mind. Both should be present in any major decision.

When prayerfully applied in a spirit of submission to the Lord and openness to the Holy Spirit, this five step-method can be of invaluable help to us, in discerning God’s will in any given situation. St Ignatius of Loyola, who is regarded as a special authority on the subject of discernment, stressed the importance of deep down peace in discernment. If we are wondering whether or not God wants us to follow a certain course of action, we should pray seriously about it and then see if we experience a deep inner peace while reflecting on that course of action. This deep inner peace should be seen as God’s confirmation.

Copyright Cyril John reprinted from Charisindia July 2008 and printed with permission.