Obedience to the will of God is following the path of holiness and peace. In His will is our peace. We must, therefore, submit ourselves to the will of God. This will not be easy, but that is the only way to true happiness and fulfillment. Augustine rightly asserts, “You have made us for yourself and our hearts is restless, until they rest in you.’’ The will of God often comes with challenges and difficulties that sometimes seem insurmountable, but we must trust still and obey.
Pope Benedict XVI has this to say: If you follow the will of God, you know that, in spite of all the terrible things that happen to you, you will never lose a final refuge. You know that the foundation of the world is love, so that even when no human can or will help you, you may go on, trusting in the One who loves you. For he who believes is never alone. Let us express our submission to God’s will through penance and contrition. Every act of sin is a rejection of the love of God and His will for us. Let us enter into ourselves, therefore, and uproot ruthlessly from our hearts, every affection, great and small, for things or creature that affect our relationship with God.
Let us take full advantage of this season which is gradually winding down to embrace radical conversion and a total change of heart. God’s will for now, as always, is that we draw closer to Him, by rejecting Satan and all his evil machinations. Let us return to the Lord, our God, for “He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in kindness’’ (Joel 2: 12-13). Let us, equally, resist the temptation of the self-righteous man who “so flatters himself that he knows not his guilt’’ (Ps. 36:2). Remember the prayer of the Psalmist, “A humble contrite heart, O Lord, you will not spurn.’’
Doing the will of God makes us a part of Jesus’ family; it makes us a mother, a father, a brother and a sister of Jesus in line with His words, ‘’My brother and a sister and mother are those who do the will of my Father in heaven’’ (Matt 12:50). Mary was obviously the first to fulfill this injunction. Let us turn to Mary whose faith (Lk 1: 38) exemplifies obedience of faith and total surrender to God’s will, that she may teach us to respond to God’s call and fulfill His will.
With Mary at the foot of the cross, may we offer ourselves, whole and entire during this Lenten season that God make us over and raise with Christ at Easter. May God accept our offerings, hear our prayers and grant our petitions, if they be in accordance with His will. I wish you all a fruitful and spirit-filled Lenten season. Peace be with you all.
• Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos.
