Not my will, but yours be done

by Father David Daly, LC | Source: Catholic.net

Luke 8:4-15

Introductory Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I believe that you came into this world to redeem sinners. I hope in you and in your power to transform my soul, by your grace, from sinfulness to holiness. Lord, I love you and offer you the longings of my heart to put you truly first in my life. I want to love you with all my mind, heart, soul and strength.

Petition:

Lord, grant me docility to your will for me.

1. Hard Ground:

We act like hard ground when we hear the inspirations of the Holy Spirit to do what is right, but let them pass as if they were no big deal. We let the devil take away the grace Jesus offers us, and it does not sink into our hearts. Many times superficiality and a lack of faith prevent us from reflecting and taking advantage of the lights that God gives us. We should pray to be more spiritual.

2. Rocky Ground:

How many of us hear the Word of God with joy and follow Christ in the peaceful times, but fall away in the times of trial? We need to let our spiritual roots grow deeper; we need to let the roots of God’s word grow more profoundly into our hearts. The best way to do this is by reading and meditating on the Gospel and solidifying this faith through the sacraments of confession and the Eucharist.

3. Thorny Ground:

The thorny ground represents those of us who are slowed down in our spiritual life by the anxieties, riches and pleasures of life. When the ground of our hearts is thorny, we fail to produce the mature fruit that Christ expects — and we live in the midst of so many thorns! In order to let God’s grace grow in us, we have to sacrifice our own comfort and pleasure, because apart from the cross there is no growth in personal holiness.

Conversation with Christ:

Lord Jesus, treat me like dirt … but like good dirt.
I don’t want to place thorns or rocks or hardness of
heart in the way of your word. I want to be fertile
soil for your word, so that you can use me as an
instrument to save souls and glorify you.

Resolution:

I’ll pray these words many times today: “Not my will, but yours be done.”

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