Word of LifeWord of Life

August 2011August 2011

““See, I have come to do your will"" (Heb 10: 9)

““See, I have come to do your will"" (Heb 10: 9)

These words are taken from a verse of Psalm 40. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews puts them on

the lips of the Son of God in his conversation with the Father.

These words are taken from a verse of Psalm 40. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews puts them on

the lips of the Son of God in his conversation with the Father.

The writer wishes to emphasize the Son of God’s love in becoming man and doing the work of

redemption in obedience to the Father’s will.

.

The writer wishes to emphasize the Son of God’s love in becoming man and doing the work of

redemption in obedience to the Father’s will.

.

The words come from a passage where the writer wants to show how Jesus’ sacrifice is infinitely

superior to the sacrifices of the old Law.

The words come from a passage where the writer wants to show how Jesus’ sacrifice is infinitely

superior to the sacrifices of the old Law.

In these sacrifices

God was offered

animals or some

other thing external

to the human being.

But what

Jesus did during

his earthly life,

urged on by his

immense love,

was to offer to the

Father his own will,

all of himself.

In these sacrifices

God was offered

animals or some

other thing external

to the human being.

But what

Jesus did during

his earthly life,

urged on by his

immense love,

was to offer to the

Father his own will,

all of himself.

““See, I have come to do your will"" ““See, I have come to do your will""

These words offer us the key to understanding Jesus’ life. They help us grasp its deepest feature and the

golden thread that runs through all its stages:

These words offer us the key to understanding Jesus’ life. They help us grasp its deepest feature and the

golden thread that runs through all its stages:

his childhood,

his hidden life

at Nazareth,

the

temptations,

his choices,

his public

activity, right

up to his death

on the cross. .

his childhood,

his hidden life

at Nazareth,

the

temptations,

his choices,

his public

activity, right

up to his death

on the cross. .

In every instance, in every situation, Jesus sought only one thing: to do the will of the Father. And he

did it in a radical way, that is, he never did anything outside it, refusing even the most attractive

propositions that were not in full agreement with it.

In every instance, in every situation, Jesus sought only one thing: to do the will of the Father. And he

did it in a radical way, that is, he never did anything outside it, refusing even the most attractive

propositions that were not in full agreement with it.

““See, I have come to do your will""““See, I have come to do your will""

These words help us understand the great lesson behind the whole of Jesus' life.

These words help us understand the great lesson behind the whole of Jesus' life.

That is, that the most important thing is not to do our own will but the will of the Father – to become

capable of saying ‘no’ to ourselves so as to say ‘yes’ to Him.

That is, that the most important thing is not to do our own will but the will of the Father – to become

capable of saying ‘no’ to ourselves so as to say ‘yes’ to Him.

True love for God does not consist

in beautiful words, ideas and feelings, but in

effective obedience to his commandments. The sacrifice of

praise he looks for is our loving

offering to him of the most intimate thing we have,

the thing most truly our own: our

will. 

True love for God does not consist

in beautiful words, ideas and feelings, but in

effective obedience to his commandments. The sacrifice of

praise he looks for is our loving

offering to him of the most intimate thing we have,

the thing most truly our own: our

will. 

““See, I have come to do your will""““See, I have come to do your will""

How can we live this month’s Word of Life? How can we live this month’s Word of Life?

It is another of those Words that most put into light how the Gospel goes against the current of the world. It contrasts with our most deeply-rooted

tendency: to seek our own will, to follow our instincts and feelings.

It is another of those Words that most put into light how the Gospel goes against the current of the world. It contrasts with our most deeply-rooted

tendency: to seek our own will, to follow our instincts and feelings.

This Word is also one that goes most strongly against the grain for people of our times.

This Word is also one that goes most strongly against the grain for people of our times.

We live in an age that exalts the ego and promotes self-sufficiency, freedom as an aim in itself, self-gratification as

the fulfilment of the person, pleasure as the guide for making personal choices and as the secret of happiness.

We live in an age that exalts the ego and promotes self-sufficiency, freedom as an aim in itself, self-gratification as

the fulfilment of the person, pleasure as the guide for making personal choices and as the secret of happiness.

But we all know the disastrous results that come from pursuing such a culture.

.

But we all know the disastrous results that come from pursuing such a culture.

.

This culture, based on seeking our own will, stands in opposition to Jesus’ approach to life, which is

totally directed towards doing the will of the Father, producing the wonderful effects he promises.

This culture, based on seeking our own will, stands in opposition to Jesus’ approach to life, which is

totally directed towards doing the will of the Father, producing the wonderful effects he promises.

So let’s try to live this Word of Life by choosing the will of the Father, making it the touchstone and

guiding force of our whole life, as Jesus did.

So let’s try to live this Word of Life by choosing the will of the Father, making it the touchstone and

guiding force of our whole life, as Jesus did.

We will thus set out on a divine adventure that will make us eternally grateful to God. Through it we will become saints and spread the love of God to

many hearts.

We will thus set out on a divine adventure that will make us eternally grateful to God. Through it we will become saints and spread the love of God to

many hearts.

“Word of Life”, monthly publication of the Focolare Movement.

Original text by: Chiara Lubich, December 1991.

Graphic design by Anna Lollo in collaboration with Fr. Placido D’Omina (Sicily - Italy)

This commentary on the Word of Life is translated in 96 languages,

and it reaches millions of people throughout the world through the press, radio, TV

and internet – for more information visit www.focolare.org.uk

This Powerpoint presentation is translated in various languages

and is published on www.santuariosancalogero.org

“Word of Life”, monthly publication of the Focolare Movement.

Original text by: Chiara Lubich, December 1991.

Graphic design by Anna Lollo in collaboration with Fr. Placido D’Omina (Sicily - Italy)

This commentary on the Word of Life is translated in 96 languages,

and it reaches millions of people throughout the world through the press, radio, TV

and internet – for more information visit www.focolare.org.uk

This Powerpoint presentation is translated in various languages

and is published on www.santuariosancalogero.org

““See, I have come See, I have come

to doto do

Your will“.Your will“.

““See, I have come See, I have come

to doto do

Your will“.Your will“.