God leads and lives for all

The course of our journey in life takes is necessarily an important part of our planning. We are also aware that life happens around us and the events which “happen” shape and change the journey we live.Friar Jude Winkler presents two ideas for our consideration. The Muslim phrase “In sha' Allah”, if God wills, invokes ideas of pre determinism which, in its most severe form argues that every decision we make has been pre determined by God. The other image from Friar Jude is the invitation of Jesus to take up His yoke and be partner with Him in the journey. Our working with Jesus will guide our every move in a straight path which will see our lives moving in harmony with the Will of God. Our human nature is identified by the psalmist as being easily diverted to concerns for our wealth, power and prestige. These are directions in our journey where we have chosen to stop cooperating with Jesus and we no longer plow a straight furrow. Thankfully we often encounter stones and obstacles as we make our own path and we are through the action of the Holy Spirit enabled to see the opportunity to rejoin Jesus in the path where the burden is light as we move again according to the Will of God. The difficulty of Maureen McCann Waldron of Creighton University to give over control and trust Jesus in matters of marriage, career, relationships and outreach to others is experienced by many who journey with Jesus. The Gospel from Mark today reminds us that those who seek the truth and practice the love and forgiveness modeled by Jesus may not be of our sect or denomination or religion. Our tendency may be to be suspicious or to try to react in defense of our prestige, power or privilege rather than to see like Gregory of Nyssa, a fourth century Church father that the goodness of the Godhead is poured out on all. In a practical recognition of this mysterious truth, Abu Daoud writes a blog which works with Christian and Islamic viewpoints to look for the Will of God in action in all people.