God's discipline: A cause for joy

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  James Carrano

It says in Isaiah, "I know their works and their thoughts," and if that is what God is going by, I am in trouble!

Am I going to be able to stand up to the test? Am I courageous enough? Strong enough? Holy enough?

I am afraid that I do not measure up. I feel inferior to those who have come before me.

Who am I? Jesus talks about the narrow gate in Luke 13. When I look at how I have responded to trials and discipline, I see that my efforts have been mediocre at best. I believe that the mercy of God is great but . . . It is going to have to be a pretty wide gate for the likes of me.

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Aug. 22, 2004) Is 66:18-21 Ps 117:1, 2 Heb 12:5-7, 11-13 Lk 13:22-30

There must be some way for me to get there. We dig into the scriptures for this week and come to Hebrews 12. This brings a little light to my situation and I hope to yours if you feel that you are in the same boat as I.

In Hebrews it says "for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines." Now this statement causes me to smile. I know I have been disciplined, so I guess that the Lord loves me!

The Lord wants what is best for us and if discipline is part of the package for me to be with Him in heaven, I will take it! I haven't always responded without losing heart but just knowing this gives me a greater desire to work harder at how I respond to the trials and disciplines in my life.

The next part in Hebrews is definitely my favorite part of this section, "at the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed."

I realize that I just need to pull myself together and stick it out through whatever hardship may present itself. So, how do I actually make this happen in my life?

I have noticed that just deciding that I am going to get better at this in the future is not enough to make it happen. Most of us require some concerted effort to learn the virtue of perseverance.

Habits we can establish and attempt to stick to but dealing with trials is for most of us reactionary. Yet if habits are formed and advancements in character established, then we may just be able to change these not so good reactions.

I am no expert but I am trying to establish what I think are good character building habits. I have three that I try to stick to every day.

I have modeled them after the Trinity. They consist of prayer, Scripture, and Mass.

	Reflection questions • What habits are established in my everyday life that would warrant an invitation to see God's glory? • Are there any areas in my life where I could do or give more that would help me along this journey?

Within these I have been able to hear God's advice in how I should walk the path through His Scripture, I have asked for help and guidance and prepared myself for future trials, and at Mass I commune with Him when I receive the Eucharist and pray that my will unites with His a little more each and every time that I receive Him.

Is it easy? No. But it's good. And I hope because of these habits that some day I will be invited to come and see His full glory.

James Carrano is a member of and director of liturgical ministries at St. Paul University Catholic Center on the UW-Madison campus.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

Faith Alive!

Faith Alive! is published bi-weekly during the summer. The next Faith Alive! will appear in the August 26 issue of the Catholic Herald.