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The Gift of Understanding
If you look in Webster's Dictionary, you will find
that understanding also means to stand under. Jesus understood the Will
of the Father because He stood under and submitted to that Will. In so
doing, we have His glorious resurrection on the third day, a resurrection
we are called to share; however, we too can only share in that resurrection
if we totally submit ourselves to the Will of God. In order to understand
God's Will for us, we must be willing to submit as Jesus did to that power
of those in authority, in church, at work, in our homes, in the classroom
or wherever we find ourselves in service.
Jesus underscored this when He said, "The greatest among you will be the
one who serves the rest. " Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but
whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." Matthew 24 vs. 11 & 12. There
is a tremendous hope for the future if we will step out of ourselves.
This means we must stop focusing on our faults and shortcomings and the
faults and shortcomings of others. We must look for the good in ourselves
and the good in our brothers and sisters. After all, we are all made in
the image and likeness of God and we are in communion through and by His
Spirit. It is therefore surprising how many people continually deride
themselves to be hopeless failures. They continually deride themselves
mentally and therefore also tend to look for the failures and faults of
other people. These people need to be kinder to themselves because God
doesn't make junk. He made you and He made me, therefore, our understanding
should be such that we realize that God lives in us and through Him and
with Him and in Him all things can be accomplished.
 Someone
once stated, "if you seek greatness, to your own self be true." This means
of course that you must come to an understanding of yourself. You must
know what your strengths and weaknesses are. This means you build with
your strengths and in developing your God-given gifts you seek the support
you need in your weakness, as no man is an island unto himself.
If you are asked to take part in some project and you lack the confidence
to begin, you would do well to remember that little saying, ' he started
to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn't be done and he did it.'
Work at whatever you are given to do, giving it your best effort. Work
as though everything depended on you and pray as though everything depended
on God. The prayer of St. Francis quoted in last month's Newsletter on
the Gift of Speaking would certainly be an excellent place to start. On
the other hand, if a word of truth is to be spoken and you feel inadequate,
remember that the Spirit of God is within you and everything is possible
through Him. Remember also that His love is perfect and His love overcomes
and casts out all fear.
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