UNION OF OUR WILL WITH THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD
Nothing happens without God’s will, except sin. God’s will we call the absolute will and God’s permissive will.[1] No one can obstruct it and it is known only by its results. These events, when they occur, show us that God has willed and planned them.
1. Theotimus, let us reflect on everything that was, is, or even will be together, and be surprised and forced to cry out like the psalmist: Lord I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works: that I know very well... such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it (Ps 139: 14, 6).
From that we pass to the very holy gratification. We are delighted that God is so infinite in wisdom, power and goodness. They are the three divine attributes of which the universe is only a small sample, a showcase.
2. Think of the humans and angels and of the multifaceted natures, qualities, states, faculties, emotions, passions, graces and privileges which the supreme providence has established on the countless host of heavenly intelligent and human beings in whom God’s justice and mercy find so wonderful scope. We cannot but refrain from singing with joyful respect and a loving fear: I will sing of loyalty and of justice: to you, O Lord, I will sing (Ps 101:1).
Theotimus, we are to experience an extreme gratification as we observe God’s mercy at work in many graces bestowed upon angels and upon humans in heaven and on earth. This we see as his justice that is active in an unending variety of penalities and punishments. Because God’s justice and mercy have equal claim upon our love and are an equal source of wonder, both are unique kindness and divinity.
However, we find the working of God’s justice hard and distressing. He always tempers it with a mixture of mercy. He keeps the twig of olive under the flood of his anger where the devout soul is like a pure dove (Gen 8:11). We can find it at last if, however, such a soul is prepared for loving reflection, as is the way with the doves.[2] (Isa 38: 14; 59: 11). Thus death, afflictions, sickness, toil which fill our lives and which God’s justice lays down as the penalties of sin, are also by his mercy, the ladders leading upto heaven. They are the means of growing in grace as well as merits for attaining glory. Blessed are the poverty, hunger, thirst, sadness, sickness, death and persecution (Mt 5: 3-10). They are apparently equitable punishments of our faults but are tempered with God’s loving kindness as that of a medical doctor who gives bitter pills. Their bitterness is very lovable. It is bizarre but true. Theotimus, were not the damned blinded by their obstinancy and hatred which are opposing God? They find consolation in their punishment and become aware of the divine mercy admirably blended with the flames that keep burning eternally. Hence the saints, reflecting on the terrible and frightening torments of the damned, praise the justice of God behind it. You are righteous, O Lord, and your judgements are right (Ps.119:137). But the saints, being aware of these sufferings which may be eternal and incomprehensible but fall far short of the punishment, the sins for which they are inflicted deserve, praise God’s infinite mercy.
Has his steadfast love ceased forever? Are his promises at an end for all time?
Has God forgotten to be gracious even while throwing the damned in the flames of eternal fire? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?
And I say, “It is my griefthat the right hand ofthe Most High has changed (Ps 77: 8-10).
3. Finally, let us look into ourselves and see the many spiritual and temporal blessings. Also see the mental and physical sufferings that the divine Providence (God) has prepared for us according to his holy justice and mercy. As we open the arms of our assent, let us embrace all these things most lovingly as we surrender to his holy will. Let us sing to God by an eternal hymn of sure acceptance. (Mt 6: 10) - Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Yes Lord, your will be done on earth where we know no pleasure without a tinge of pain, no roses without thorns, no day without a night following, no spring without a preceding winter. On earth Lord, where the consolations are few and the toils are many. Nevertheless, O God, your will be done, not only in the keeping of your commandments, counsels, inspirations which should be practised by us, but also in the suffering, afflictions and punishments which we endure. Hence may your will be done by us, for us, in us, and with us all that pleases you.
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[1] Volonte de bon plaisir: Mackey translates it the will of good pleasure, Kerns - permissive will of God and John K. Ryan - will of good pleasure. We have preferred the trnslation - permissive will of God since God’s will of good pleasure may give the impression that God takes pleasure in human trials and suffering. God does not take pleasure but permits human suffering and directs them to the greater good of those who suffer.
[2] Book VI, Ch. 2.