“Behold, I come to do your will”

These words provide the key to understanding the life of Jesus. They help us to grasp its deepest aspect and the golden thread that runs through all the events of his life on earth: from his childhood, the years of his private life, the temptations, his choices, his public life, all the way to his death on the cross. In every instance, in every situation, Jesus sought only one thing: to fulfill the will of the Father. And he accomplished it in a most radical way, that is, he never did anything outside of what was expressed in that will, and he refused even the most striking suggestions that were not in full agreement with it.

“Behold, I come to do your will.”

These words help us understand the great lesson that the whole of Jesus’ life offered. That is, that the most important thing to do is to fulfill not our own will, but the will of the Father. It means being able to say “no” to ourselves in order to say “yes” to him.True love of God does not consist in beautiful words, ideas and feelings, but in effective obedience to his commandments. The sacrifice of praise that he expects from us is to lovingly offer him the most intimate thing we possess: our will.

“Behold, I come to do your will.”

How can we put this passage into practice? This is also a sentence that emphasizes the fact that the Gospel goes against the current in so far as it goes against a very basic human tendency: to fulfill our own will, to follow our own instincts and feelings.This sentence is also one of the most annoying for modern men and women. We live in an age that exalts the ego and celebrates individualism. Freedom is seen as an aim in itself, and self-satisfaction as the fulfillment of the person. Whatever gives pleasure is considered the guideline for making one’s decisions and the secret to achieving happiness. But we all know the disastrous consequences that the pursuit of this culture can lead to.A culture based on satisfying one’s own will stands in complete opposition to that of Jesus, which is totally oriented towards fulfilling God’s will and produces the wonderful effects that he promises. Let us try to live this passage by choosing the will of the Father, making it the guide and motivating force of our whole life, as Jesus did.We will thus set out on a divine adventure, for which we will be eternally grateful to God. Through it we will reach holiness, and many hearts will be touched by God’s love.

Chiara Lubich

Focolare Word of Life August 2011

Each month a Scripture sentence is offered as a guide and inspiration for daily living. This commentary, translated into 96 different languages and dialects, reaches several million people worldwide through print, radio, TV and the Internet. Every month since the Focolare beginnings, founder Chiara Lubich (1920-2008) wrote her commentaries. This one was originally published in December 1991. This monthly leaflet is a supplement to Living City, the Focolare magazine (livingcitymagazine.com). Life experiences resulting from people’s efforts to put the monthly sentence into practice can be read in Living City or in books published by New City Press (newcitypress.com). For information and to subscribe to this leaflet or to the magazine, write to: Living City, 202 Comforter Blvd, Hyde Park, NY 12538 - 845-229-0496; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Visit focolare.org (intl); focolare.us (U.S.)© 2011 by Living City of the Focolare Movement, Inc.

Read more on this topic:

Chiara Lubich, “Our Yes to God,” in A Call to Love, Spiritual Writings, vol.1, New City Press, 1991, newcitypress.com

Chiara Lubich, "Rays" , New City Press, newcitypress.com

“Your Will Be Done,” in Chiara Lubich, Here and Now, Meditations on Living the Present, New City Press, 2005

Audio CD, Rays, Luminosa Audiovisual Center, livingcitymagazine.com

Next month: September 2011 “But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found” (Lk 15:32)