A reflection from Mary MacKillop

Last Monday was the feast of St Mary MacKillop.I was struck by a letter that she wrote to Mons Kirby.She said that when she prays, she does not pray for any particular thing anymore. Rather, she prays that God’s will be done.She says, “While I desire with all my heart to pray for these [her order and other particular needs] with all my heart, I cannot help desiring at the same time He only uses my prayers for the intention that His own will desires at the same time.”She says, “I feel joy when things go well, for I see His own will in this, and I feel joy when they do not seem to go well, or against our natural desire, for there again I see His will, and am satisfied that He has accepted my prayers and those of many more for some other object at the time nearer to His adorable will.“To me, the will of God is a dear book which I never tire of reading, which has always done new charm for me.”Mary echoes the words of Jesus:“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”Also the words of Mary to God through the archangel Gabriel:“Be it done to me according to your will.”Uniting our will to the will of God is uniting ourselves to the greatest truth and reality, who is God, who is infinite LOVE…Nothing can be more beneficial to us and to all we love, and indeed to all creation…Lord, I believe, help my unbelief…

 

Image credit: Ravi Pinisetti via Unsplash