Doing the heavenly Father’s will was the ultimate aim of Jesus. He was not interested in getting accepted or recognized by those around him. The Lord always had an ongoing communication with the Father, looking up to him and receiving what he should be saying and doing. Having ascended to heaven as the Risen Lord, he sent the gift of the Holy Spirit to all those who believe in him as Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to have the same oneness with the Father and the Son on a daily basis. Personal prayer helps us to hear his voice in our hearts and his Word speaks to us constantly. Do we choose to listen and obey his words, even though they may not be popular or wise in the eyes of the world? St Fidelis of Sigmaringen, left his legal profession to become a helper of the poor, and had this oneness with the Lord, obeying him rather than the ‘wise’ advice of the world, winning the crown of martyrdom in the end.

PRAYER: Abba Father, I pray for the grace to see others as you see them and to love them as you love them. Amen.