union of wills

Numbers 11:4-15; Ps 81 Sing with Joy to God our Help; Mt 14:22-36


Today we celebrate the feast of St. Alphonsus de Liguori.
He was born in the 17th century and lived most of his life in the 18th century. He is the founder of the Congregation of the Holy Redeemer or the Redemptorist.

His given name at birth was Alphonsus MAry Anthony John Francis Cosmas Damian Michaelangelo Gaspar Liguori. His Parents wanted to makes sure he had enough patron Saints to intercede for him. They didn't want to leave anything to chance.

Considering how children are named today, perhaps a few more patron saints thrown in the mix wouldn't be a bad idea.


St. Alphonsus spent his life seeking to conform himself to the will of God.

"Perfection is found entirely on the love of God: 'Charity is the bond of perfection and perfect love of God means the complete union of our will with God's. The principle effect of love is so to unite the wills of those who love each other as to make them will the same things."



"everything we do should be directed to this one end: to do the will of God and to do it solely for the reason that God wills it."

His advice for us is that every time we say the "Our Father" we should make a notable pause at the words "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

This notable pause will deep our attentiveness to God will and our desire to surrender our life with more docility.

Thus, St. Alphonsus says, is the path way to saintliness.
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If you look at today's first reading from the book of numbers, once again we find the people of Israel grumbling against God. They are complaining about God gift of manna that he sent to nourish them.

The people of Israel keep living in the past and refuse to move forward. Now here is a thought for us. God's will is always right now.

Their complaining has driven Moses to the edge, the brink. Listen to his words to God as recorded in the book of numbers, "If this is the way you will deal with me, then please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face this distress."

Moses isn't playing around. He is definitely fed up with the bickering and bitterness and complaining. He is ready to leave it all behind.

Who of us hasn't been here a time a or two in our life?

The honesty by which most prays is refreshing. God appreciates a little honesty in our prayer. Honesty in prayer offers us a release and truly invites us to speak to God as the Father he is.

If you go to your bible and open up the book of numbers 11:16 you get the response God makes to Moses.

God doesn't scold him or berate him. He simply offers a solution and thus gives him his care and mercy.

"Assemble for me seventy of the elders and authorities among the people...I will come down and take some of your spirit that is on you and will bestow it upon them that they may share the burden of the people with you. You will then not have to bear it by yourself."

What a gift. God chooses to send others to help moses carry the load.
We don't have to carry our burden alone. What a novel idea. What a gift of grace. How beautiful!

Be good and say your prayers.