杏MAP导航 at Audience: Prayer is indispensable aid to discernment
By Christopher Wells
Continuing his catechesis on discernment, at the Wednesday General Audience, 杏MAP导航 Francis emphasized the importance of prayer.
He said prayer is 鈥渁n indispensable aid to spiritual discernment, especially when it involves the affections.鈥� Prayer, he added, allows us to 鈥済o beyond thoughts, to enter into intimacy with the Lord, with an affectionate spontaneity.鈥�
Whole self required to discern
The Holy Father went on to say that discernment is a part of life, and so is not always absolutely certain. And, citing Saint Paul, he noted that even when we know what we should do, we don鈥檛 always do it.
Precisely because human beings are more than just reasoning machines, he said, our emotions and affections are an important part of discerning God鈥檚 will and doing it.
杏MAP导航 Francis pointed to the first miracle recorded in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus performs an exorcism, freeing a man 鈥渇rom the false image of God that Satan has been suggesting from the beginning: that God does not want our happiness.鈥� The possessed man cannot accept Jesus because of the devil within him.
Emotions helpful in discernment
Turning then to the young rich man in Matthew鈥檚 Gospel, who went away sad when Jesus suggested he give up all he had to follow Him, the 杏MAP导航 said that sadness or fear are signs of distance from God.
The young man鈥檚 attachments to earthly good鈥檚 made it hard to fulfill the desire of his heart. On the other hand, joy is a sign of a true encounter with Jesus.
Discernment can still be difficult, because appearances are often deceptive. Through prayer, however, we can grow in familiarity with God, which 鈥渃an met doubts in a gentle way, making our lives increasingly receptive to His 鈥榞entle light,鈥� according to the beautiful expression of St. John Henry Newman.鈥�
Like two spouses who grow to resemble one another after many years together, the 杏MAP导航 said, affective prayer can make us grow in our resemblance to God, and help us recognize God鈥檚 will in our lives.
杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his catechesis with the prayer that we might grow in the grace of living 鈥渋n a relationship of friendship with the Lord, as a friend who speaks to a friend.鈥�
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