Lesson from Fr. Paulus | God Is Easy to Please

Jesus already knew that he was the Father's "beloved son" on whom the Father's "favor rests."

The voice from heaven that announced this, therefore, did so for our benefit, not for his.

Few times in the New Testament does God's voice speak from heaven, and each time it does, it says the same thing, it reiterates that Jesus is the chosen one, the beloved, and we are to heed him.

Among the many lessons hidden in those few words is the one that teaches us what pleases God. Up to this point in his earthly life, Jesus had done nothing extraordinary: no miracles, no great speeches, no massive conversions.

He had spent thirty years living in a hut in Nazareth, helping his foster-dad in the carpentry shop and doing chores and errands for his mother. And yet, the Father's favor rests on him, the Father is well pleased with him. Why? Because Jesus has been doing what God asked him to do, and doing it with love.

We don't need to try and impress God with our shocking sacrifices, brilliant personality, and earth-shaking accomplishments. All he desires from us is a heart centered on him, seeking to do his will.

What God wants from us is our friendship; everything else is secondary. And that friendship happens as we know, love, and follow Jesus Christ by doing and accepting all that he asks of us.

God's will: nothing more, nothing less, nothing else - when we make that our motto, just as it was for Christ, we too fulfill our vocation of being "beloved children" of the Father, on whom his "favor rests."

And when we fulfill our vocation, we find the peace, wisdom, and lasting excitement (God's blessings) that make life worth living in the first place.

Drawing Strength from God's Love

God is easy to please, and we really need to feel his pleasure. We were created to love and to be loved, to know that we are loved and appreciated just for who we are.

This is one of the deepest needs of every human heart: to experience unconditional acceptance. But in the fallen world even the most intimate and natural relationships often don't provide that.

And so, sometimes a parent's love is tainted with subconscious, selfish expectations. When we don't achieve what they want us to achieve, they feel disappointed in themselves, and they express it by showing disappointment in us.

And sometimes a spouse stops allowing room for intimacy with their husband or wife. In their own fear of being rejected, they end up subtly rejecting the one they should cherish and seeking satisfaction in less risky substitutes.

But God's grace can fix even those relationships, because God will never reject us; God will never unconsciously make his appreciation for us depend on our achievements; his love strengthens our love.

God is the perfect Father, and the perfect Friend and Companion; he gives without counting the cost.

This is why he tells us in today's First Reading: "All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!"

How do we come to him? By obeying his Church's teaching; By spending time alone with him each day in prayer; By regular use of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and confession.

Which one of those three can we improve this week?

As Jesus comes to us in this Mass, let's rest in his friendship, and promise that this week we will try to come closer to him. Nothing would please him more.