Claret knew he was a missionary, a person sent. This will be always in his mind. To be “sent” means not acting on his own, that he has been entrusted with a mission. So for Claret it is essential to be attentive to God’s will. He wants to imitate Jesus , devoted to his Father’s business during his hidden and his public life. Thus Jesus’ attitude was condensed into a Gospel verse that Claret made his own: ” Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Lk 2: 49). A permanent concern of Claret, in prayer and reflection, was always to find the will of God, above all other projects or interests.
It happened to me at a key moment of my life. I was going to take a decisive step and needed a motto that would guide me faithfully for the rest of my days. They asked me to transmit that motto. I thought a lot, I sought biblical phrases I knew about, but none satisfied me. I finally found what I felt suited my expectations: “Here I am, O God , to do your will ” ( Heb 10:7) . This slogan keeps me alive in times of discouragement, when tempted to give up. When one is young he easily falls into activism. But life brings weariness and disappointment, and the need for a protagonist role that transforms us easily into “servant busybodies” whose work is tainted by the pursuit of success, comparing with others, etc.
That motto, converted into prayer and discernment, has pushed me further and further and guided me to a stronger commitment. It helped me to get rid of tiredness and premature early retirement. And I learned that to do the will of God is a grace. So now I pray thus: “Here I am, Lord , give me the grace to do your will” ( cf. Ps 119 , 29) .
What kind of son of God you think you are now: intrusive or obedient? Are you looking in prayer for the grace to do the will of God and getting excited about it?