By Dr. Kate Walsh-Soucheray

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Our Lord is so clear about what He wants from us, but are we tuned in and listening to Him, or are we determined to go our own way and set our own path? In our first reading today, the Lord shares what is expected of His people: they were to keep His commands and statutes that were given to Moses in the Ten Commandments. They were told they would know these commands because they were not far away from them, but rather very near and in their hearts.

How often do we turn away from what we know is right and correct behavior, in favor of a choice that causes us to feel anxious or unsettled? When we stand back and observe that poor choice we made, we know it was unwise and has caused us to feel shame or guilt. We may even wonder at our lack of wisdom. Then we must spend time and mental energy to get back on the right path and ideally learn from our mistake.

Is this the way God wishes for us to spend our precious gift of life: bouncing back and forth between decisions that are unwise and making restitution with Him? Our beautiful sacrament of Reconciliation is designed to bring us back to God and His Ways, as well as to help us develop the character to remain on the path of righteousness and avoid sin.

The Conciliar document Gaudium et Spes of the Second Vatican Council reminds us of the Dignity of the Moral Conscience, as it states, “deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, every calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, tells him inwardly to at the right moment: do this, shun that,” (1965, 16).

To develop the moral habit of listening to our conscience, we must avoid evil and be aware of what we must shun. We begin with a heart that has a deep desire to serve God alone. Then we pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show us the right and good way. Finally, we develop the moral habit of making the right and good decisions in the choices that we face each day.

The moral habits we form begin to form us into either people of God or people of the world. We are IN the world, but we are not OF the world. Our decisions must be holy and righteous, which will help us become morally-guided women who make the right, moral choices in the decisions we face each day. Become a woman of strong virtue and holiness by following the path God has provided for you. Ask for His guidance and grace to help you develop into the beautiful woman He intended you to become.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, please help me know the right and good choices to make today so that I remain in your love and on the pathway you have set out for me. Give me the grace to turn away from any sinful choice and remain in your love.

Call to Action

Begin today with a prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to help you know whether a decision you are about to make is aligned with the Will of God for you. Ask Him for the strength to turn away from any choice that would separate you from the love of God and the righteous woman you desire to become.

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