Discernimiento Espiritual - 2. Gerardo Aste, SJ

Desiring Happiness and Making Choices

The speaker discusses the pursuit of happiness and emphasizes the importance of making choices aligned with God's will to achieve true happiness.

The Path to Happiness

• Choosing what God wants leads to true happiness.

• Making decisions in accordance with God's will is crucial for correct choices.

• Placing God at the center of decisions is essential; loving God above all else is emphasized.

• Prioritizing God in decision-making helps in choosing well.

Knowing and Loving God

• Maintaining a close relationship with God through prayer aids in making right choices.

• Understanding and knowing God are prerequisites for making correct decisions.

Understanding Divine Will

Delving into discerning divine will, the speaker highlights the significance of knowing, loving, and choosing according to God's desires for a fulfilling life.

Discerning Divine Will

• True knowledge of God comes from the heart rather than mere intellectual study.

• Discovering God's will involves living honorably now and eternally.

Passion for Righteousness

Emphasizing passion for righteousness, this segment underscores the necessity of aligning one's choices with truth, justice, and goodness as desired by God.

Pursuing Righteousness

• Choosing paths that lead to life align with divine intentions for all individuals.

• Recognizing that embracing truth and goodness stems from understanding how much one is loved by God.

Enamored Devotion

• Being passionately devoted to what is good ensures alignment with divine will.

Understanding the Importance of Intention in Decision Making

In this section, the speaker discusses the significance of intention in decision-making processes and how aligning intentions with God's will leads to true happiness.

Importance of Knowing and Loving God

• It is crucial to know God well to make informed choices.

• Intention plays a key role; it must be pure, noble, and aligned with God's will.

Purpose of Life and Decision Making

• Our ultimate purpose is to seek God and do His will.

• Decisions based on personal interests rather than God's will lead to dissatisfaction.

Choosing What Leads to True Happiness

This segment emphasizes the importance of choosing what is best over what is convenient for achieving genuine happiness.

Choosing What Is Best

• Opting for what is best, not just convenient, leads to true fulfillment.

• Example: Marriage decisions should stem from genuine love rather than self-interest.

Rectitude in Decision Making

• Base decisions on what is best rather than personal desires for lasting happiness.

• Transparent intentions are essential for making sound choices.

Reflecting on Past Decisions for Future Happiness

Reflecting on past decisions made with pure intentions can guide future choices towards lasting contentment.

Learning from Past Choices

• Assess past decisions based on pure versus self-serving intentions for satisfaction.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of making choices aligned with God to attain happiness. The process of discerning between what is from God and what is not poses challenges as life constantly presents decisions that push individuals towards or away from God.

Understanding Choices and Happiness

• Choosing what is from God leads to happiness.

• Simple decisions like offering a seat to someone prompt a series of thoughts, emphasizing the constant need to choose for or against God.

• Making sacrifices for others contributes to building a fulfilling life, echoing Jesus' teachings on choosing selflessness for true happiness.

• Opting for God in every decision is crucial for spiritual discernment and ultimate joy; knowing, loving, and choosing God are essential components.