Discernimiento Espiritual - 3. Gerardo Aste, SJ

Desiring to Do God's Will

The speaker discusses the importance of discernment and choosing God's will as the ultimate path to happiness and fulfillment in life.

Understanding Discernment and God's Will

• Discernment involves distinguishing what is from God and what is not.

• To make correct decisions, one must have a clear understanding that God should be the ultimate goal guiding life choices.

• Jesus serves as a prime example of prioritizing God's will, emphasizing it as his driving force for decision-making.

Importance of Doing God's Will

• Jesus emphasizes that fulfilling the Father's will is paramount for true discipleship.

• Praying for God's will to be done on earth aligns with Jesus' teachings on following divine guidance.

Choosing God's Will Over Personal Desires

• Emphasizes the necessity of always choosing what aligns with God’s desires, even if it seems challenging or leads to personal sacrifice.

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In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of prioritizing God as the ultimate goal in life and distinguishing between means and ends.

Prioritizing God as the Ultimate Goal

• The speaker emphasizes that everything other than God is a means to an end.

• Life, family, friends, work, studies, and more are all considered means to reach God.

• It is crucial to prioritize truth, justice, life, and goodness above all else.

• People are also means in this context but special ones as they should be helped to live their best lives.

• Choosing between protecting a loved one and upholding justice can be challenging but putting God first is essential.

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This section delves into how having God as the ultimate goal impacts decision-making and life choices.

Impact on Decision-Making

• Having God as the ultimate goal influences every aspect of life.

• Discerning which actions lead closer to or further from God is crucial in decision-making.

• Making a job or profession an end distorts relationships by placing it above truth, justice, and goodness.

• Often people mistake intermediate goals for ends leading to sacrifices that may not align with reaching God.

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This part focuses on avoiding mistaking means for ends in various aspects of life such as marriage or priesthood.

Avoiding Confusion Between Means and Ends

• Achieving a degree or getting married should be seen as means towards reaching God rather than ends themselves.

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In this section, Ignacio discusses the importance of clarity in choosing actions that align with the ultimate goal of returning to God.

Understanding the Ultimate Goal

• Ignacio emphasizes that all choices should serve the purpose of returning to God.

• Any decision made should only aid in the journey back to God.