DECISION MAKING

Mark 2:13-17

DECISION MAKING 

We make many decisions concerning insignificant and significant matters in life. Although we often make good decisions, sometimes we make poor ones and regret afterwards. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus sees Levi collecting taxes at his booth and calls him, saying, “Follow me”. And immediately Levi follows Him. 

The decision that Levi makes is a rare grace from God. In Chapter Eleven of his classic, Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola calls this grace  “clarity beyond doubting”, whereby God moves and attracts the will [of someone], that without doubting, or being able to doubt, such a devout soul [or person] follows what is shown it, as St. Paul [Acts 9] and St. Matthew [Matthew 9:9] did in following Christ our Lord”. 

Sometimes, however, we need to weigh the reasons for making a particular decision on various matters, which may include choosing one’s career or a particular person to marry, making a decision about an addiction, deciding which friends to keep, knowing when it’s time to move one, and so forth. 

To make a good decision, we need to be “indifferent” or open to God’s will, a grace that results  from one’s prayerfulness  and discernment of spirits. We shouldn’t let our preferences take control of our decisions in a way that undermines God’s will, lest we make wrong decisions. No wonder sometimes people choose wrong partners;  they rush into relationships based on their preferences instead of allowing God to guide them. Some people are extravagant or poor administrators due to lack of proper decision-making. Some students forgot why they are at school, and the result is often unbecoming. Some people, despite seeing signals, want to overstay in a place or an office until they are kicked out. They then start complaining about those who have helped (or urged) them to move on. 

A reverend was transferred to another place but kept on resisting to move, until the new person came in. The former then tried to frustrate the latter, until the church members challenge him to move on. He did so begrudgingly. Well, c’est la vie (that’s life). We should know when it’s time to go or move on. We should be praying for this grace, which takes humility and openness to God’s will. 

Lord, help us to be open to your will so that we can make good decisions in life.