WHAT IS DISCERNMENT?

God has a plan for you and your life.  As He had a plan for the great people in the scriptures eg. Jememiah, Samuel or Mary, so he has a plan for you! In order to be able to understand where and what that call holds for you it is important to give some time and space to discerning His call.  Discernment is a process by means of which I seek to recognise what God is asking of me, either in a particular situation, or in choosing the direction of my life. It is a decision between all the possibilities that life holds for us and ultimately deciding on the one that will bring fulfilment and peace. A fulfilment and peace not just for me but for the community too...the call to priesthood is a call to generosity and service of the community.

Discernment is about interpreting God's word in events and situations; reading the signs of the times. It involves a felt-knowledge; i.e., it has to do with the emotions, and not just with the intellect.

On the surface we are often aware of conflicting feelings, and we feel pulled in different directions. Discernment is about getting beneath the surface, to become aware of our deepest heart wishes. God doesn't play games with us. If I am genuinely open to what God wants, then my deepest heart wishes will be in keeping with his plan.

One priest put it well when he said, 'discernment was about uncovering a calling from God that was there all the time.  I needed to give space and time to unpack it or uncover it'.

The Core Principle

There is a basic principle which lies at the heart of Christian living, no matter what our particular vocation is. It is clearly stated by St. Ignatius Loyola at the beginning of his Spiritual Exercises. He says:

When we see this written down, it may seem fairly obvious, but it is amazing how easily, without even being aware of it, we can lose the focus on praising, serving, and reverencing God, as our first priority.

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Six Steps in Every Discernment

Although they may not always seem to be clearly defined in practice, there are six steps in the process of discernment.

1. Praying for indifference. Indifference is a technical term. It doesn't mean I don't care two hoots. It means that I leave my own agenda to one side; I desire only the will of God, whatever it is. Even when we are committed to doing what God wants, we can still have an experience of struggling with our own counter-preferences. This is why the discernment must always take place in a context of prayer. (Only move on when you feel that you have arrived at a reasonable level of indifference, or inner freedom).
2. Make a decision in the imagination of the heart, in favour of the particular option (e.g., priesthood). Live as if this were your final decision, keeping a journal. Note both the positive feelings, and the negative feelings that arise consistently, over a period of time. As St. Paul tells us:

   What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

   (Galatians,5:22)

   So if I am genuinely open to the guidance of the Spirit, and if this particular option gives rise to feelings of joy, peace, etc., this can be taken as an indication that this option is in keeping with God's plan for me.

3. Make a similar decision in the heart, this time against the particular option (e.g., priesthood). Once again, live each day's routine as if this were your final decision, and note once again the positive and negative feelings which arise. It is always worth working through step no.3, even if step no.2 already points to a clear conclusion, because this simply adds to the confidence that the discernment has been well made.
4. Prayer for light; to recognise what has emerged. Which imagined decision led to the most positive / least negative responses in yourself?
5. Knowledge is not of itself a decision. The next stage is prayer for the grace to actually choose, taking account only of what God wills.
6. Seek confirmation. Often this confirmation comes over time, in the decisions made by others, and in the way things actually work out.

Three On-Going Components of Discernment

As I have mentioned, discernment is a process; it is on-going. Throughout the process, there are three elements which must be present:

1. Prayer to the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom.
2. Gathering factual information about the various choices being considered, because the discernment doesn't take place in a vacuum.
3. A continuing effort to seek confirmation from outside myself.

Making a decision!

At some stage or other you will have to make a decision.  Some people put this off time and again due to fear, uncertainty, busyness or whatever. Some never decide and live their lives with the feeling of 'if only'.  Don't let this happen to you.  If you are being called to the priesthood know that the Church needs YOU! God needs YOU! He has chosen YOU for a specific purpose and task.  One which only you can achieve. Make a decision! Make a difference! 

Talk to someone.

It helps to talk.  Talking with someone about what is going on for you will help you to make sense of what is happening. The Vocations Director, a friend, a local priest, someone you trust can definitely help.  As the priest is called to serve the community, so too the community has a responsibility to help a person understand their calling.  Why not get in touch with the Vocations Director?  He is there to listen, to advise, to encourage but not to pressurise or force.  He wants you to be in the right place.  If you are meant to be a priest he will help in whatever way to make that happen.  He will be happy too if after discernment you decide this is not for you...Priesthood is not for everyone...but it could be for YOU!

 

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