Cedric Pisegna - Thy Will Be Done (01/24/2026)
Welcome to «Live with Passion». I’m Father Cedric Pisegna. Thank you for tuning into the program. Extremely important theme: God’s will. This comes from Luke chapter 22: «Jesus went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, 'Pray that you may not enter into temptation, ' and he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down and prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.' And an angel from heaven came to strengthen him».
I find it interesting that when Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done, an angel came to strengthen him. That’s exactly what will happen in your life and my life too. When we want God’s will, when we pray for God’s will, and when we try to do God’s will, there’s a strength and a power that comes from God to help us to do his authentic will for our life. There’s refuge in God’s will. There’s a sweetness in God’s will. There’s a hedge around us as we try to do God’s will because God’s will is so vitally important. In the Catholic church, we have many canonized saints. For example, Saint Francis of Assisi, my favorite; Saint Paul of the Cross, the founder of the Passionists; Saint Catherine of Siena; Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
Two things about every saint that I’ve noticed. Number one, they suffered. We all suffer in some way, shape, or form. Every saint has suffered. By the way, the word «saint» means holy one. And the number two thing is that they wanted God’s will in their life. They strove for God’s will. They tried to do God’s will the best that they could. God’s will was their everything. In fact, the founder of the Redemptorists, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, he said, «The greatest glory we can give God is to do his will in everything».
And I agree with that. Wow, Saint Catherine of Siena said, «Be who God wants you to be, you’ll set the world on fire». God has a gracious, intimate, individualized, specialized will for every one of us and he has a general will for every one of us. And I’ll break that open in this episode. But the bottom line is, is that God has a will and following God’s will is vitally important as a disciple of Jesus. Jesus embraced God’s will fully, I just read to you from the Garden of Gethsemane and he was struggling so much about doing God’s will, which he believed that God’s will was for him to go to the cross. He said, «Father, if there’s any other way, please let it happen, but not my will, but your will be done». He sweat blood to do God’s will. And as you know, he faced the cross, he went to the cross. He died doing God’s will.
From the Bible we learn about God’s will. It’s broken down into two main areas. Number one, his general will for everybody. God has a general will for all people who ever come into life. And then number two, he has a specific individualized will for each and every one of us; 8.2 billion people on the earth, and somehow, some way, God has an individualized will for everybody. And then let me throw this in. There’s two main things: general will, specific will, and also something called the permissive will. What’s permissive will? We see that the earth is in chaos. There are wars, there’s crime, there’s abortion, there’s all kinds of difficulties, pollution. The world is in chaos.
Does God will this? No. Well, then why this? Number one, because of evil, that’s called the problem of evil. The Evil One himself instigates this. And number two, we have a free will. We have a free will. We have a will. God has a will. And we do too. And that’s the problem. Oftentimes, they’re butting up against each other. And because of our will, many of these problems have come to be. We’ve succumbed to temptation, we’ve done the wrong things, and God’s permissive will allows this. God doesn’t want this but he allows it.
You might be thinking, «Well, why does God allow it? He’s all powerful». I don’t know. How else do you rule the universe? I’m not quite sure. But the bottom line is, is that there is a permissive will of God. God doesn’t want evil but God created with free will. We’re not just puppets on a string. He lets us be the way we want to be. And his desire is that we follow his will. He wills us to have eternal life. His plan has been and always will be for each and every one of us, his general will for everybody that comes into life, is to come to eternal life in heaven with him forever. Forever is a long time. That’s why I became a Catholic priest because I wanted to talk about and I wanted to live ultimate meaning, ultimate purpose, not just for these few years. Beyond these years, here on earth. And this is what God’s will is. It’s real simple, real clear: eternal life.
That’s why he sent Jesus. He so loved us that he gave us his only begotten Son that we could receive forgiveness and receive eternal life. That’s God’s will for you. Do you know eternal life? I invite you to surrender your heart to Jesus. Just give your heart to him, recommit your life to him. In fact, it says in the scriptures that before the world began, God predestined us, he specifically chose us, to have eternal life. How long has the world been in existence, the earth? Four point five billion years, we believe, from scientists or the universe? Thirteen point seven billion. Remember what I said about life on earth? Very short. James tells us, the letter of James: It’s a mist. Ssst, it’s over, compared to billions of years.
What’s eternity like? Billions of years is just a grain of sand in eternity. That’s why it’s so crucial that we do God’s will now. And God’s will: he predestined us for eternal life before the world began, hand-picked us to live forever. Not everyone is in accord with God’s will, of course. Not everybody is saved. People choose to go their own way. As I said, God’s permissive will. He loves us, but he allows us to go the other way. He will never manipulate. He will never control us that way. He has given us free will. A major thread that runs through this episode that I want you to get: God wants us to be in harmony, in communion, in union with his will. Surrender to God’s will.
Remember there’s a sweetness to God’s will, there is a hedge around us with God’s will. I pray to be right in the center of God’s will. Salvation, number one. Then we read in the scriptures that God’s will is that we become holy. We become Christlike. A hub scripture in the Bible is Romans 8:28: «God predestined that we would be conformed to the image of his Son Jesus». 1 Thessalonians 4:13: «It’s God’s will that we be sanctified, that we be holy». «Become holy because I am holy». It’s all over the place in the Bible. In terms of morality, it’s pretty clear. God gave us the Ten Commandments etched in stone.
I mean, there it is, black and white. It’s very clear what God’s will is. And then God gave us a story, and the story is the gospel. The story is Jesus. That’s God’s will. That’s what holiness is. You look at the life of Jesus, you become like Jesus, have a heart like Jesus, virtue like Jesus. That’s exactly what God’s will is. Jesus said, «Learn from me. I’m meek and humble of heart». So what is God’s will for your life? That you become like Jesus: patient, loving, forgiving, merciful. That’s God’s will for everybody. Jesus is the firstborn of many brothers and sisters. And then it says in the scriptures, this is 1 Thessalonians 5:18, «It’s God’s will that we give thanks in all circumstances».
This is his general will for everybody, that we give thanks in all circumstances. Remember the story of Paul, the apostle? He and Silas are in prison for preaching the gospel. And in the middle of the night, they’re singing and giving God thanks. Can you imagine they’re in this sewer hole for doing the right thing, preaching the gospel, and they’re singing, and everybody was listening to them. The doors burst open and they were free to go. In fact, the jailer came up to Paul and said, «What do I gotta do to be saved»? And Paul said, «Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved,» wow.
But the key is no matter what your circumstance is, God’s will is for us to give thanks. I’ve discovered in my life that when I give thanks to God doors open. Just like Paul, the doors open, you’re free to go. There’s a freedom in thanksgiving. But I’ve also discovered that thanksgiving can be hard. I don’t always feel like giving thanks. You have to have a good attitude. Sometimes when I start to give thanks, I just don’t feel like it and it’s hard and it doesn’t feel like anything’s happening. But as you get going, it’s amazing. You give thanks. There’s so much to give thanks for. It’s interesting that it says, «Give thanks in all circumstances,» not just the good circumstances. A lot of the circumstances of our life aren’t so good, they’re hard, but you give thanks in them like Paul in prison and doors will open. Good things will happen. Give thanks to God. God is so worthy of our praise.
Every heartbeat, every moment, every breath, is a gift from God to us. How can we not give thanks? So his will, really quickly, his general will for everybody to be saved, to become like Christ, morally upright, follow the Ten Commandments, love people. That’s what Jesus was all about. It’s real clear from the Bible. And then of course, give thanks, be grateful, have gratitude. God has an individualized specific plan for you and for me. And it’s different for each person. God is able, God is all powerful, he’s omnipotent, omniscient. He knows everybody, everything, and omnipresent, he’s everywhere. So he’s able to do this, have a specific plan for everybody. Of course, this has been quoted many times.
It’s Jeremiah 29:11. I love it. It’s a famous quote. «'I know the plans I have for you, ' says the Lord, 'plans for your welfare and not your woe.'» God gives us a future full of hope. So that’s a good plan. God has a good will for our life. He’s not out to harm us or to torture us or to make things hard for us. Remember, there’s refuge in God’s will. There’s a hedge around us. When you’re right in the middle of God’s will, he makes a way for us. I remember, it was in the desert, the Hebrews were going through the desert as a people. And by the way, he has an individual plan, but he also has a plan for us as a community. And they’re all journeying from Egypt to the Holy Land. They didn’t know the way and God actually guided them by a cloud in the daytime and fire at night, and he guided them to the Holy Land, to the land of promise.
And oftentimes, I pray to be led and guided. I started with that. Lord, lead me, guide me, control me. And I wish it would be like with a cloud in the desert and the fire at night. Show me the exact specific way you want me to walk. But it’s not that easy. We have to discern the will of God for our life, individually. And basically, God has a call. We’re talking about the will of God, the specific individualized will of God for our life. God has a call for all of us. And what is this call? It’s broken down into three basic areas: call to priesthood, religious life, ministry, sisterhood if you’re Catholic; a call toward married life and a call to the single life, that is a call, by the way, single life, and that call is broken down into vocations. But really quickly, let me talk to you about this call. God created you for a purpose and he has a call on your life, if you can discern it. It’s not always easy to discern.
I’ll tell you about mine in a minute here. But I’m hoping and I’m believing that some of you that are watching this program right now are called to religious life to become a priest, to proclaim the gospel, and preside at the sacraments, a sister, a deacon, a brother, religious life. Or if you’re Protestant to be a minister, a minister who will proclaim the gospel to many people and live an upright life, an exemplary life. And if you think you have a call, I’m inviting you to contact me, just go to my website, my email’s there, [email protected]. I wanna hear from you and I wanna help you discern your call, especially if it’s a call toward priesthood because we need priests. We need religious.
Now, remember that I wanted to do something with my life that was significant. I was back in high school, this is before I really came to Jesus, and I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. I wasn’t sure about God’s will. I wasn’t sure about my life. And I went to my guidance counselor and he said, «Well, what do you like»? I said, «Well, I like sports». Played a lot of sports, but I was never good enough to be pro in golf or baseball or soccer or football. I was good at all of them but not good enough to be professional. And I liked mathematics and I liked money and that type thing, but it didn’t really give me any passion. Then something happened to me.
As I got into college and I was in college for business, my first year of college, God touches me and, wow, all of a sudden my goals changed and it went from something that was temporary, money, trying to make a lot of money, to something that was ultimate and had meaning and purpose: the gospel. And I sensed that God was calling me to priesthood, toward ministry. So what I did is I got involved with the Passionists. Wasn’t all that religious at the time, but since God touched me, I was becoming spiritual, growing in my faith. And I went through something called novitiate. Now making a long story short here, novitiate is a year of discernment about whether or not God is really calling you to religious life. In my case, the Passionist community.
Now remember, during that year of discernment, trying to figure out is God calling me, I lived in a monastery with other young men, with monks, had a spiritual director and there were good days, bad days. And I’m like, «Where is that pillar of cloud, where is the fire at night, that would guide me because I’m confused and I don’t really know. I’m not really sure». Make a long story short, I decided, yes, this was for me. I said Yes, professed my vows, became a Catholic priest, because I wanted to do something significant and I wanted to do something with purpose, something that will endure and bear fruit. And I think when it comes to God’s will in your life, that’s what you have to look for. And by the way, I did have a spiritual director.
Oftentimes, people just discern on their own what they’re gonna do, what God’s will is for their life. Try talking it out with a friend, a trusted friend, or a spiritual director. In my case, a novice master and spiritual directors along the way. You bounce ideas off them, you share your feelings, you talk about your heart. It’s important not just to try to do everything on your own. It’s kind of like the guidance counselors of life and in some ways that’s what I’m doing for you right now. Then I remember, I was a priest for many years. I was preaching parish missions all around the country, bringing people to Christ, helping people to grow in their faith, having altar calls, counseling them in the confessional, repenting of their sins.
I’m absolving them of their sins. It was wonderful. Then I sensed that God was possibly calling me to something different and even more: broadcast media. I went on a retreat one time and I was praying and I could sense God calling me to reach out beyond the walls of the church through television and radio. And for months and months and really a year or two, I remember I had that dream and vision but it was hard because nothing was happening. It costs a lot of money. I didn’t have any programs. I didn’t have any contacts. And I remember praying, «Lord, if this is not from you, take it away,» because my heart was being, like, torn open, nothing was happening. I’ve got this vision for television and for reaching out to people, and radio, but nothing was happening. But it took time. It’s like wine. We’ll sell no wine before it’s time. God is patient. You can’t just think everything’s gonna happen right away.
Give God time. And I patiently endured and I have to tell you, and here I am 18 years later, God brought the right people to me. He brought me benefactors, partners, helped me to write books. Now, I’ve been broadcasting for 18 years on television and radio. And in retrospect, as I look at it, it’s God’s will. Didn’t always know it when I was doing it, but it was God’s will. God has a will for you too. It may not be television or radio, but he has a will for you in terms of a vocation, whether his call is priesthood or marriage or the single life. Your vocation may be toward becoming a doctor or becoming a nurse, policeman, fireman, politician. There’s all kinds of different ways that you can live out your faith and your call from God. He lets us decide because of our emotions and our desires, and he works in and through that. He works through your desires, for enduring things, for significant things.
For example, there are times of confusion, like I said. There were many times of confusion about whether or not to be a priest, whether or not to go toward television. What do I do with my ministry? But it’s amazing how God works through your good intentions, through your feelings, through what endures, what is significant, what is ultimate. Get in touch with your purpose, your feelings, your gut. Make informed decisions and include God. God leaves many of the details of our life to our discretion. You step out and you find out. Get a spiritual director, talk to a trusted friend. He will help lead and guide you in his will. Pray, as I said, like Jesus: «Father, not my will, but your will be done».
Remember, an angel was sent to strengthen him. Sometimes we are confused and you may be confused right now and I pray, heavenly Father, you will help your people. Lead and guide your people into their call and, in their call, to their vocation, and into the many decisions that they have to make in their life, because we want to follow your will. And even when we don’t know your will specifically, lead us, guide us, control us, give us passion. I remember it was Thomas Merton. He had a prayer and I didn’t understand it at first. But after I’d been through many things in my life, I did. Thomas Merton, a great trappist monk, and this is what he said about God’s will. He said, «O Lord my God, I have no idea where I’m going. I don’t see the road ahead of me. The fact that I think I’m following your will doesn’t mean that I’m actually doing so, but I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I believe that you will lead me and guide me and never leave me to face my perils alone», wow.
I pray that God will lead and guide you. He’ll direct your steps. «Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and he will direct your steps,» because God has a will for you. God’s general will for everybody, of course, salvation, giving thanks, becoming Christlike. God wants this for all people. But then he has a specific call on your life, whether it be marriage, the single life, religious life, priesthood, sisterhood, diaconate, a brother, a minister. There’s a call. And then God has a will for us individually, specifically, in terms of all the decisions that we make in our life: which way to go, what to do. And I’m praying that you will know the sweetness of God’s will. You will walk in his individualized specific plan for your life. May the Holy Spirit come upon you, lead you, guide you, control you, strengthen you, help you.
And if right now you’re not following God’s will in your life and you know it, I pray you’ll make a turn. Now is the acceptable time. Today is the day of salvation. Make a turn and you will know not frustration, you will know fruitfulness, happiness, joy, in a deep personal way. Jesus prayed and we pray this in the Our Father: «Thy will be done». And I pray that that will be the prayer of your heart. May Almighty God bless you. Don’t just live; live with passion.