”...the author speaks of the inner turmoil experienced in the state of self-abandonment. We encounter one disappointment after another and suffer immensely from both spiritual and mental anguish. Although united to God, we are deeply confused and find our selves in a state of total darkness. We are disappointed in ourselves and in our inability to be holy. We do not have any saintly zeal or austerity or even charity. We lead quite ordinary lives and feel that we have not accomplished anything worthwhile. We hunger for holiness, but it always eludes us. God leads us along a lonely path, one with little if any worldly reward or recompense. He has specifically planned it this way because he wants himself to be our sole delight. He wants us to realize that we can do nothing of ourselves and that he alone can make us holy. We have few comforts in life and are not free to enjoy normal activities because we have surrendered ourselves and follow the movements of his Spirit. Our sole task is to keep our eyes on the Lord, listen to him, and quickly do what he says. We should not worry about our troubles and disappointments. They have been given to us in order to draw us closer to God. He wants us to be poor within so that he can be our sole source of nourishment. He humbles us to prevent us from being proud and thus able to turn more readily on him. God wishes only that we be open to his will and carry it out. Since he alone can make us holy, we must surrender ourselves to him and let him do his work.”
From ‘Abandonment to Divine Providence’ by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
No comments:
Post a Comment