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Certainly, anyone who desires and aims to arrive at and remain in
such a state must needs above all have eyes and senses closed and
not be inwardly involved or worried about anything, nor concerned
or occupied with anything, but should completely reject all such
things as irrelevant, harmful and dangerous.
Then he should withdraw himself totally within himself and not pay
any attention to any object entering the mind except Jesus Christ,
the wounded one, alone, and so he should turn his attention with
care and determination through him into him - that is, though the
man into God, through the wounds of his humanity into the inmost
reality of his divinity.
Here he can commit himself and all that he has, individually and
as a whole, promptly, securely and without discussion, to God's
unwearying providence, in accordance with the words of Peter, cast
all your care upon him (1 Peter 5.7), who can do everything. And
again, In nothing be anxious (Philippians 4.6), or what is more,
Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. (Psalm
55.22) Or again, It is good for me to hold fast to God, (Ps.
73.28) and I have always set up God before me. (Psalm 16.8) The
bride too in the Song of Songs says, I have found him whom my soul
loves, (Canticle 3.4) and again, All good things came to me along
with her. (Wisdom 7.11)
This, after all, is the hidden heavenly treasure, none other than
the pearl of great price, which must be sought with resolution,
esteeming it in humble faithfulness, eager diligence, and calm
silence before all things, and preferring it even above physical
comfort, or honour and renown. For what good does it do a
religious if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his
soul? Or what is the benefit of his state of life, the holiness of
his profession, the virtue of his habit and tonsure, or the outer
circumstances of his way of life if he is without a life of
spiritual humility and truth in which Christ abides through a
faith created by love.
This is what Luke means by, the Kingdom of God (that is, Jesus
Christ) is within you. (Luke 17.21)
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