|
The Voice of Christ
My child, it is necessary for you to learn many
things which you have not yet learned well.
The Disciple
What are they, Lord?
The Voice of Christ
That you conform your desires entirely according to
My good pleasure, and be not a lover of self but an
earnest doer of My will. Desires very often inflame
you and drive you madly on, but consider whether you
act for My honor, or for your own advantage. If I am
the cause, you will be well content with whatever I
ordain. If, on the other hand, any self-seeking lurk
in you, it troubles you and weighs you down. Take
care, then, that you do not rely too much on
preconceived desire that has no reference to Me, lest
you repent later on and be displeased with what at
first pleased you and which you desired as being for
the best. Not every desire which seems good should be
followed immediately, nor, on the other hand, should
every contrary affection be at once rejected.
It is sometimes well to use a little restraint even
in good desires and inclinations, lest through too
much eagerness you bring upon yourself distraction of
mind; lest through your lack of discipline you create
scandal for others; or lest you be suddenly upset and
fall because of resistance from others. Sometimes,
however, you must use violence and resist your
sensual appetite bravely. You must pay no attention
to what the flesh does or does not desire, taking
pains that it be subjected, even by force, to the
spirit. And it should be chastised and forced to
remain in subjection until it is prepared for
anything and is taught to be satisfied with little,
to take pleasure in simple things, and not to murmur
against inconveniences.
|
|
|
The Disciple
Patience, O Lord God, is very necessary for me, I see, because
there are many adversities in this life. No matter what plans I
make for my own peace, my life cannot be free from struggle and
sorrow.
The Voice of Christ
My child, you are right, yet My wish is not that you seek that
peace which is free from temptations or meets with no opposition,
but rather that you consider yourself as having found peace when
you have been tormented with many tribulations and tried with many
adversities.If you say that you cannot suffer much, how will
you endure the fire of purgatory? Of two evils, the lesser is
always to be chosen. Therefore, in order that you may escape the
everlasting punishments to come, try to bear present evils
patiently for the sake of God.
Do you think that men of the world have no suffering, or perhaps
but little? Ask even those who enjoy the most delights and you
will learn otherwise. "But," you will say, "they enjoy many
pleasures and follow their own wishes; therefore they do not feel
their troubles very much." Granted that they do have whatever they
wish, how long do you think it will last? Behold, they who prosper
in the world shall perish as smoke, and there shall be no memory
of their past joys. Even in this life they do not find rest in
these pleasures without bitterness, weariness, and fear. For they
often receive the penalty of sorrow from the very thing whence
they believe their happiness comes. And it is just. Since they
seek and follow after pleasures
without reason, they should not enjoy them without shame and
bitterness.
How brief, how false, how unreasonable and shameful all these
pleasures are! Yet in their drunken blindness men do not
understand this, but like brute beasts incur death of soul for the
miserly enjoyment of a corruptible life.
Therefore, My child, do not pursue your lusts, but turn away
from your own will. "Seek thy pleasure in the Lord and He will
give thee thy heart's desires."(1) If you wish to be truly
delighted and more abundantly comforted by Me, behold, in contempt
of all worldly things and in the cutting off of all base pleasures
shall your blessing be, and great consolation shall be given you.
Further, the more you withdraw yourself from any solace of
creatures, the sweeter and stronger comfort will you find in Me.
At first you will not gain these blessings without sadness and
toil and conflict. Habit already formed will resist you, but it
shall be overcome by a better habit. The flesh will murmur against
you, but it will be bridled by fervor of spirit. The old serpent
will sting and trouble you, but prayer will put him to flight and
by steadfast, useful toil the way will be closed to him.
|