211th Meditation
“He who strives to conform himself to the truth and is not so much concerned about how people treat or esteem him, finds his serenity in God” (Blessed Henry Suso).
These words help us to overcome the human respects we often still have. Indeed, it will not please our Father if, instead of keeping our eyes fixed on Him, we are too preoccupied with what people think or say. How we lose our freedom when our soul is constantly busy with the real or supposed judgement of people!
Our Father wants us to be free, and only the truth will set us free (Jn 8,32). If we strive to conform ourselves to it and to be governed by it, our soul will focus on God and will be able to recognise His directives better and better.
Certainly this sentence of Blessed Henry Suso does not mean that we should adopt an attitude of indifference towards people and what they think. On the contrary, it is a matter of anchoring ourselves in God and focusing our gaze on Him.
Indeed, how inhibited a person can become when they look too often or constantly in the mirror of other people, when they are always trying to please them and to be well-liked by everyone! There is even the danger of failing to see the truth or of covering it up because of other people.
What Blessed Henry wants to convey to us, instead, is “serenity in God”, which is a certain calmness of soul that comes from being primarily focused on God; a natural trust that springs from a close relationship with Him.
“If the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free”, the Lord tells us in the Gospel (Jn 8:36).
The criterion by which our life is governed cannot be what others say or think, nor how they treat us, but the Will of God and the sincere effort to conform to the truth.
Then our life is freed from false attachments and distortions, and becomes simple and clear, sincere and free. It becomes a life “serene in God”.