“Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti (Thou desirest truth in the inward being)” (Ps 51:6).
We know the words of the prophet Jeremiah about the twisted heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? ‘I the Lord search the mind and try the heart, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings’” (Jer 17:9).
“We must fear God so that we do not fear men” (St. John Chrysostom).
The fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom (Prv 1:7), leads us to carefully avoid anything that could offend our beloved Father out of love for Him.
“There is not a single instant in our life in which we cannot set out on a new course.” (St. Charles de Foucauld)
Speaking of the rebellion of the Israelites in the desert, Scripture offers the exhortation: “O that today you would hearken to his voice! Harden not your hearts” (Ps 95:7c–8a).
“I rejoice in the fact that God is God.” (Saint Charles de Foucauld)
With all our hearts, we can make the words of Saint Charles de Foucauld our own: “How good it is that God is God!” This realization can well up from the depths of our hearts as constant praise. Already in the Old Testament, King David exclaims: “I am in great distress; let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.” (1 Chr 21:13).
“God says: ‘I am Father, husband, family, food, clothing, root, foundation… everything you want, I am for you! I will also be your servant, for I did not come to be served, but to serve. I am also your friend, member, head, brother, sister, and mother; I am everything. You only need to trust in me.’” (St. John Chrysostom) Read More
“Fortune and misfortune are to the brave as the right hand and the left hand: he makes the most of both” (St. Catherine of Siena).
“With everlasting love God has loved us. Therefore, being lifted up above the earth, He has drawn us to His heart, having compassion on us” (Lauds Antiphon of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus).
It is not so easy for us to imagine eternal love because, as human beings, we are so limited. However, there are moments in life that we wish would never end. This can happen to people in love or when God touches us deeply in prayer, making the passage of time seem unimportant. In those moments, the soul says, “I want to stay here forever. I am not looking for anything else.”
“Son, give me your heart, and your eyes shall keep my ways” (Antiphon of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus).
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord tells us, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8). This promise corresponds to the antiphon we heard today. When we surrender our heart to our Heavenly Father, the eyes of our soul are opened and we begin to see everything around us – even God Himself – in His light. “For with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light do we see light” (Psalm 36:9).
“Wherever you are, that is my heaven. Whether you are eating, sleeping, or doing anything else, my dwelling place is always in you.”
“Who shall not return love to Him who thus loves us?
Who of the redeemed shall not love Him,
and choose in that Heart
his eternal abode?”
