‘Adversity can do you more good than a thousand joys’ (St. Bonaventure).
The most difficult lessons in the spiritual life is to take advantage of the tribulations and crosses that our Father allows to come upon us in order to draw us more deeply to Himself. A German proverb aptly says: ‘Adversity teaches us to pray.’ This statement alone can help us understand that God has allowed this or that difficulty so that we may turn to Him.
‘We need do nothing else but strive sincerely to do God’s will, and to please Him in all things’ (St. Francis of Assisi).
This is the simple advice given to us by St. Francis of Assisi, based on his own experience. This advice corresponds to the exhortation of Our Lord: ‘seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.’ (Mt 6:33).
‘The greatest joy in life is the conviction of being loved’ (Saint Dominic of Guzmán).
All people could share in this happiness, even if their circumstances in life are difficult. This is truly so, for God loves all people. In this certainty lies the greatest happiness for every creature. No one is excluded from it, and our Heavenly Father invites all people to know His love and to live in it.
‘Go deep and immerse yourself again and again in me. Then you will find the inner guidance you need’ (Inner Word).
Our Father will never leave us without His guidance. He can reveal it to us in various ways. In today’s sentence, God urges us to go within ourselves. When we seek Him and perceive Him in our soul, when we immerse ourselves in Him and remain there, we make it easy for our Father to communicate His Will to us. The various influences and distractions from outside diminish. The more we have learned to distinguish the voice of God whispering within us from the impulses of our nature or even from the dark side, the easier it will be for us to understand His instructions.
‘If the word “thank you” were the only prayer you ever uttered, it would be enough’ (Master Eckhart).
We might be tempted to think that such statements make salvation too easy for human beings. But let us also remember the words of God the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio, in which He says that anyone who sincerely calls upon Him once with the name ‘Father’ will not be condemned. This gives us great hope for the salvation of souls, grounded in God’s saving will.
‘Everything I have done has been by the order of our Lord. I have done nothing in the world except what God has commanded me to do’ (Saint Joan of Arc).
In the 15th century, Saint Joan of Arc was able to utter these wonderful words before the court of Rouen, which wanted to condemn her as a witch to please the enemies of the French monarchy of that time.
‘You only have to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and then everything that my fatherly kindness has planned can come true’ (Inner Word).
The Father and the Son have sent us the best inner Teacher, who guides us safely through this life, shapes us in God’s image and makes our life fruitful, always provided we follow His instructions: it is the Holy Spirit.
“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?”
‘Who, if not us? When, if not now?’ (Saint Joan of Arc).
These words were spoken by Saint Joan of Arc, and were probably addressed to the army entrusted to her by King Charles VII to fulfil God’s command to liberate France from English occupation.
‘I am waiting for you in eternity ’ (Inner Word).
Could we hear a more beautiful expression of our Father’s love for us? How wonderful it is for us on the human level when someone waits for us simply out of love, not because He wants something from us, but because He is pleased to have us near. It is also a delight when He expressly manifests it to us.
