“Drive away the grumbler. He does not act at My behest. Therefore pay no attention to him” (Inner Word).
The “grumbler” alludes to those spirits that try to disturb us on our path of following Christ. They influence our feelings and thoughts, trying to take over and disturb us in various ways.
“Truth claims its right, for without it neither my love nor my mercy can be understood” (Inner word).
“He has made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father” (Rev 1:6).
“You, my saints, have faced the struggle in the world; but I will give you the reward of your labors” (Antiphon in memory of Saints Odon, Mayolus, Odilo and Hugo, Monastic Diurnal).
The struggle is inevitable, and if we fight it in the right way, a great reward awaits us that only God can give.
Also in the message to Mother Eugenia, God the Father speaks of the reward we will receive if we fulfill His desire:
“And to you who will work for My glory and commit yourselves to making Me known, honoured and loved, I give the assurance that your reward will be great, because I will count everything, even the smallest effort you make, and I will reward you a hundredfold in eternity”.
This too is a battle, for the words of the Prologue of St. John continue to be fulfilled: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn 1:5).
It is always a time of battle, with the goal that the love of God will finally overcome all darkness: a battle within our soul, a battle against the powers of darkness, a battle against the seduction of this world, a battle to restrain our sensual appetites, a battle for evangelization, for perseverance in prayer, for the fulfillment of our daily duties.
But there are signs that the battle is becoming more and more fierce. It is directed against the impiety, the apostasy and the forgetfulness of God that we see in many parts of the world and which often goes hand in hand with a rebellion against the Christian faith.
In His message, God the Father responds to this alienation with an “offensive of love”. The martyrs remind us of the extent to which we can love our Father, even beyond our own lives. Total surrender is required of us. And the great reward that awaits us is intimate communion with God in eternity. There is nothing more certain or joyful!
“Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear; forget your people and your father’s house; and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him” (Ps 45:10-11).
“Fulfill your duties faithfully, but with the conviction that no duty is more important than the salvation of your soul” (St. Francis de Sales).
“Inasmuch as love grows in you, in so much beauty grows; for love is itself the beauty of the soul” (St. Augustine of Hippo).
The true beauty of a person comes from an intimate union with the heavenly Father. When we are filled with His love, our eyes shine and our hearts rejoice. How cold is outward beauty if it does not come from the love that warms the heart! How easily it even becomes a mask if the Father cannot dwell in the heart with His sanctifying grace! Read More
“Do not be afraid; remain united with me always and in all circumstances” (Inner Word).
We know that the Lord often exhorts us not to be afraid. The supernatural world is often foreign to human beings, and it is not uncommon for us to be frightened by natural realities. In the context of the inner word on which we are meditating, it is appropriate to emphasize “not to be afraid at all”. Obviously, our Father wants an undivided trust on our part; a trust so great and strong that no circumstance, no matter how difficult, can frighten us. Read More
“The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless” (Ps 146:9).
In His love and providence, our Father has all people in view; and He exhorts us to pay special attention to those who are easily marginalized. Strangers are liable to be exploited and deceived, if love does not take care of them and meet their foreign character with gentleness, so that they may know that they are sheltered by this love.
