“Let the storm rage and the sky darken – we will not be discouraged!” (Pope Saint Pius X)
We can take heart from these words of Pope Saint Pius X. Surely our Father wants us to remain steadfast in all difficulties, even in dramatic circumstances and apocalyptic tribulations, and not be led astray from the path the Lord shows us. This is only possible if we fix our gaze on Him and allow our souls to be rooted in Him, thus being carried by the grace of God.
“Love me and let me love you” (Inner word).
That is how simply the path with our heavenly Father can be described, and the whole truth is contained therein. When we respond to His love, our Father can realize all that He has planned for us and all that He wants to accomplish through our lives. May our first words each morning be addressed to our beloved Father. Are we not intent on living this new day—or even this new year—in a way that pleases Him? It is precisely in this that we want to express our love: that we gladly do what He wants us to do. Love wants to know the heart of the beloved and His holy concerns. In this way, we can search the heart of God. What have you planned? What can we do for you and your kingdom?
“You know that everything is grace and that everything comes from us. But you also know that it is necessary to cooperate with grace in order for it to be effective” (Inner Word).
Without God’s grace we are incapable of anything, as Jesus makes clear: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5b). How wisely our heavenly Father has arranged it! Knowing full well that we are always in danger of overestimating our abilities and giving too much importance to our contribution to what has been achieved, God reminds us that everything comes from Him. This is what we also experience on the spiritual path. Our Father allows us to feel our weakness so that we do not become trapped in ourselves, but rather confess with full conviction that it is only by His grace that we have been able to accomplish this or that. “In thy light do we see light.” (Ps 35:10). What would we be without You?
“To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
This is the Good News for all time: our Heavenly Father had it announced by the angels to His people Israel, with a view to all humanity. It is the holy and joyful message that God has not forgotten mankind. Man, who lost his original state of innocence and sinned against God, needs a Savior. He cannot redeem himself. He needs to encounter the love of God, who has mercy on him in his condition and offers him true life.
“To us a child is born” (Is 9:6).
Could our Father have done better? Of course not! Otherwise, He would have done it differently.
Thus, the Child of Bethlehem is the most beautiful gift that the Heavenly Father has given to humanity with all His love. Let us contemplate the Child! Does He not conquer our hearts? That is precisely what He wants! He does not need riches for Himself; otherwise, the Father would have given them to Him. He was born poor, but surrounded by the love of Mary and Joseph, and that was enough for Him!
“Even if our heart lacks love, it longs for love” (St. Francis de Sales).
St. Francis de Sales was a very sensitive spiritual guide who always knew how to encourage a soul and build on the good he found in it, especially when it was in darkness. Thus, today’s phrase can also serve as a consolation and speak to us in the midst of our inner darkness, when we feel incapable of loving and our heart seems closed in on itself.
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (Jas 4:8)
In all true love, we seek to be close to the person we love. God, for His part, constantly fills us with His presence and nearness; He seeks man and wants to be with him. But it is also necessary for man to seek God’s nearness, to open his heart to Him, and to long to be with Him. Then he will increasingly perceive the closeness of his beloved Father, who can reveal Himself to an open heart.
“I always guide you along the best path, the one that benefits you most” (Inner Word).
If we have consciously surrendered our lives to our heavenly Father, if we strive daily to follow His Son and pursue holiness, we need not worry about the next stage of the journey. We must simply walk it attentively each day, with the certainty that God will always choose the most suitable path for us in every area of our lives—the one that benefits us most.
“Be like a well that first collects water within itself and then pours it out in abundance” (St. Bernard).
In today’s quote, St. Bernard emphasizes that we must walk the path of holiness ourselves, which produces abundant fruit when His grace can act powerfully in us. All teachers of the spiritual life will affirm this. In fact, it is entirely logical, “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Lk 6:45).
