350th Meditation
“My dear children, I have lavished these gifts upon you with special graces for twenty centuries, but with what miserable results!” (Father’s message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
These words of the Father give us a glimpse into His Heart. The relationship between the riches God gives us and the fruits we bear from them is disproportionate. Day by day we can be strengthened through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, receive forgiveness in the sacrament of penance when we have fallen in our weakness, accept the love that the Redeemer offers us from the Cross and so many other graces that the Father gives us for our spiritual life. Everything is at our disposal and in abundance!
However, if we look realistically at the state in which the world and the Church find themselves, we will see that many – even among those who had already become children of His love through the Redeemer – do not recognise God’s goodness and lead a life with their backs turned to Him, forgetful of Him, and even plunge into the eternal abyss.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the Father, because of His infinite love for us, does everything possible to make this love even more clear to us. Of those who are in danger of eternal damnation He says: “Truly, they have not known My infinite goodness; I love you so very much!”
And to us, who want to accept His message and live as children of His love, He addresses this appeal: “Have pity on yourselves, do not throw yourselves over the precipice. I am your Father!”
It is good that our Father warns us. Holy Scripture also does not leave us in the dark about the danger that we humans can be eternally damned, and that this does indeed happen. Even if we have already recognised the Lord and try to correspond to His love, we still have a way to go in faithfulness to Him.
While it is true that our Father’s great love gives us true security and that He never withholds His love from us, it is equally true that we run the risk of losing our way in life. We must never become reckless and neglect vigilance by feeling too secure. In night prayer, monks and religious listen daily to this exhortation: “Keep sober and alert, because your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8).
If we cling to the love of our Father and try to deepen it day by day, we will reach our goal by God’s grace.