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Jesus Wants Us For Himself
"God doesn't make it impossible for anyone to buy his riches. He is content if each ones gives what he has... But reflect, daughters, that He doesn't want you to hold on to anything, so that you will be able to enjoy the favors we are speaking of [contemplation]. Whether you have little or much, He wants everything for Himself; and in conformity with what you know you have given, you will receive greater or lesser favors..."
St. Teresa of Avila, "The Interior Castle" in "The Collected Works Vol II.." Washington, DC, ICS Publictions, 1980, p 336
posted by Holly at 7:46 AM
1 Comments:
Jesus doesn't want us to sin, for this blocks His path to us. Jesus doesn't want us holding on to selfishness or attachments which take the place of Him. He can't get at us, and what He wants most is to 'get at us...'
Is there anything in my life which is an obstacle to getting closer to God? Am I fulfilling my 5 Ps in such a way that I 'know' there is nothing else I can do? am I holding on to something, like a habit or a possession or a inordinate love for something, which takes the place of my total and radical dependence on God? which blocks my 'total self-giving' to Christ?
St Teresa tells us that, in conformity with what we 'know' we have done for God, we will experience his 'favors'. What do we 'know' about ourselves - that we're still pretty slack about doing our prayer on time? that we compromise on our housework? that we indulge in those little pleasures when we really don't need them? We 'know' whether there is more we can do...
And St T tells us, when we overcome ourselves, and offer ALL to God, offer our entire selves, and don't hold on to any 'conditions' in our jounrey with the Lord, then we will experience all the riches Jesus wants to bestow upon us.
This Lent, let's seek Jesus and complete intimacy with Him by doing 'all that we can' to empty ourselves for Him...
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