THE INWARD CONVERSATION OF CHRIST WITH THE FAITHFUL
SOUL
I WILL hear what the Lord God will speak in me."[24]
Blessed is the soul who hears the Lord speaking within her, who
receives the word of consolation from His lips. Blessed are the ears
that catch the accents of divine whispering, and pay no heed to the
murmurings of this world. Blessed indeed are the ears that listen, not
to the voice which sounds without, but to the truth which teaches
within. Blessed are the eyes which are closed to exterior things and
are fixed upon those which are interior. Blessed are they who
penetrate inwardly, who try daily to prepare themselves more and more
to understand mysteries. Blessed are they who long to give their time
to God, and who cut themselves off from the hindrances of the world.
Consider these things, my soul, and close the door of your
senses, so that you can hear what the Lord your God speaks within you.
"I am your salvation," says your Beloved. "I am your peace and your
life. Remain with Me and you will find peace. Dismiss all passing
things and seek the eternal. What are all temporal things but snares?
And what help will all creatures be able to give you if you are
deserted by the Creator?" Leave all these things, therefore, and make
yourself pleasing and faithful to your Creator so that you may attain
to true happiness. |
Of the inward voice of Christ to the faithful soul
I will hearken what the Lord God shall say within
me.(1) Blessed is the soul which heareth the Lord speaking within it,
and receiveth the word of consolation from His mouth. Blessed are the
ears which receive the echoes of the soft whisper of God, and turn not
aside to the whisperings of this world. Blessed truly are the ears
which listen not to the voice that soundeth without, but to that which
teacheth truth inwardly. Blessed are the eyes which are closed to
things without, but are fixed upon things within. Blessed are they
who search inward things and study to prepare themselves more and more
by daily exercises for the receiving of heavenly mysteries. Blessed
are they who long to have leisure for God, and free themselves from
every hindrance of the world. Think on these things, O my soul, and
shut the doors of thy carnal desires, so mayest thou hear what the
Lord God will say within thee.
2. These things saith thy Beloved, "I am thy
salvation, I am thy peace and thy life. Keep thee unto Me, and thou
shalt find peace." Put away thee all transitory things, seek those
things that are eternal. For what are all temporal things but
deceits, and what shall all created things help thee if thou be
forsaken by the Creator? Therefore put all things else away, and give
thyself to the Creator, to be well pleasing and faithful to Him, that
thou mayest be able to attain true blessedness. |