WHEN WE CANNOT ATTAIN TO THE HIGHEST, WE MUST
PRACTICE THE HUMBLE WORKS
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, you cannot always continue in the more fervent desire
of virtue, or remain in the higher stage of contemplation, but because
of humanity's sin you must sometimes descend to lower things and bear
the burden of this corruptible life, albeit unwillingly and wearily.
As long as you wear a mortal body you will suffer weariness and
heaviness of heart. You ought, therefore, to bewail in the flesh the
burden of the flesh which keeps you from giving yourself unceasingly
to spiritual exercises and divine contemplation.
In such condition, it is well for you to apply yourself to
humble, outward works and to refresh yourself in good deeds, to await
with unshaken confidence My heavenly visitation, patiently to bear
your exile and dryness of mind until you are again visited by Me and
freed of all anxieties. For I will cause you to forget your labors and
to enjoy inward quiet. I will spread before you the open fields of the
Scriptures, so that with an open heart you may begin to advance in the
way of My commandments. And you will say: the sufferings of this time
are not worthy to be compared with the future glory which shall be
revealed to us. |
That we must give ourselves to humble works when we
are unequal to those that are lofty
"My Son, thou art not always able to continue in
very fervent desire after virtues, nor to stand fast in the loftier
region of contemplation; but thou must of necessity sometimes descend
to lower things because of thine original corruption, and bear about
the burden of corruptible life, though unwillingly and with
weariness. So long as thou wearest a mortal body, thou shalt feel
weariness and heaviness of heart. Therefore thou oughtest to groan
often in the flesh because of the burden of the flesh, inasmuch as
thou canst not give thyself to spiritual studies and divine
contemplation unceasingly.
2. "At such a time it is expedient for thee to
flee to humble and external works, and to renew thyself with good
actions; to wait for My coming and heavenly visitation with sure
confidence; to bear thy exile and drought of mind with patience, until
thou be visited by Me again, and be freed from all anxieties. For I
will cause thee to forget thy labours, and altogether to enjoy eternal
peace. I will spread open before thee the pleasant pastures of the
Scriptures, that with enlarged heart thou mayest begin to run in the
way of My commandments. And thou shalt say, 'The sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall
be revealed in us.'"(1) |