So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

I think we are entering into the time period which many of us has long thought would happen. The escalation in the Middle East and in the world shows that the storm is coming at us full speed. I am not here to comment on politics or give my opinion into the vast array of opinions. Over the years when I have asked the Lord what is it you want me to speak? I consistently heard the Lord tell me to direct all eyes to Him. He points me to a bigger view of salvation history which helps keep anxiety at bay if you can see from a God’s eye view instead of getting caught in the minutiae of the daily dominos that fall.

Today, I was struck by a passage from The Mystical City of God by Venerable Mary of Agreda. In chapter 7 she elaborates on the disposition of Lucifer that led him to fall. She states;

They (the angels)received a more explicit intelligence of the being of God. One in substance …and they were commanded to adore and reverence Him as their creator and highest Lord infinite in his essence and attributes. All subjected themselves to this command and obeyed but with a certain difference. The good angels obeyed through love on account of the justice of it, offering their love and goodwill, freely admitting and believing what was above their intelligence and obeying with joy.

Lucifer, on the other hand, submitted himself because the opposite seemed to him impossible. He did not do it with perfect charity, for he, as it were, was divided in his will between himself and the infallible truth of the Lord. In consequence, it happened that the precept appeared to him in a measure difficult and violent, and his fulfilling of it was wanting in love and in the desire to do justice. Thus, he exposed himself beforehand to the danger of not persevering.

Although grace did not leave him on account of his remissness and slowness in the accomplishment of these first acts, never the less, his bad disposition began with them, for they remained within him a certain weakness and laxity of virtue and spirit and the perfection of his nature did not shine forth as it should.

She goes on to say that this disposition put him in danger of falling. And we all know the story that He did fall.

You’ll remember that my Spiritual Director once told me that the Saints in heaven do God’s will joyfully, fully and immediately. This is what God is calls us to do. This is how He can elevate our nature, when we are docile to His will, especially when it’s hard. It is the path to perfection.

This is why it is so imperative for us in our Spiritual Life to be in constant communication with God through prayer and to check our interior disposition often. Are we split between our own will and God’s? Have we exposed ourselves to the danger of not persevering?

Recognizing these things within ourselves is key. Are we doing what we are doing for love of God? If we are, God will perfect our nature to shine forth. If we are not, we are in for great purification.

Though the world looks scary and the surrender of my will may appear to me difficult and violent, the bigger danger, the one that happens if I do not persevere in the belief of the goodness and love of God, is that my soul gets lost. I asked the Lord daily to increase charity within me. In this year of hope, I do not want to get lost in the swamp of darkness of other men’s hearts. I want to be tucked securely into the Sacred Heart.

I pray, help me Lord to love like you love. Give me your heart with which to love because mine is deficient. Create in me a clean heart, O God.

We have no idea what tomorrow holds but we can persevere. We can shine light in the darkness.

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me
    to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
    they shall stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
    yet I will be confident.

One thing I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
    and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will set me high on a rock.

Now my head is lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
    be gracious to me and answer me!
 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, do I seek.
 Do not hide your face from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger,
    you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
    O God of my salvation!
 If my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will take me up.

Teach me your way, O Lord,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.
 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they are breathing out violence.

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!

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