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Letting God Free
Dec
16
Written by:
Sunday, December 16, 2007
3rd Sunday Advent
December 16, 2007
I have a collection of spiritual writings that I refer to often. This is one of my favorites, though I do not know the author. It is simply entitled "Letting God Free," and beautifully describes one of the great secrets of the spiritual life.
Father Gary
Few souls give the Lord the liberty of doing what he wishes. The majority evades Him, are stingy, quibble and withdraw; give in today to take back tomorrow; will indeed, yet do not will, and offer to the grace of God a rather narrow entrance.
As God does not wish to use violence, He avoids forcing an entrance. Since the soul refuses to do violence to itself, it opposes the plentitude of the divine within itself.
This goes on constantly among the half-saints, the one-third or quarter saints that God urges to a richer and more complete possibility.
Surely my stinginess and my evasions are explained by my weakness, and they are never entirely corrected; I will remain weak forever. It is good to tell myself that, not to become discouraged, but to remain humble, and to count upon the grace of God.
But is there not in my more or less voluntary cowardice something of personal negligence; some responsibility on my part?
It is this rather serious willful negligence that I wish to diminish. It is never too late to give oneself entirely. I should have begun long ago. Grace knocks at the door. God would have given me much. I will strive to develop my power of receiving divine invitations, but above all my power to acquiesce. Yes, Father, Ita Pater. Yes, Father, my Father and my God, I accept, I consent. Speak, I will listen; even now, I say yes.
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