Lest You Remain

L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 126 As to the objects of consultation, you should be able to discern them and prop- erly distinguish: what is useful from what is useless, the good from the bad, the more important from the less crucial; simultaneously, considering one’s position, one’s own vocation, and the scope of possessed virtues and talents. The best and most appropriate measures should be taken to reach the goal we are pursuing. We should efficiently employ our will and other powers of the soul, to perform the tasks which have already been chosen and accepted. As the Sage testifies, “a wise man is more powerful than a strong man, and a man of knowledge, than a man of might” (Proverbs 24:5). Thus, he will not only discern and choose rightly, but also the good that he has discerned and chosen, will perseveringly lead him to fruition. Probably, the last act of discernment is to consider the judiciousness of the world as injudiciousness, and its wisdom as stupidity. As they say—with might and main, proceed to God’s love. As the above mentioned Sage says, “Vanity of vani- ties! All things are vanity!” (Eccl. 1:2; 12:8) And stupidity, except for the love of God and service to Him alone (cf. Dt. 6:13; 11:1). ( Inspectio Cordis ) 5 5 Believe, that this is the voice of the Lord when you are called to improve your life, when you are turned from the path of mistakes, when you are urged to do penance for your trespasses, when you are prompted to despise the world, to renounce your own self, to love your brother and to be obedient. When, finally, you are called to acquire all different virtues, the voice which is prompting, urging and exhorting you is the voice of the Lord. Thus, you must admit that happy are those who can hear this voice, recognize and understand it, and thanks to that, they will never be misled, they will never err or get lost. You, keeping your heart constantly open to this voice, say like the just man, David: “My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast” (Ps 56:8): “Let it be done to me as you say” (Luke 1:38). ( Inspectio Cordis ) 6 Those, to whom the Heavenly Luminary grants the grace of self-knowledge, will proceed well. Then, when they see their offenses, they regret them and feel aversion toward them, when they realize how ugly they are. They care most for their salvation, as soon as they realize that they are the greatest sinners.