Lest You Remain

Surely, if you listen to the Truth, seek first the Kingdom of God and the rest will follow (cf. Lk 12:31). ( Inspectio Cordis ) 8 “Lord, save us! We are lost!” (Mt. 8:25). The disciples of Jesus, while them- selves in danger on the sea, give to you the example, that timely prayer is the most effective means to overcome dangers, temptations, sorrows and obstacles. God wants us to turn to Him with our needs, and that is why He allows our temptations, perse- cutions and attacks. A soldier either resists a charging enemy armed with a sword or any other weapon, or he runs away. A servant of God could resist the enemy from hell with the power of prayer. In the same manner, the man attuned to the heart of God says: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me” (Ps 120:1). Therefore, do not give up, after the first or the thousandth attack of the enemy of your soul, but for as long as he assails you, resist, even at the cost of your entire life. The more often you achieve victory, the more often you will receive a laurel wreath. The harder the fight is, the greater the reward will be. If you ask for God’s assistance, it will be given to you. Jesus pretended to be asleep, when He allowed you to be tormented with temptations. He is asleep, any time you are harassed, so you should wake Him up with efficient, humble and persevering prayer, asking for help. When you sink, miserably, and are drawn into an abyss by your sins, why don’t you cry out: “Lord, save me! I am lost!” (cf. Mt 8:25). Do not have any doubts, that when He gets into the boat of your heart today, He does so to lead you, to give you help and to save you. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 9 “Lord, I want to see” (Luke 18:41). If the blind man asked only to have his sight restored to see the world and created things, with what desire you should ask for the light of your soul, with what persistence in prayer and—let me say—with what holy obtrusiveness, you should demand to gaze on the very Creator and to contemplate Him? People who do not know the path of holy contemplation are deprived of a very powerful tool, since, thanks to it, one can reach a knowledge of oneself and of God, and can achieve a close communion with the Creator of all things, with the Highest Goodness. L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 168