Lest You Remain

Learn to immerse your imperfections trustfully in the vast abyss of God’s mercy. Never dare to hold in contempt any man, even more sinister that Judas, or even worse, never condemn anyone. Profess that God’s heart is open to everyone, and be assured, that the road to salvation is closed to no sinner, as long as he is willing to do penance. Be much less disposed to judge and treat sinners harshly, having in mind your infirmity and God’s kindness for you. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 2 Beg God’s kindness to never shield your own trespasses and mistakes from you, but rather, to make them well known to you, even the tiniest imperfections. Just as we wash our clothes as soon as the smallest stains appear on them, similar- ly, seeing our conscience stained with sin, we cannot and should not stand it, but rather we should immediately try to atone for it. It is a great grace when God places our misdeeds in front of our eyes. It was redeeming for David, who acknowledged his crime when he was scolded by the Prophet (cf. 2 Sm 12:1-13). Solomon suf- fered, since no one admonished him for his excessive splendor and dissipation, and no one reprimanded him for his worship of idols (cf. 1 Kgs 11). Consider it a grace, and not an offense, when someone opens your eyes, points to your sins and criticizes them. If this happens to you, my soul, you may consider yourself to be saved. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 3 “‘Are you the Prophet?’ ‘No,’ he replied” (Jn 1:21). Contemplate that the rea- son why Christ places His Predecessor higher than the prophets, is his particular humility and penance. So you should also be assured, that you need to make an effort to practice penance and humility, rather than to demand the gifts of prophe- cy and extraordinary supernatural graces. Certainty of possessing grace, does not rest on prophecies, neither have all who have prophesied entered the Kingdom of the saved. A great hope for salvation lies in penance and humility. In any case, prac- ticing them is, in the first case, the key, and, in the second, the stairs to heaven. L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 170