Lest You Remain

vants, are not are not among those who follow the Crucified One, because they see signs, but the passionate love of God reigns in their hearts—without any signs. They do not need any extraordinary signs of favor and graces, while they carry the yoke of God’s service with a very holy stubbornness. They do not count how much the Lord owes to them, but how much they owe to Him. Nor do they ever cease to pursue the path of perfection, in exercising love and in daily hardships. Such ser- vants will finally receive their praise, such soldiers of Christ will be honored, such Religious will receive the eternal reward. Long to be counted among them, and ask the Lord, present in the Holy Eucharist, to make you fit, to not to seek comforts, but to carry the cross, and to bear numerous hardships. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 8 “A violent storm came” (Mt 8:24). Notice, that the danger of shattering the boat, along with the rolling waves of the sea, allowed the Lord to test the faith of the disciples. It is the same way for you or—as you can expect—it will be in future. The storms and turbulence which arise in your soul, caused either by Satan or by you yourself, occur according to the will of God and His Providence, to test you in the virtues, and to put your perseverance to the test in your sacred ministry and in your trust in God. We are still on the sea, that is, we lead this unpleasant life, filled with defeats. In no way can we avoid the storms of torments, the waves of tempta- tions and the tempests of sorrows, nor should we be free from them. Since we can discern the courage, the knowledge and the efforts of the seamen, by their ability to pass through and survive storms, in the same way, love for God, courage and the discernment of God’s servant is tested, in opposing the waves of difficulties. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 9 “A mercenary is someone who tends the Lord’s sheep, not out of a profound love, but for a temporal reward” (Gregory the Great). Beware to not serve the Lord with any other intention, than out of a pure love for Him, so that you would not earn the name of a mercenary, and you would not lose your reward. What does it mean to be a mercenary, rather than a servant of God? It is to search for praise, that you did something well; to boast about, rather L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 180