Lest You Remain

Longing for heaven, and also for the beauty of our hearts, let us allow the Lord to chisel our hearts with His love so that sin, evil, and everything that’s ugly and mars the beauty intended by God, be cut off. But what if there is no longing for heaven? What if earthly goods and joys keep us tied up and won’t allow flying toward heaven on the wings of love? Well, let’s then awaken at least a longing for a longing. Let’s desire to have his longing for holiness, for love, for heaven… The modern world needs the Marian Helpers who would be longing for heav- en and through this would display the beauty of faithfulness to every man’s calling for the joy of heaven. We need them to draw the others upwards, to heaven! Are we such people? “You can bring a horse to the water, but you can’t make it drink.” With all due respect: how can you make a man long for God, if he does not have such a longing, having drowned it a long time ago in beer and vodka, overpowered with television and car rides? It seems that there is only one solution: he must find a horse that would drink with gusto and bliss from the nearby bucket. And that would be done without any theatrical effects, in simplicity, just because of this inexplicably great thirst. This cannot leave anyone unmoved. Others would also bend over the bucket and start drinking the refreshing water at a draught. People who are hungry and thirsty for God are for their companions far better ‘sermons’ than many elevated speeches” (Jacques Loew). Father Stanislaus—thirsty for heaven and perfect beauty—is this very sermon. 7. Conclusion “A tongue expresses what it can. Let the heart comprehend the rest” (St. Augustine). Fr. Janusz Kumala, M.I.C. Fr. St. Papczy < ski as the Inspiration for the Marian Helpers 223