Lest You Remain

appropriate and necessary training can turn into a frantic quest for efficiency, as if apostolic service depended primarily on human means rather than on God. The praiseworthy desire to become close to the men and women of our day, believers and non-believers, rich and poor, can lead to the adoption of a secularized lifestyle or the promotion of human values in a merely horizontal direction. Sharing in the legitimate aspirations of one’s own nation or culture could lead to embracing forms of national- ism or accepting customs which instead need to be purified and elevated in the light of the Gospel. The path to holiness thus involves the acceptance of spiritual combat. This is a demanding reality, which is not always given due attention today. Tradition has often seen an image of this spiritual combat in Jacob’s wrestling with the mystery of God, whom he confronts in order to receive his blessing and to see him (cf. Gen 32:23-31). In this episode from the beginnings of biblical history, consecrated per- sons can recognize a symbol of the asceticism, which they need in order to open their hearts to the Lord and to their brothers and sisters. From Founder’s Writings ( Inspectio cordis , k. 29v–30v) “Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit” (Mt 4:1). Consider that once, God’s Spirit inspired Christ or rather moved or prompted Him, to go into the desert. There, after a very strict fast of forty days, an evil spir- it from hell tempted him. Never before, had Christ had to deal with such a tempter dwelling among people. From this, you should learn that there are many people in the world who do not experience temptations because the evil spirit considers them his own and does not reveal his power against them, does not aim bullets, does not hew wedges and does not set snares. Those who live in an order, a holy and forti- fied city of God, he attacks fiercely. Thus, the religious, despite their numerous mortifications, fastings and abstinence, are troubled and exposed to unusual temp- tations. It is so because their common adversary from hell considers them his most implacable enemies and resorts to all the possible tricks, makes the strongest efforts so as to force them out of there as from a camp fortified with God’s might and pro- tection, or tries to dig his way in, defeat and annihilate them. Thus, do not think this is any new kind of trouble, cross or religious fight when you hear that even the God-Man was tempted. Nor do not despair, of getting help from the One who led you out of the walls of Babylon to the holy desert. Remain hopeful and have trust, that you will manage to defeat the infernal enemy any time he attacks you, armed with so many disgusting thoughts, vices and wrong stimuli, as his power is much weaker than one might imagine. This dog may bark but he will not bite. While you, whenever you nourish yourself with the Holy Eucharist, acquire new strength and weapon. Certainly, the Eucharist is the mightiest weapon against any temptation. L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 54