223 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year pray to the Lord with the King of Judah,90 that He may remain constantly with you: “Hide not [Y]our face from me” (Ps 27:9); “Be not far from me” (Ps 22:11). 2. “it is to your advantage that I go away” (Jn 16:7). Contemplate deeply these words of the Savior, and consider how much good His withdrawal from your soul of His own will does to it; namely, it infuses in your soul the greatest humility. For when it feels forsaken, it recognizes that without God it cannot do or think anything good. The soul recognizes and experiences its own worthlessness, and it understands how much this state of abandonment differs from the constant presence of its beloved God. Therefore, having acquired through this withdrawal the knowledge of itself and of God, the soul turns to Himwith greater love. For the more that is learned about a lost good, the more it is loved and appreciated. The further a soul is from this good, the greater is its desire to see it, according to the saying “My soul yearns for [Y]ou in the night” (Is 26:9). Thus, do not lose heart if the Lord, your Guest today, should withdraw Himself of His own will, but “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage” (Ps 27:14). 3. “if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you” (Jn 16:7) [DRB]. O admirable providence of our Lord! O highest expression of fatherly care! O inexplicable goodness! When He reveals to the disciples the news of His departure, knowing that it will bring them sadness, He promises the advent of a Consoler, and He says, as if leaving the choice to them: “if I go not, [f.52r] the Paraclete will not come to you.” It is as if He were saying: It is necessary that either the Paraclete or I stay with you. Now, if I do not go, although I most certainly must, He will not descend upon this world and, therefore, upon you. If, however, you desire eagerly to see and receive Him, it is necessary for you to be deprived of My visible presence for some time. 90 Saint Stanislaus is speaking of King David, who belonged to the tribe of Judah.
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