MORNING MEDITATION: WEDNESDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT

Morning Meditation: Considerations on the Religious State — VIII

     Consider how dear to God is a soul that gives itself entirely to Him.

     The Son of God has already given Himself entirely to us. A Child is born to us, and a Son is given us. He has given Himself to us through the love He bears us. When St. Teresa gave herself to Jesus the Lord said to her: “Now because thou art all Mine, I am all thine.”

Meditation I:
     One is my dove, my perfect one. – (Cant. vi., 8). God loves all who love Him. I love them that love me. (Prov. viii., 17). Many indeed give themselves to God, but still keep in their hearts some attachment to creatures which prevents them from belonging entirely to Him. How then will God give Himself to a soul that divides its love between Him and creatures? It is just He should act with reserve towards those who act with reserve towards Him. On the other hand, He gives Himself entirely to those souls who drive from their hearts everything that is not for God, and who can truly say: My God and my All!
     St. Teresa, as long as she entertained an inordinate affection, though not an impure one, towards a certain person, could not hear from Jesus Christ what she afterwards heard, when, freeing herself entirely to Divine Love, and God said to her: “Since now thou art all Mine, I am all thine!”
     My beloved to me and I to him! – (Cant. ii., 16). Since then, O my God, Thou has given Thyself entirely to me. I should be ungrateful, indeed, were I not to give myself entirely to Thee; since Thou wouldst have me belong wholly to Thee, behold, O my Lord, I give myself entirely to Thee. Accept me through Thy mercy and disdain me not. Grant, O Lord, that my heart, which once loved creatures, may turn now wholly to Thy infinite goodness. “Let me at last die,” said St. Teresa, “and let another live in me. Let God live in me and give me life. Let Him reign, and let me be His slave, for my soul wishes no other liberty.” My heart is too small, O God most worthy of love, and it is too little able to love Thee, Who art deserving of an infinite love. I should then be guilty of too great an injustice were I to divide it by loving anything besides Thee. I love Thee; I renounce all creatures, and give myself entirely to Thee, my Jesus, my Saviour, my Love, my All.