Aug 2 Sat
Should I be like a brief spark or a persistent ember?
In the interior life, there are periods of light and of darkness.
God sometimes grants his apostles spells of fair weather, when all the elements, one's own deficiencies, and the external difficulties are stilled; the soul rejoices, filled with happiness and peace. God tends to lead souls, above all at the beginning, and sometimes perhaps for years, through less stormy seas, to consolidate them in their initial decision, without asking them at the beginning for what they cannot give, because they are still like newborn babes.
With the passage of the years, the soul may find itself in a state of apparent darkness; it seems to be making no progress, and it no longer experiences its former fervor. It is as if the fire of enthusiasm has died out, and a sense of routine has replaced the drive that characterized the early days.
With or without enthusiasm, with great fervor or with just the determination to be faithful to our Lord, we must strive to gain a little ground every day, constantly rekindling in our hearts the fire of God's love.
To light a great fire, it is first necessary to set fire to a small amount of dry leaves or paper. Then, once it is burning away, solid material must be added. Once the fire takes hold, it produces a mass of glowing coals that provide a permanent flow of warmth to the surroundings. The coals don't tend to produce very big flames. At times, the coals scarcely give any light at all: they are a pile of embers, a source of heat hidden beneath the apparent coldness of the ashes.
Something similar happens in the interior life. “Some, if they don't see flames, think that there isn't any fire. And they are often mistaken. To give off heat and set things on fire, big flames aren't needed: a red-hot ember is enough."
The breath of God's grace, which is never lacking, will blow away the ashes and fan the embers, radiating the warmth of love and the brightness of faith, and stoking up the fires of loyalty which can withstand any storm or tempest.
In times of darkness, we should not become discouraged. We can be certain that our Father God is going to make of our soul a work of art. He only requires us to be faithful in our Christian vocation, and not to falter even though we may not know the way or see the goal clearly. Interior dryness is not lukewarmness.
We must persevere in doing the Norms - the prayer, the Mass, Holy Communion, devotion to our Lady and the Guardian Angels - knowing that God tests the soul that pleases him. It is not for us to understand how we are led by the Holy Spirit, who alone fashions souls. In giving ourselves to God, we leave the guidance of our life and our sanctification in his hands. We must renounce self to concern ourselves solely with the things of God: He will look after us.