Sustained by Hope
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it; and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it” (Luke 10:24).
Dear friend, the Light that shines above all knowledge and that appeared as a new rebirth for humanity is the Word made flesh and humanized in Jesus of Nazareth. He is the Light of the world. A Light that has shone since He became incarnate in our world and never ceases to shine; now it shines also for you and for everyone who seeks it with truth and from the heart.
Listen to these words from the prologue of the Gospel of John:
“The true Light, which enlightens every man, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own home, and His own people received Him not. But to all who received Him, He gave power to become children of God” (John 1:9-12).
Dear friend, having light is not the same as having knowledge, data, or erudition… These are the fruit of our effort, our abilities, and our good work. The Light to which I refer is the wisdom of God. It is a gift that is received. It comes from Above. One must desire it, ask for it on one’s knees… and wait for it.
Therefore, in this moment, I encourage you to seek it and ask for it. Begin by saying this brief prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, send Your Light from Heaven. Come, Light that penetrates souls. Come, sweet guest of the soul, rest from our labor. Enter into the depths of the soul, divine Light, and enrich us.
The gift is received, not demanded; therefore, the path is humble hope. But like all things of God, it is a combination of grace and nature. It is necessary to develop the art of knowing how to see. And it is also urgent to teach this art of seeing.
This art of knowing how to see is not about being curious or looking with greed, but about going inward, looking into the depths of our being, for it is from there that the Light and the wisdom of God will spring forth. Therefore, I invite you now to pause and leave behind all craving for knowledge and speculation. Close the doors of your senses and withdraw within yourself with this prayer:
Prayer: To Pause (E-40)
How good it is to pause! Lord, I would like to stop at this very moment. Why so much agitation? Why such frenzy? I no longer know how to stop; I have forgotten how to pray.
I close my eyes now; I want to speak with You, Lord. I want to open myself to Your universe, but my eyes resist staying closed. I feel a frantic agitation invading my entire body; it comes and goes, acting as a slave to haste. Lord, I would like to stop right now. Why such a hurry? Why so much agitation? I cannot save the world.
I am barely a drop of water in the immense ocean of Your marvelous creation. What is truly important is to seek Your blessed face. What is truly important is to stop once in a while and make an effort to proclaim that You are Greatness, Beauty, Magnificence—that You are Love.
The urgent thing is to be still and let You speak within me, to live in the depth of things and in the continuous effort to seek You in the silence of Your mystery. My heart continues to beat, but in a different way. I am not doing anything; I am not rushing. I am simply before You, Lord. And how good it is to be before You. Amen.
The Light shines within you like a hidden treasure. It is enough simply to know it and believe it.
Once you have that stillness—which you yourself must seek, taking all the time you need—feel your being in God, who is everything. And you will see that this fulfills you and you need nothing more. This is genuine prayer: Stay in stillness and solitude, simply being yourself in Him, who is Everything.
I invite you to stay for a few minutes in this recollection… Lord, I in You and You in me…
Keep your attention and trust fixed on God, for from there Light, wisdom, and Love will emanate. This was the prayer of Jesus: always alone and set apart. He knew He came from God and that in that stillness, God would reveal His mission to Him, and once fulfilled, He would return again to God.
Believe me, dear friend, follow the One who is the bearer of Light. First, follow Him on the way to the mountain, and then descend with Him to the valleys of life, clothed in Light, wisdom, and Love. Never grow weary.
Finish with this prayer by Mahatma Gandhi:
Prayer: Oh Man, Do Not Rest (S-35)
Whether you are tired or not, oh man, do not rest! Do not stop in your solitary struggle; keep going and do not rest.
You will walk through confusing and complicated paths, and you will only save a few sad lives. Oh man, do not lose faith; do not rest.
Your own life will be exhausted and will fade away, and there will be growing dangers along the way. Oh man, endure all that; do not rest.
Leap over difficulties even if they are higher than mountains, and even if beyond them there are only arid and dry fields.
The world will grow dark, and you will pour your light upon it, and the darkness will dissipate. Oh man, even if your life is in danger, do not rest.