Prayer article #5

“A STATE TO BE DESIRED …”

by Sister Kathleen McDonagh, IWBS

We have been reflecting on entering, through prayer, the spiral that leads to the “castle” within us which is the Lord’s dwelling place. There he waits for us, hoping that we will love him enough to want to continue our journey through the spiral to the center which is his dwelling place. In the first “dwelling place” of the spiral, we are still very ambivalent about giving everything to the Lord, still struggling with many occasions of sin. In the second dwelling place, we hear God calling to us in many different ways: through words, through books, through trials, and we do respond, but in a somewhat lukewarm fashion.

If we read Teresa of Avila’s description of those in the third dwelling place, we are struck with how far people have come and how much progress they have made in their journey to the Lord. Teresa describes them in the following words:

They long not to offend His Majesty, even guarding themselves against venial sins; they are fond of doing penance and setting aside periods for recollection; they spend their time well, practicing works of charity toward their neighbors; they are very balanced in their use of speech and dress and in the governing of their households – those who have them. Certainly, this is a state to be desired (Interior Castle, “The Third Dwelling Places,” Ch. 1, #5).

Looking at this description, we can surely say that these are good people indeed. – people who guard against venial sin, spend time in prayer and works of charity, keep all things in balance. In the same paragraph, Teresa goes on to say, “in my opinion, there is no reason why entrance even into the final dwelling place should be denied these souls, nor will the Lord deny them this entrance if they desire it.” And she also tells us that “through the goodness of God, there are many of these souls in the world.”

But in the interior castle which Teresa is describing, there are seven dwelling places, and the one we are reflecting on at this time is only the third. What then is lacking in these good people whom Teresa places in the third dwelling place? Teresa describes the basic problem as a lack of complete surrender to God. “The penance these souls do is well balanced, like their lives,” says Teresa, and she goes on to say, “Have no fear that they will kill themselves for their reason is still very much in control. Love has not yet reached the point of overwhelming reason.” Persons in the third dwelling place are too cautious for real sanctity. Spiritually they are saying, “Thus far and no further.” Yet God calls us, as he called his Son, to total surrender to his will. Teresa gives the example of a rich person who loses some wealth but not to the extent that she lacks necessities. Nevertheless, she goes about as disturbed as if she had not even a piece of bread. “How,” Teresa asks, “can the Lord ask her to leave all for him” as long as she is so disturbed? (Interior Castle, “The Third Dwelling Places,”Ch. 2, #4). God calls us to total surrender to him. If we are in the third dwelling place, we are indeed living the good lives which Teresa describes; nevertheless, we still have to go further, to “let go, let God,” and turn everything over to him. The journey to the center is still only partially completed.

For reflection and prayer

1. How does my present approach to prayer compare with Teresa’s description of persons in the third dwelling place? Wherever I may be in regard to prayer, let me ask God to help me to respond to his call to enter more and more deeply into his love. Pray with Jn. 15:9-17; 1 Cor. 3:10 – 16; Philippians 1:3 – 11; Hb. 5:13 – 6:1.

2. What was the most striking experience in my life where God asked me to give up what I wanted and to accept something totally different from him? How well did I surrender ungrudgingly to him? Ask God to help me make surrender to him the theme of my whole life. Pray with Lk. 1:26-38; Lk. 5:1 – 11; Lk. 22:39 – 46.