“GOD’S LONGING FOR OUR LOVE …”

by Sister Kathleen McDonagh, IWBS

Even before we have completely surrendered ourselves to God, we can make our first entry into the “castle” within us, Teresa of Avila tells us – that castle in which the Lord dwells at the center. This journey to the center of the castle is the journey of our growth in prayer.

Carmelite Father Ernest Larkin suggests that we think of the castle as a spiral rather than a circle. Thus, if we are journeying gradually from one section of the spiral to another, we are coming closer and closer to the Lord in the center. And Teresa assures us that those who take even the first steps to enter the castle “have done quite a bit just by having entered.” (Interior Castle, “The First Dwelling Places,” Ch. 1, #8).

But entering into the first dwelling place of the castle is the beginning of the journey to union with God, not the end. “This Lord desires intensely that we love him and seek his company,” Teresa tells us in speaking of the second dwelling place, “so much so that, from time to time, he calls us to draw near him. And his voice is so sweet that the poor soul dissolves at not doing immediately what he commands.”

How does this sweet voice of the Lord come to us in the second dwelling places? Teresa describes the process quite simply:

“These appeals and calls … come through words spoken by other good people, or through sermons, or through what is read in good books, or through the many things that are heard and by which God calls, or through illnesses and trials, or also through a truth that he teaches during the brief moments we spend in prayer; however lukewarm these moments may be, God esteems them highly. (Interior Castle, “The Second Dwelling Places,” #3).

At this stage, we hear the voice of the Lord, but because of our lack of commitment, our response in this “dwelling place” of the castle, still closer to the rim of the spiral than to the center, is “lukewarm.” Yet God’s longing for our love is so great that he highly esteems even this lukewarm response. And our will helps us to keep in mind that this true Lover never leaves us … that we could not find a better Friend even if we were to live for many years (cf. Interior Castle, “The Second Dwelling Places,” #4).

At this early stage, the way into the spiral castle is the way of the cross. We have to fight our own lukewarmness, temptations, sin, and the way to do that is the way of the cross. “Embrace the cross your Spouse has carried and understand that that must be your task,” says Teresa (cf. Interior Castle, “The Second Dwelling Places,” #7). But she also urges us not to get discouraged and to strive to live in interior peace and gentleness. “Provided that we don’t give up, the Lord will guide everything for our benefit (Interior Castle, “The Second Dwelling Places,” #10). In his love and strength, we can move steadfastly through the spiral of prayer, coming ever close to the Lord at the center.

For reflection and prayer

1. Am I aware that the Lord of All continually calls me in love to draw closer to him and that he waits for my response? Let me reflect on how have I grown in my relationship to him in the last month, year, five years, ten years, etc. Pray with Mk. 1:16-20; Jn. 14:1-3; 15:9-17.

2. What are some of the obstacles that prevent my growth in his love? What am I doing about them? Do I really believe that “provided we don’t give up, the Lord will guide everything for our benefit”? Pray with Ps. 51; Ps. 131; 2 Cor. 1:3-11; 2 Thess. 2:13- 17.