Saturday, May 3, 2014

Drawn to a Great Truth

......if He should call you, 
Let yourself be drawn to Him.
He may lead you to a great truth.
Do not dwell on yourself, nor should you--
A creature subject to multiplicity and change--
   seek Him.
Rest in tranquility, loftier than action or feeling.
And you will find that as you lose yourself
He will give you strength.

Be pleased to remain where it pleases Him to place
     you.
Straining to find Him is of no avail;
Be at Peace with yourself.  He embraces you.
Return His embrace, but do not feel wronged
When He absents Himself.  Give no thought to yourself;
If you love as you should, you will be filled with joy!
Because that love in itself
Glows with a light that does not fail.

You know that you can only possess
To the extent that He will give;
What He withholds you cannot acquire;
Nor can you hold on to what you have
Unless He grants you that grace.
Your Path from beginning to end
Lies beyond your power;
The choice is not yours but the Lord's.

Hence, if you have found Him know in truth
That it was through no power of yours.
The good that is given you
Comes out of charity; it is a gift,
Not the fruit of your own efforts. 
Let all your desire; then,
Be directed toward Him.
The Infinite One, Giver of all good.

Brother Jacopone da Todi (+1306) OFM

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