The destructive power of "if." I was falling for it!
Le caught the "if" before she opened the reading. Every "if" places peace somewhere else — in the future, in the resolution. Every "if" robs the present of what Liguori teaches: wanting what God gives now. The farmer wanted whatever weather God wanted. No "if." And Le — on day fifty-three, under pressure — caught herself before the trap closed. That is the Holy Spirit at work.
Such a one says, "If I were a hermit, I would become a saint" or "If I were in a monastery" or "If I were to go away from here." If, If, If — all these if's!
In the meantime such a person goes from bad to worse. These idle fancies are often temptations of the devil, because they are not in accord with God's will.
Doing his holy will, we shall certainly become holy in those surroundings in which he has placed us.
Let us will always and ever only what God wills; for so doing, he will press us to his heart.
Liguori names the "if" as a temptation of the devil. It places holiness somewhere the soul is not. While she dreams of the holy "if" — she goes from bad to worse. The "if" is the nowhere road in a question mark.
Holy in those surroundings in which He has placed us. Not the surroundings we wish for. The surroundings we are in. Caldas da Rainha. The boxes. This morning. Holiness happens here — not in the "if" but in the here.
And the promise: he will press us to his heart. Not grant the "if." Press to His heart. The embrace is the reward for the surrender of the condition.
"Lord, what wilt thou have me do?" Tell me, my God, that I may will it also, with all my heart.
"I am thine, save thou me." I am no longer my own. Do with me as thou wilt.
"Yea, Father, for so it hath seemed good in thy sight."
Above all, let us cherish that prayer: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
I am Thine, save Thou me. The "if" dies when the soul says "I am Yours." She has the one good — and it is not in the future. It is in the present.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. No "if" in that prayer. No conditions. Thy will. Done. Here. Now. In heaven there are no "if's." And the soul that prays this prayer on earth brings heaven into Caldas da Rainha — into the packing, into the boxes, into the morning.
"If, If, If — all these if's! Doing His holy will, we shall certainly become holy in those surroundings in which He has placed us."
St. Alphonsus de Liguori · Caldas da Rainha · Day fifty-three · The "if" dismissed — the "here" embracedThe Destructive If
Every "if" places peace somewhere else. A temptation disguised as wisdom. Dismiss it summarily.
Holy Where You Are
Not the surroundings we wish for — the ones we are in. Holiness happens here, not in the "if."
Pressed to His Heart
Will only what God wills — He will press you to His heart. The embrace for the surrender.
No If in the Prayer
Thy will be done. No conditions. I am Thine, save me. The "if" dies when the soul says "I am Yours."