- Nothing happens without God allowing it or without a reason.
- What am I attached to? If I have a taste for earthly things I will not be open to God.
Ch. 50: How a person in desolation should give himself over to the hands of God. Nothing happens on earth without your plan (wisdom) and providence or without a reason. It benefits me that shame has covered my face (Ps 69:7), that I may rely on you rather than human beings for my consolation.
God afflicts the righteous person by means of the wicked, though not without equity and justice. It is better to be corrected here (now in this life) than in the future (in the life to come). When people glorify each other, they are really bringing shame through their empty praise. [In getting any kind of blessing, mercy, grace, consolation, I am getting more than I deserve. Whatever happens in this life is what needs to happen. Purification in purgatory.]
Ch. 51: When you fail at great works you must focus on humble ones. You must often groan in the flesh over the flesh's burden because you are not strong enough to cling unceasingly to spiritual endeavors and divine contemplation. It helps for you to take refuge in humble and external works, as well as to find refreshment in good actions. You must endure your exile and dryness of mind patiently. [Humble myself in small actions.]
Ch. 52: A person should not regard himself as deserving of consolation, but rather as guilty and deserving of chastisement. I am not worthy of anything besides being chastised and punished, since I have been quite delinquent in many areas. I have always been prone to vice (Gen 6:5) and slow to make amends. I am worthy of all ridicule and contempt, and that it is unfitting for me to remain among those devoted to you. Guilty and full of failure as I am, what shall I say? I have no mouth to speak, except to say just one thing: I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned. Have mercy on me, forgive me. [God owes me nothing except all the brokenness that I've brought into this world.]
Ch. 53: God's grace does not mix with those who have a taste for earthly things. [What am I attached to? If I have a taste for earthly things I will not be open to God's grace.] God's grace cannot bear being mixed with foreign substances or earthly consolations. Therefore, you must cast aside all obstacles to God's grace, if you want to receive its outpouring. Love dwelling with yourself alone. Regard the whole world as nothing. You must grow distant from friends and acquaintances and keep your mind a stranger to (be detached from ) all temporal solace (worldly comfort). Take no greater caution with anyone than with yourself. If you conquer yourself completely, you will subdue everything else more easily. Complete victory is triumphing over oneself. Destroy the disordered inclination to self. One who desires to walk freely with God must mortify all his depraved and disordered affections, and not cling to any creature with concupiscent personal love.
Every difficulty becomes a moment of purification that prepares the heart for heaven. How does your daily annoyances and humble acts of surrender become powerful acts of love when united to Christ?
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