Book 4, Chapter 16: That We Ought To Lay Open Our Necessities To Christ And To Require His Grace.
Chapter Focus: Imagine coming into your house on a cold, blustery day. You are snow-covered, wet, and chilled through your coat. But entering the door, you know there’s a fire going in the fire-place. At first, when we stand in front of the fire, we simply want to warm up. We take off our wet clothes and revel in the warmth. The need for warmth has been fulfilled. With a cup of hot tea, cocoa or coffee we send that heat to our insides, and gush with relaxation as that thirst for sustaining fluid hits our bellies. However, when we get too close to that fire, we soak up the heat, and then, if we are there too long, the heat becomes too much to absorb – even painful. We have to back off so as to not get burned. Thomas relates such a feeling in this Chapter, as we come closer and closer to our Lord. The Disciple asks Jesus to enkindle him…set him on fire with the love of the Holy Spirit, even to the point of losing ourselves in the process.
Chapter 16, In Short.
1. Lord, You know my weaknesses and the necessities which I suffer from.
2. I stand poor and naked before You, requiring grace and imploring Your mercy.
3. If only You would kindle, consume, and transform me into Yourself! If only I could be made one spirit with You.
The text of Chapter 16: That We Ought To Lay Open Our Necessities To Christ And To Require His Grace.
The Voice of the Disciple:
O most sweet and loving Lord, Whom I now desire to receive devoutly, You know my weaknesses and the necessities for which I suffer, in what evils and vices I exist upon; and how often I am weighed down, tempted, disturbed, and defiled. I come to You for remedy, I plead with You for consolation and support. I speak to You Who know all things, to Whom all my secrets are open and Who alone are able to perfectly comfort and help me. You know what good things I most need, and how poor I am in the virtues.
2. Behold, I stand poor and naked before You, requiring grace and imploring Your mercy. Refresh the hungry supplicant, kindle my coldness with the fire of Your love, illuminate my blindness with the brightness of Your presence. Turn all earthly things into bitterness for me, all grievous and contrary things into patience, all things worthless and created into contempt and oblivion. Lift up my heart to You in Heaven, and do not leave me to wander over the earth. Be sweet to me from this day forward forever, because You alone are my meat and drink, my love and joy, my sweetness and my whole good.
3. Oh If only You would kindle, consume, and transform me into Yourself! If only I could be made one spirit with You, by the grace of inward union, and the melting of earnest love! Do not let me go away from You hungry and dry. Rather, deal mercifully with me, as oftentimes You have dealt wondrously with Your saints. What a marvel it would be if I could be wholly kindled from You, and utterly fail in myself, since You are a fire always burning and never failing, love purifying the heart and enlightening the understanding.