Feb. 28 - Day 9 - "emptying oneself of the 'spirit of the world'..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday, after posting a quote from Chapter 7 of St. Louis de Montfort’s book, “The Love of Eternal Wisdom” I read the entire chapter. It was a blessing for me and I encourage you to read the online version, I linked to the title if you do not have the book yourself.

Today, however, before I quote again from that chapter, I was mindful also of the First Letter of John the Beloved Disciple in which he wrote:

See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope based on Him makes himself pure, as He is pure (1 Jn 3: 1-3)

We cannot purify ourselves, but by God’s Gift of Supernatural Hope infused into our souls at Baptism, we can hope in Him to purify us! We “see” Him now only by Faith, but if we continue to Believe in Him, Hope in Him, Love Him and all others for Love of Him, we will see Him as He is in the Beatific Vision. By His Grace we need to choose the Spirit of God and not the spirit of the world!

In Chapter 7 on the “Choice of True Wisdom”, St. Louis wrote:

1. Never has the world been so corrupt as it is now, for never has it been so cunning, so wise in its own way, and so crafty. It cleverly makes use of the truth to foster untruth, virtue to justify vice, and the very maxims of Jesus Christ to endorse its own so that even those who are wisest in the sight of God are often deceived. “Infinite is the number of these men, wise in the sight of the world but foolish in the eyes of God” (Eccles. 1:15).
2. Earthly wisdom of which St James speaks, is love for the things of this world. Worldly men secretly subscribe to this wisdom when they set their hearts on worldly possessions and strive to become rich. They institute court proceedings and engage in needless disputes to acquire wealth or hold on to it. Most of the time they are thinking, speaking, acting with the sole aim of acquiring or keeping some temporal possession. They pay little or no attention to their eternal salvation or to the means of saving their souls, such as Confession, Holy Communion, prayer, etc.; except in an offhand way out of routine, once in a while, and for the sake of appearances.

Only by God’s Grace can we “empty ourselves of the ‘spirit of the world’ which is opposed to ‘The Spirit of Jesus’…” Knowing all grace comes to us through Mary, we ask her intercession that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may repent of our own worldliness in seeking ourselves and not seeking first His Kingdom within our souls. How we need this preparation and this renewal of our Baptismal promises!

Come Holy Spirit, fill us, as you filled Mary, with Jesus! Mary, Mother and Model of the Church pray for us. Our Father…Thy Kingdom Come!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear William,

Thanks for your “heart” indicating that you “liked” this post.

Was there something in particular that God gave you in this Day 9 of our journey? Maybe you would like to share it – but maybe not. Certainly, God can give us His Grace in such a hidden way – we cannot really express it – that is His beautiful way, often. So, feel free to keep it, pondering it, in your heart or share it if you discern it may help others. Simply ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.