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May 28, 2008
consolation or desolation
If a man was in an ecstasy, as Saint Paul was, and knew that some sick man needed him to give him a bit of soup, I should think it far better if he would abandon his ecstasy out of love and show greater love in caring for the other in his need.
Nor should a man think that in doing so he will be deprived of grace, for whatever he willingly abandons out of love will become a much greater reward for him...For whatever a man would gladly have that he relinquishes and goes without for God's love, be it something material or spiritual, he will find all of it in God, just as if he had possessed it and had willingly abandoned it; for a man ought gladly to be robbed of all that he has for the love of God, and out of love he should wholly abandon and deny love's consolations.
But you must know that God's friends are never without consolation, for whatever God wills is for them the greatest consolation of all, whether it be consolation or desolation.
Meister Eckhart - Counsels on Discernment
Posted by amin at May 28, 2008 10:49 AM