Though JESUS was hidden in Mary, He was never hidden from her. This was
(1) because Mary never put any obstacle between herself and JESUS--her
thoughts were all with Him and never with herself, and (2) because her
faith and love and desire were so strong that she at once overcame all
obstacles, which He in His love and desire for her merit put in her way
as was the case during the three days' loss. JESUS and Mary are the
models of my interior life. Like Mary I must try to surmount all
obstacles, welcome every sword that pierces, leave self and seek Him.
Like JESUS in Mary I must strive to lead a hidden life.
How is it to be done? There is only one way--to have God always before
my eyes, and self only there to be sacrificed. If I make this my rule,
it will simplify my life and be the quick solution of many problems. Why
this _dryness_ in prayer? To bring God to my mind and to give me an
opportunity of sacrificing self with its love of spiritual consolation
and sensible enjoyment. The very dryness makes me thirst after God: "As
the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so my soul panteth after
Thee, O God. My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when
shall I come and appear before the face of God?" (Ps. XLI. 1-3). This is
what God wants--to see the soul longing and thirsting for Him. That is
why He puts the obstacle of dryness between Himself and the soul, and
hides Himself behind it while He watches the soul struggling to forget
itself and saying: "O my soul why dost thou disquiet me? Hope thou in
God, for I will still give praise to Him" (verse 12). This is how the
faithful soul overcomes the obstacles--not by praying to have them
removed, but by a firm faith that God is in them. So with
temptations--why these terrible temptations, when God could so easily
remove them? Because He is the Master and He knows what is best. If the
temptations were removed, the soul would soon be wrapped up in
self-complacency and self-satisfaction. Temptations properly used keep
the soul close to God, it sees God hidden in them and forgetting all
about its treacherous self, it turns to Him Who alone can save it from
falling, it keeps God only in view and makes the sacrifice of self. The
same principle holds good for all the many obstacles behind which God
hides. If they are properly used they are no longer obstacles, but
stepping-stones by means of which we pass to Him. God everywhere and
self nowhere! God everything and self nothing! God, not self, the object
of all I do and think and plan! And that not because I can feel Him and
see Him and enjoy Him, but because my faith tells me that though hidden
_He is there_. This was the principle of Mary's life hidden with her
Son. He was the cause, the direct cause, of all her troubles, of all the
many swords that pierced her most pure heart, yet never was there a life
hidden with Christ as was Mary's and the reason was that she forgot
herself and saw JESUS only.
"_Your_ life is hid with Christ in God." Are these words of St. Paul
true about me? Let me read the whole verse and then I shall know: "For
_you are dead_, and your life is hid with Christ in God." _When_ self is
dead, then I shall be able to say _God only_, and till then, God be
thanked, I can hide my miserable self in Him and tell Him that I want it
to be sacrificed though I so seldom have the courage to do it.
_Colloquy_ with JESUS hidden in Mary.
_Resolution._ To see my hidden God everywhere and self nowhere.
_Spiritual Bouquet._ "Why hidest Thou Thy Face?" (Job XIII. 24).