Saturday, September 26, 2020

On How to Petition the Lord...

The discreet lover does not care to ask for what she lacks and desires, but only indicates this need so the Beloved may do what he pleases.

When the Blessed Virgin spoke to her beloved Son at the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, she did not ask directly for the wine, but merely remarked: They have no wine [Jn. 2:3]. And the sisters of Lazarus did not send to ask our Lord to cure their brother, but to tell him that Lazarus whom he loved was sick [Jn. 11:3].

There are three reasons for this: First, the Lord knows what is suitable for us better than we do; second, the Beloved has more compassion when he beholds the need and resignation of a soul that loves him; third, the soul is better safeguarded against self-love and possessiveness by indicating its lack, rather than asking for what in its opinion is wanting.


-- St. John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle, Stanza 2 #8


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