“I am the Lord your God… you shall have no other gods before me…for I the Lord your God am a jealous God” – Exodus 20:2,3,5
One night a sacristan saw Thomas Aquinas praying before a crucifix. A voice seemed to come from the cross, “You have written well about me, Thomas. What reward would you have?” St. Aquinas responded, “nothing but You.”
To have a singular desire and focus upon God is the goal of the journey of the soul along the Road of Faith. This is a very long journey, for most souls, it is a life long trek.
This focus does not call the soul out of his life. But, instead brings God into his world. Job, family and the grind become a resting place for the soul to find God and welcome God.
Eventually, the soul integrates his inner focus on God and his life in the world. Whether surrounded by deadlines, children or bills, this soul brings together within himself simultaneously a consciousness of the Divine and enfleshment of humanity. This unity, in a sense, mirrors the incarnation of Jesus, Who is both God and fully human. Thus, the soul is at peace in the world and his heart is filled with the delight of God.
The soul must live for God alone, searching, focusing, waiting and praying. This total focus demands sacrifice, discipline and trust. In the end, the souls recognizes that coming to live for God alone is a grace. A grace generously given and a profound blessing of God.
It is in this singular focus and trust in which the tempest and storm no longer affects the soul. Though the waves crash around him and the winds tear at his ears, the soul rests totally in the comfort of the knowledge of God. Like Peter, this soul can walk into the storm with confidence that through God’s Will, the water will hold him up and the storm will not harm him. Matthew 14:28-29
Do not lose heart if your eyes are pulled away, the storm takes your attention and you sink into the raging sea. Do as Peter did in Matthew 14:30 – call out to Jesus to rescue you, then refocus your attention. Remember, this is a journey of a lifetime.
Like St. Peter and St. Aquinas, through all the storms, accomplishments and great deeds, desire only Jesus.