Exclamación IV
A Desire to Serve
The soul reflects on its longing to serve God and acknowledges His persistent call despite its own unworthiness.
It seems, my Lord, that my soul finds rest in thinking of the joy it will have if, through your mercy, it is granted the joy of being with you. But first I want to serve you, since my soul is to enjoy what you won for it by serving it. What am I to do, my Lord? What am I to do, my God? Oh, how late my desires have caught fire, and how early you, Lord, were seeking me out and calling me to devote myself entirely to you! Lord, have you ever abandoned the wretched or turned away a poor beggar who wants to draw near to you? Lord, can there be any limit to your greatness or to your magnificent works? Oh my God and my mercy, how powerfully you can display them now in your servant!
The Mystery of Lost Time
The soul contemplates the possibility of recovering lost time through the power of God.
You are mighty, great God. Now it will become clear whether my soul understands itself, as it considers the time it has lost and how, in a single moment, you, Lord, can enable it to regain that time. I seem to be talking nonsense, since people say that lost time cannot be recovered. Blessed be my God!
Faith in Divine Omnipotence
The soul rests in the belief that God's power is limitless and pleads for the grace to be prepared for His presence.
O Lord! I acknowledge your great power. If you are powerful—and you truly are—what could be impossible for the One who can do all things?✦ Only will it, my Lord—only will it—for although I am miserable, I firmly believe that you can do whatever you will; and the more I hear of your wonders, and the more I consider that you can do even greater things, the stronger my faith becomes, and the more firmly I believe that you will do it. And why should anyone be amazed at what the Almighty does? You know well, my God, that amid all my misery I never failed to recognize your great power and mercy. Lord, let this one thing in which I have not offended you count in my favor.1 My God, redeem the time I have lost by giving me grace now and in the years ahead, so that I may appear before you dressed for the wedding feast—for if you will it, you can do it.✦✦2
Read the original Latin
—Parece, Señor mío, que descansa mi alma considerando el gozo que tendrá, si por vuestra misericordia le fuere concedido gozar de Vos. Mas querría primero serviros, pues ha de gozar de lo que Vos, sirviéndola a ella, le ganasteis. ¿Qué haré, Señor mío? ¿Qué haré, mi Dios? ¡Oh, qué tarde se han encendido mis deseos y qué temprano andabais Vos, Señor, granjeando y llamando para que toda me emplease en Vos! ¿Por ventura, Señor, desamparasteis al miserable, o apartasteis al pobre mendigo cuando se quiere llegar a Vos? ¿Por ventura Señor, tienen término vuestras grandezas o vuestras magníficas obras? ¡Oh Dios mío y misericordia mía, y cómo las podréis mostrar ahora en vuestra sierva!
Poderoso sois, gran Dios. Ahora se podrá entender si mi alma se entiende a sí mirando el tiempo que ha perdido y cómo en un punto podéis Vos, Señor, que le torne a ganar. Paréceme que desatino, pues el tiempo perdido suelen decir que no se puede tornar a cobrar. ¡Bendito sea mi Dios!
—¡Oh Señor! , confieso vuestro gran poder. Si sois poderoso, como lo sois, ¿qué hay imposible al que todo lo puede? Quered Vos, Señor mío, quered, que aunque soy miserable, firmemente creo que podéis lo que queréis, y mientras mayores maravillas oigo vuestras y considero que podéis hacer más, más se fortalece mi fe y con mayor determinación creo que lo haréis Vos. ¿Y qué hay que maravillar de lo que hace el Todopoderoso? Bien sabéis Vos, mi Dios, que entre todas mis miserias nunca dejé de conocer vuestro gran poder y misericordia. Válgame, Señor, esto en que no os he ofendido. Recuperad, Dios mío, el tiempo perdido con darme gracia en el presente y porvenir, para que parezca delante de Vos con vestiduras de bodas, pues si queréis podéis.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.1.37;Matt.19.26 — For nothing will be impossible with God. Matt.19.26 — Jesus looked at them and said, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
- ↩Matt.22.11-Matt.22.12 — But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding garment. Matt.22.12 — "And he says to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
- ↩Eph.5.16;Col.4.5 — making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Col.4.5 — Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the time.
Notes
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