John of the Cross
If someone harbors something of that deep love for God, which longs for silent solitude, then we would cause great harm to him and to the church if we were to force him, even for a moment, into "activity" and other significant actions. For God Himself urges us not to disturb the soul from such a meeting of love. Who would dare do so without consequence? After all, we were created for such love! Those who are active should think about this, believing that their speaking and all their external efforts serve the world. They should consider that they would serve the church better and would bring more joy to God if they spent at least a small part of their time consumed in this way in prayer with God, even if their prayer were still very poor. The increase in spiritual strength they would receive as a gift would enable them to achieve more with a single action—and with less effort—than with a thousand others. What they do is merely tire themselves out, yet they can achieve almost nothing, and sometimes nothing at all, if they do not even cause harm.
God protect us from the salt becoming corrupted. What seems to be accomplished outwardly will be nothing at its core. For a good deed cannot be done otherwise than by the power that comes from God. How much could be written about this!
Spiritual Song 28
John of the Cross: More important than all "actions",
Carmelite Impulses III/1993).
Translated by Dr. Vojtěch Pola.
