Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582)
Realize, daughters, that this your Bridegroom (Jesus) will never take his eyes off you, even though he had to endure thousands of ugly, even dreadful things from you. And it is indeed something great when you now turn your eyes away from external things and focus them on Him several times? Do you remember what He says to the Bride: he waits only for your gaze to show himself, just as you long for it. He values this gaze so much that for it he does not regret any effort.
(...) Thus He acts with you, without the slightest pretense. He becomes your servant and wants you to be the commanders, and He will submit to your will in everything. If you are full of joy, you can contemplate him resurrected and see how he comes out of the tomb, and your joy will overflow. What beauty! What brightness! What majesty! What joy! With what glory he leaves the battlefield, on which he has gained a kingdom without end, which he now wants to share with you by giving you himself! Will it not be something great when you occasionally turn your gaze to Him, who surrounds you with such gifts?
If you are troubled and distressed, you can contemplate him as he goes to the Garden of Gethsemane. How crushing must have been his sorrow, since He, who is the might of itself, suffers and laments? Look at him, how he is bound to the pillar, gripped by terrible torments, with torn skin, with pieces of flesh: and all this for great love of us. How much suffering! And yet some pursue him, others spit on him, he is denied, abandoned by friends, no one comes to his defense, shivering from the cold, and is so forsaken that you can comfort him at any time. Or look at him as he carries the cross on his shoulders, when the executioners do not even allow him to breathe. And then he looks at you with those beautiful eyes, full of compassion and tears; he forgets his pains to comfort you in your troubles, only when you will look at him and ask him to comfort you.
If you look at Him as he is tormented, your heart will soften, then you will not only see Him but you will begin to speak with Him, not in composed prayers, but in words that come from the heart, and those He loves the most.
(The Way of Perfection 26, 3–6)
