O my Hope and my Father and my Creator and my true Lord and Brother! When I consider that you have declared it is your delight to dwell with the children of men, my soul rejoices greatly.
O Lord of heaven and earth, how these words help every sinner not to lose hope! Do you, Lord, perhaps lack those whose company would bring you joy, that you seek such a loathsome worm as I?
That voice, which was heard at the Baptism, claimed that you find your delight in your Son.
Does this mean that we are all equal, Lord? O, what immense mercy and what grace that we ourselves cannot deserve! And how we, mortals, forget all this! Therefore, please remember, my God, so much misery and keep in mind our weakness, for you are the Knower of all.
O my soul, ponder the great delight and the great love that the Father finds in knowing His Son and the Son in knowing the Father, and the fervor with which the Holy Spirit joins them both! And how no Person can be separated from this love and knowledge, for they are one.
These sovereign Persons know each other, love each other, and find their delight in one another. Well then, what need is there for my love? Why do you want it, my God, or what do you gain from it? O, be forever blessed, my God! May all things praise you, Lord, without end, since this can never be with you.
Rejoice, my soul, that there is someone who loves God as He deserves. Rejoice that there is someone who knows His goodness and worth. And give Him thanks for sending someone to earth who knows Him this way, namely, His only Son. Under this protection, you can ask for and attain to the point where, considering the delight His Majesty finds in dwelling with you, nothing on this earth can prevent you from delighting in Him. And rejoice in the greatness of your God and how He deserves to be loved and praised. And may He help you to have some small share in blessing His name. And that you may truly say: "My soul magnifies the Lord."
(Teresa of Jesus, A Soul's Cry to God 7)
