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"For everyone therefore on earth it is fallacy to say and believe 'once I am this, all will be well', 'once this is achieved or sorted out, I will be happy'; these can only be momentary experiences because we (people on the earth) are creatures of time - we move within time to mortal decay - more so for people like you (Margaret and Geoff) who come close to the experience of God in your lives, who make a commitment of love to the Creator, and in doing so, invite Him to enter your lives. There is no lasting well being or joy for you until He lifts you out of this earthly existence to Himself."
Margaret remembered St. Augustine's words, 'Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.'
"Having embraced God in our limited way, having allowed our souls a glimpse of Him, our souls remain discontented until they are united to Him. The Great Father compensates, the children must go through their trial on earth. He gives them moments of great joy, great peace, glimpses of Himself. This satisfies the soul, and therefore the person, but only for so long - it is like providing someone with relief from pain by means of medication - the release from suffering is only for so long, the dose must be repeated. Prayer sustains the soul which insists to have contact with God, wherein His Mercy and Goodness He may show Himself.
The Eucharist is our life - ah, the numbers who receive the life of the soul and body in unworthiness - the Eucharist is our union with God, the receiving of the Eucharist is our union with God, our complete fulfilment in time. The unbeliever could well observe and say, "Where is the great change, the great transformation in the Catholic who receives the body of his Saviour, his God?", but I ask you, where is the preparation for that reception, and the thanksgiving? Does the patient about to be operated on not go through rigid preparation? Would the salving process have any possibility of success if he was not prepared, would there not be a danger to him? For perfect receiving of the Eucharist, for perfect joy and union with God, there must be preparation and thanksgiving before and after. Fast, empty the body so that the Spirit of God can enter; pray, tune your soul to reception, it lies asleep so much of the time. Speak and listen to the God who will enter you and longs to overpower you. Have dialogue with Him, have good relations. Tell Him the sorrows of your heart, tell Him your heart's desires, your longings, your fears - discuss your weaknesses and temptations - give to Him your problems. Talk things over with Him, learn to be still to listen to Him, then when He enters, in that meeting point the dialogue is complete. Then you can confidently abandon yourself to Him, then you can give thanks and praise for this Great God who so loves you, loves you beyond all measure; then you will have no worries, they are all His to take care of. Make of your week, of your lives, many such a meeting point, always in preparation, until at last you are prepared to meet Him in the death of earthly life, the greatest of meetings, the grandest, the most fulfilled, forever giving thanks, what joy in that thanks, "Thank you, God" is your eternal existence."
© Margaret Carlin 1990.
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