The Jig Was Up!

     As Truth stood before me, I could not deny His presence. His gaze penetrated my heart and soul. Although I knew “the jig was up,” there was a part of me that felt grateful and relieved. I did not want to be like “the rich young man and walk away sad,” but own my actions and ask for God’s mercy.

     Since my last “awakening,” I had been trying so very hard, “to sell everything in order to buy the Pearl of Great Price.” I felt determined to rid myself of all inordinate attachments and stop hindering my progress of union with God. I did not want to settle for baubles any longer when I could acquire THE Pearl of Great Price. I really believed I could do it this time, but I was mistaken.

Hunger and Thirst for More

     “I was sure that it was better for me to give myself up to Your love than to give in to my own desires. However, although the one way appealed to me and was gaining mastery, the other still afforded me pleasure and kept me victim. I had no answer to give to You when You said, ‘Rise, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you.’ When on all sides You showed me that Your words were true, and I was overcome by Your truth, I had no answer whatsoever to make, but only those slow and drowsy words, ‘Right away. Yes, right away.’ ‘Let me be for a while.’ But ‘Right away – right away, was never now, and “Let me be for a little while’ stretched out for a long time.”                                                                                                                                        St. Augustine


     Reading these words of St. Augustine should give us encouragement and hope. His conversion was a journey – and a long one at that! He was held victim by many inordinate attachments. But through the prayers of His mother St. Monica, along with the acceptance of God’s grace, he became one of the greatest saints of the Catholic Church!