“When I see people very anxious to know what sort of prayer they practice, covering their faces and afraid to move or think lest they should lose any slight tenderness and devotion they feel, I know how little they understand how to attain union with God since they think it consists in such things as these. No, sisters, no; our Lord expects works from us. If you see a sick sister whom you can relieve, never fear losing your devotion; compassionate her; if she is in pain, feel for it as if it were your own and, when there is need, fast so that she may eat.”
Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) in Interior Castle 3.11 (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 83.
In reading Interior Castle, this expression, “compassionate her,” struck me. Our Lord Jesus Christ saw people in need and had compassion on them (cf. Mark 6:35). Do we? All too often I sense I am tempted to follow the cultural norms and ignore or judge people rather than have compassion on them and sacrifice for them.
As we are focused on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving this Lent, we must remember that the aim of this inward and upward journey of union with God is to prepare us for the outward journey of compassionate service. By taking this route, God becomes the One who gives us the grace to sacrifice for others as He did for us.