The interior room is never completely clean. The corners and hidden spaces will not remain forever polished. The freshness and eagerness of encounter that follow the soul's authentic meeting with Christ can lead one to pursue and respond to the mission of transformation.
There is initially a zest for new life and desperation to rid self of the dust and residue of a self absorbed life laden with sin.
To sacrifice seems joyful because the remembrance of Christ's loving sacrifice and mercy is ever so near, looming with a gentle caress. There is warmth, there is comfort, and there is consolation. It's purpose is not so that we remain overcome with fluffy fleeting emotion, but that we experience something remarkably tangible enough to prepare us for the discomfort that is to come.
Longing to remain in this euphoric state is an ideal that suits itself more to those with a worldly desire for self gratification than the reality of faith which demands and requires ongoing metanoia.
True transformation in Christ, for Christ, in order to remain eternally with Christ is a great tireless work. It is life long, yet, so are the pangs of eternal damnation, so blessed is the soul who responds actively to the call of the Lord.
One must guard the interior room with a surrendered willingness. Not always looking to keep it clean, perfect, and tidy, but to be ready to accept the mess that undoubtedly arises patiently.
As the desire for the caress of Christ looms around there must be the assurance that it is ever present, even in the discomfort of change and mess;... quite possibly it is more intensified in the moments of difficulty, but we are more accustomed and willingly inclined to respond to gentleness.
Ongoing conversion invites the soul to find residing place in the trenches of transformation that are not always pleasant, but crucial. This extends beyond optics and feelings and requires a shedding made possible through the person of Christ.
We must strive to remain in Christ, and thus we must perpetually work with God's providential grace and see that actively returning to Him is also remaining in Him.
The Eucharist is our sustenance and the Sacrament of Reconciliation our aid. One will undoubtedly begin to see that the path appearing to be filled with the most resistance is indeed the one with divine assistance.
May we strive to walk the narrow way with the freshness of initial conversion, with the willingness to embrace difficulty, as to prepare ourselves more fully to live with Christ eternally. (CC)
