Chapter 61

To the Father

Then the soul is in God and God in the soul,
just as the fish is in the sea and the sea in the fish
(or, as the sparrow is in the air
and the air in the sparrow).

—St. Catherine of Siena

“Whoever is led by the Spirit of God is a son of God” by becoming one with the only begotten Son of God, Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:14)  A son in the Son.

We were all prodigal sons and daughters of God the Father.  Through the original sin we were cast out of the Garden of Eden.  Even after Baptism, many effects of the Fall in our fallen human nature still remained.  Consequently, we spent our love on creatures in a self-serving manner, while neglecting the Creator.  Then, we had a spiritual conversion and began to spend our love on God, more and more, and to share that Love with others.  “God is Love” and we are “love” when we live in God and God in us. (1 John 4:8)  By learning how to love like Jesus does we become true Christians and grow closer to the Father.  “I do always what pleases Him.” (John 8:29)  By following the Holy Spirit, we seek to please God and not men.  We love God above everything and everyone.

“Come to the Father.  Come to the Father.”  We hear His voice calling us home as prodigal sons and daughters.  To the Father, through the Son, by the attractive power, nourishing tide, and savory relish of Flaming Love, the Holy Spirit.  The Divine Presence within us finally frees us from the unclean spirits, the demons of darkness, to live in the light of Truth, and to enjoy “the glorious freedom of the children of God” in purity of heart. (Rom. 8:21)  The whole of the “Our Father” (“The Lord’s Prayer”) comes to fulfillment.

“The Father and I are one.” (John 10:30)  We are one with the Father when we are one with the Son, not by nature, but by grace and communion.  The transforming union prepares us for heaven.  Three conversions, three deaths and resurrections, three times are we born again after painful labor, and three times do we grow up in God, first as spiritual children, then as spiritual adolescents, and finally as spiritual adults.  “How narrow the gate and hard the way that leads to life, and few there are that find it!” (Matt. 7:14)  The Father awaits our return with open arms.  We, His prodigal sons and daughters, will return Home if we continue the long journey across many winding paths and valleys, mountains and hills, lakes and rivers, to the shores of eternity on the glass sea.  The breeze blows through our hair as the Holy Spirit fills our wills with His Love and all seems bright and beautiful, peaceful and calm.  Heaven is there across the sea, but time has not yet become eternity.  We will have to wait and see.