(Interior Castle, book III: chapter 1-2)

"Now someone approached him and said, 'Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?' He answered him, 'Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments'…The young man said to him, 'All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?' Jesus said to him, 'If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.'" (1)


The Third Rooms

In the third rooms, life is ordered;
Within God's hands -- all has a place:
Each word is weighed; each act measured --
Virtues have strengthened by God's grace.

Yet, in this place, balance is flawed;
Some small setback upsets it all.
When some favor's withdrawn by God,
This fragile one suffers a fall.

The handmaid, with humility,
Finds His hand veiled in trial's wave;
She embraces her poverty,
Trusting He will triumph and save.

She moves beyond love by measure;
To seek His love -- her heart's treasure.


May the Lord grant us His gift of humility, that we may be able to embrace our poverty, and seek His will for us without measure.

(1) Matthew 19:16-17,20-23


(c) Paul Buis, 2002