As Many As Touched Him Were Healed

We love him, and he loves us; there can be no doubt about this.  He draws near to our souls, he unites himself to them, and he caresses them tenderly.  And we also love him.  Still, in some indefinable way, we feel a barrier, some hindrance that prevents us from uniting ourselves completely with him.  What can it be?

The hindrances that prevent Jesus from uniting himself to our souls are our disordered affections.  The moment we are entirely free of them, our heart will expand and cast itself completely into the Heart of Jesus.  Then he will give himself to us without reserve.  Is it right for us to keep retarding the consummation of our love and our union with Jesus because of some trifling affections that really do not amount to anything?...

If we do not discover anything, or if we are not able to pluck it out, let us say to our Lord, "I must have some parasite in my heart, O Lord. I do not know where it is, nor am I able to free myself of it.  But I place myself in your hands.  Come, O Lord, with your scalpel, or with your fire, or with whatever thing you do wish, to rid me of it.  Purify my heart, and dispose it for complete union with yourself."

Then, when these parasites have disappeared from our heart, we shall see how a new love springs up within us.  Jesus will give himself to us without any reserve.  Free of restraints and hindrances, these two hearts, Jesus' and our own, will merge, and they will become one in the ineffable mystery of love.