12 May, Antonio, Cardinal Bacci: Meditations For Each Day

The Search for God

1. There was a man who left home in order to travel. For many months he wandered on and on, sometimes along broad highways, sometimes on rocky by-roads. Often he travelled in hail, rain and snow, often beneath a burning sun, but no matter what the weather he journeyed on and on. He climbed the peaks of the highest mountains and came down again into the valleys. It seemed as if his journey would never end. One day, however, he grew very tired and sat down pensively by the side of the road. A passer-by approached him in a friendly fashion. "You look very tired," he said. "Have you been a long time travelling?" "A very long time," came the answer. "I don't seem to have any energy left." "But where are you going?" his new friend enquired. The traveller almost started. After a moment's consideration he replied in a tone of wonder: "Where am I going? I'm afraid I don't know!"

Many men, unfortunately, are like the traveller in this story. They have been a long time on the road. They can hardly remember when they first set out in search of a distant dream. They are looking anxiously, but often unconsciously, for happiness. But they cannot find it, for happiness is a name for something greater, for God Himself. It is God whom we must seek if we wish to find happiness. Otherwise our earthly journey will have no purpose and no goal. Life is unintelligible without God. “You have made us for yourself, O God,” cried St. Augustine, “and our hearts will never rest until they rest in You.” (Confess. I, i, i) Jesus understands the problems of our human nature. “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened,” He says, “and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28)

2. All men are looking for God, whether they are aware of it or not. They are discontented and cannot understand why. They do not realise that the real source of their discontent is that they have not found God, and God alone can make men happy. The Blessed Virgin had to put up with many sorrows, but she never had to bear the pain which afflicts the rest of us to a greater or lesser degree, the pain of separation from God. Even when she lost the Child Jesus, she still possessed God in her soul, for she had surrendered herself completely to Him. Throughout her life she remained united to God in joy and in sorrow. God's will was her will, His desires were her desires. If we wish to be worthy sons of Mary we must imitate her in this. Let us consider the nature of our most intimate thoughts and desires. How often we forget God! How little we really think of Him. We are absorbed in so many other affairs that we forget Him Who should be the centre of all our plans. We are too fond of ourselves and of our own comfort and interests. As a result, we forget Him to Whom we owe everything and Who should be the final goal of our lives. Our hearts are very small. If we fill them with worldly desires, there is no room for God. But God should be the absolute master of our souls. Let us empty ourselves of useless worldly preoccupation and make room for spiritual aims. Let us make room for God. If we look for Him in everything, we shall find Him.

3. Holy Mary, help me to aim at pleasing God throughout my life. Help me to see Him in all things, to love Him in all my affections, to direct all my thoughts and desires towards Him. This is the only way in which I can become like you, my Mother. In this way I shall find peace on earth, even in the midst of suffering, and the happiness in Heaven which will never pass away. Amen.