Lukewarm

“All the graces that I pour out upon them flow off them as off the face of a rock. I cannot stand them, because they are neither good or bad.” (Saint Faustina, “Diary”, Entry 1702).

Christ and the Apostles (Icon)

I like to drink water that has been boiled in the kettle.  I do not add any tea or flavourings to that water.  Instead, I wait for it to cool – just a little – and then drink it while it is still very hot, like a cup of tea.  I find that when I drink water in this way it is very refreshing.  I also find that the heat from the water and the slight burn in my mouth is comforting in the same way that a cup of tea would be but without any caffeine or other additives.

Sometimes, when I am particularly busy, though I pour that boiling water into my cup, I forget to drink it while it is still hot.  When the water is lukewarm, I find it particularly unpleasant to drink.  I can drink it when it is cold and drink it when it is hot, but when it is only lukewarm, I struggle to drink it at all.

And I have been thinking about this today.

Christ spoke often about having an aversion to Lukewarm souls.  In the Diary of Saint Faustina, Christ speaks directly about His aversion to lukewarm souls and how their lack of commitment and love wounds Him…

“…the Lord said to me, I am more deeply wounded by the small imperfections of chosen souls than by the sins of those living in the world. It made me very sad that chosen souls make Jesus suffer, and Jesus told me, These little imperfections are not all. I will reveal to you a secret of My Heart: what I suffer from chosen souls. Ingratitude in return for so many graces is My Heart’s constant food, on the part of [such] a chosen soul. Their love is lukewarm, and My Heart cannot bear it; these souls force Me to reject them.” (Diary Entry 580).

Later, Saint Faustina recorded Christ explaining, “All the graces that I pour out upon them flow off them as off the face of a rock. I cannot stand them, because they are neither good or bad.” (Diary Entry 1702).

During the Divine Mercy Novena, that Christ provided to Saint Faustina, He actively asked us to pray for lukewarm souls…  “Today bring to Me souls who have become lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: “Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.” For them, the last hope of salvation is to flee to My mercy.” (Diary Entry 1228).

Saint Josemaria instructed us to fight against our laziness.  He said, “You are lukewarm if you carry out lazily and reluctantly those things that have to do with our Lord; if deliberately or 'shrewdly' you look for some way of cutting down your duties; if you think only of yourself and of your comfort; if your conversations are idle and vain; if you do not abhor venial sin; if you act from human motives.” (Saint Josemaria, “The Way”, at 331).

And I ask myself today, how can I possibly please my Lord when I am lukewarm and lazy – and all the things that so wound His Sacred Heart?

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.