Love: A Surrender to God
My Jesus, I do not wish to leave you any more. … Your infinite love and pity have chained you to me. Therefore, because you are faithful in your agreements, you must stay with me. You are all mine. (OOCC, X, p. 254; STA, 549)
St. Vincent considered God as the beginning and end of his life. Therefore, he earnestly wished that he performed every action in total agreement with the will of God. He often said in his writing that the holy will of God must be done despite the many difficulties that might come in its accomplishment. St. Vincent found a wonderful example of such a surrender of love in the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Hence, imitating her example of loving surrender, he joyfully embraced the will of God and readily fulfilled it. Thus, St. Vincent’s life became a loving surrender of his will to that of God. As a result, he loved and desired only what God loved and desired. In everything he wanted to please God and to seek him alone. He never wanted to say ‘no’ to God, for he wished nothing but God. This surrender of love to God made St. Vincent Pallotti forget all his attachments to the world. His focus on God was such that nothing in the world could ever distract him. Living this attitude of loving surrender led St. Vincent to not only fulfill God’s commandments and to accept any form of suffering in his life, but also to give himself to God completely without any reserve. His life consisted of saying a joyful ‘yes’ to God in total surrender and love.
Does my love for God make me surrender my life to God in everything? Do I consider God as the beginning and end of my life? Does my love for God make me more detached and give me the freedom to live for God alone? Am I able to say ‘yes’ to God in all circumstances and unconditionally?
I love you, O Lord, my strength. (Ps. 18: 2)