Moments with the consoling Christ/Christ Our Divine Teacher
Christ our Divine Teacher
Direct me in Thy truth; and teach me; for Thou art God my Saviour; and on Thee have I waited all the day long.
— Ps. 24:5.
O TRUTH! my God! make me one with Thee in everlasting love. I am often wearied with the many things I read and hear; in Thee is all that I wish or long for.
LET all teachers hold their peace, and all created things keep silence in Thy presence; do Thou alone speak to me.
HELP me, Lord God, in my good purpose and in Thy holy service, and grant that I may this day begin indeed, since what I have hitherto done is nothing.
SPEAK, Lord, for Thy servant heareth. I am Thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know Thy testimonies.
INCLINE my heart to the words of Thy mouth; let Thy speech distill as the dew.
HERETOFORE the children of Israel said to Moses: Speak thou to us, and we will hear; let not the Lord speak to us, lest we die.
IT is not thus, Lord, it is not thus I pray ; but rather with the Prophet Samuel I humbly and earnestly entreat: Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.
LET not Moses, nor any of the Prophets, speak to me; but speak Thou rather, Lord God, the Inspirer and Enlightener of all the Prophets; for Thou alone, without them, canst perfectly instruct me; but they, without Thee, will avail me nothing.
THEY may indeed sound forth words, but they give not the spirit.
MOST beautifully do they speak; but if Thou be silent, they inflame not the heart.
THEY give the letter, but Thou disclosest the sense.
THEY publish the mysteries, but Thou unlockest the meaning of the things signified.
THEY declare the commandments, but Thou enablest us to fulfill them.
THEY show the way, but Thou givest strength to walk in it.
WHAT they can do is only from without, but Thou instructest and enlightenest the heart.
THEY water outwardly, but Thou givest the increase.
THEY cry aloud in words, but Thou impartest understanding to the hearing.
LET not, then, Moses speak to us, but Thou, Lord my God, the eternal Truth, lest I die and prove fruitless, if I be admonished only outwardly, and not inflamed within.
LEST it be to my condemnation that the word be heard and not fulfilled, known and not loved, believed and not observed.
SPEAK then, Lord, for Thy servant heareth: for Thou hast the words of eternal life.
SPEAK to me, that it may be some comfort to my soul, and the amendment of my whole life; and also to Thy praise, and glory, and everlasting honor.
BLESSED is the man whom Thou, Lord, shalt instruct, and shalt teach him Thy law; that Thou mayest give him rest from the evil days and that he may not be desolate upon earth.