A reading from Meister Eckhart The Talks of Instruction Number 6, On Detachment and Possessing God He who has God thus, essentially, takes him divinely, and for him God shines forth in all things. For all things taste divinely to him, and God’s image appears to him from out of all things. God flashes forth in him always, and in him there is detachment and turning away, and he bears the imprint of his beloved, present God. It’s just like a man who is terribly thirsty. He can do other things besides drinking, and can even turn his mind to other thoughts. But yet, whatever he does, and in whatever company he is, whatever he intends, whatever he thinks or does, he never loses the thought of drinking as long as his thirst lasts. And the greater the thirst, the greater and deeper and more present and persistent will be the thought of a drink. Or if there is a man who is so passionately devoted to a thing that nothing else interests him or touches his heart, he is intent on that thing. and nothing else. Quite certainly, wherever or with whomever that man is, and whatever he takes up or does, the image of what he loves never fades in him, and he finds its image in everything. And it is ever the more strongly present to him, the more his love for it increases. And that man will not seek rest. for no unrest disturbs him. *** O Lord, through your great mercy and the everlasting glory of all your creation, come to the hearts of troubled souls here and everywhere and bring your good blessings into them so that each of us may turn our face towards thy light in this day sense thy goodness within every cell of our being and turn not just our faces but our hearts towards thee in prayer and thanksgiving for your creation, your goodness, and your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
