As should be expected, the end of Ilia’s chapter on Desire leads into the next spoke in The Transformation Wheel, which is Gazing.
The connection between the two is the Cross.
Ilia quotes St. Bonaventure from The Perfection of Life:
“Anyone who wishes to keep the flame of ardor alive within oneself should contemplate in one’s heart Christ dying on the Cross…..He withstood all these sufferings to set you aflame with love for him, to move you in return to love him with your heart, soul and mind. We are invited to love him and in loving him to follow his example.”
Christ endured the Cross, at least in part, so that we would Desire Him above all else.
Bonaventure talks of contemplating Christ dying in the Cross, but the skill of contemplation is a difficult one. It takes time to learn.
Gazing is different. Gazing starts today, with no instruction, no preparation at all. It will get more intricate as it progresses, until somewhere it crosses the line into contemplation.
But at the beginning, it is perfectly fine to just sit and look. It is fine to just occupy the same space as Jesus, and to have no agenda other than to be with Him.
Today is Ash Wednesday. The trek through Lent that starts today leads inexorably to Good Friday and the Cross.
As Lent begins, just be still, and gaze upon the Cross, with no preconceptions whatsoever.
Be quiet.
Be blank.
Let the Cross speak to you. Let the Cross take you wherever it will.
Do that patiently for forty days, not hoping for anything other than to just be with Jesus as He occupies the Cross.
He will communicate with you. He will make it clear why He is there. The love that you recognize in Him will astound you. You will be shocked that anyone could love you so much that they would endure what He endured.
By the time Good Friday arrives, I guarantee that your desire to return the love of Jesus will be overwhelming.
You won’t be able to contain it, nor will you be able to express it.
Its unavoidable.
Its fantastic.
Try it.