If, Lord, Thy Love for Me is Strong

We continue reflecting on the poems used as alternatives to the
traditional hymns in the Night Prayer section of the breviary. For
this fourth reflection, we shall reflect on the poem of St. Teresa
of Avila, "If, Lord, Thy Love for Me is Strong". This is the poem
for Wednesday, Night Prayer.

The poem is as follows:

If, Lord, Thy love for me is strong
As this which binds me unto Thee,
what holds me from Thee, Lord, so long,
What holds Thee, Lord, so long from me?

O soul, what then desirest thou?
-Lord, I would see, who thus choose Thee.
What fears can yet assail thee now?
-All that I fear is to lose Thee.

Love's whole possession I entreat,
Lord, make my soul Thine own abode,
And I will build a nest so sweet
It may not be too poor for God.

O soul in God hidden from sin,
What more desires for thee remain.
Save but to love, and love again,
And all in flame, with love within,
Love on, and turn to love again?

When reflecting on this poem by Teresa of Avila, I remember the
teaching of Jesus that "the kingdom of God is within you". This
kingdom that Jesus speaks of is a kingdom filled with the riches
of His love - the love that St. Teresa pines for in her poem.

The Lord's love for us can be strong, if we let nothing "hold" us
from Him. And once we possess that love, we fear losing it, for it
fills our soul so that it never thirsts, and it is "hidden from
sin". If we remember the previous poem of St. Teresa which
says:

Who God possesseth
In nothing is wanting;
Alone God sufficeth.

St. Teresa has expressed this meaning again in the present poem
we are reflecting on:

What more desires for thee remain,
Save but to love, and love again.
And all on flame with love within,
Love on, and turn to love again?

St. Teresa of Avila's message is clear. She wants us to learn that
there is only one thing necessary: to make God the center of our
life. With God as the center of our life, God's love will surely
fill us and empower us to be of humble service to our brothers and
sisters. Our ardent desire for God, a desire that is given
concrete expression in constant prayer, will make us all the more
seek Him always. This truth makes us realize that in God's love,
we have all that we need. We seek first His kingdom, and all the
other things will be provided for us.