Raphael Letter No. 1: The Hinge of Victory

Most Beloved Shariel,

I am glad to have received your message. I praise Him who hears every prayer for your constant vigilance at guarding Sarah. And I pray that His grace strengthens you – for I am concerned on behalf of her and of you. I do not think you realize how dangerous your situation is.

The fact that she has stopped praying daily is not at all insignificant. Do you not know that you and her are deeply connected, even from her birth? So, if she does not pray, then from where will you gain extra strength? True, there are some ways for you to gain the strength that you need to fight. I applaud you for going to her mother Marianna. She is a prayerful woman and if you speak with the guardian angel of the woman’s mother to have her pray for Sarah, then God’s grace will strengthen you.

But you cannot rely upon this. I know from your letter that Sarah has so many wonderful dreams. You strive so eagerly to lead her to that glory, which awaits her in the land of the living, that is, upon this earth here below us. (Ps. 27:13) It is right that you want her to reach those dreams. As the Lord once said through an early Christian, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Even as His fire is in us – illuminating us – so He wills that it should be in them burning as little stars.

The perfection of man is in being thus made fully alive! But this is different for each man, as the light of differing jewels radiate the light of the sun, shining like emeralds, sapphires, topazes, and rubies. Each of his children shine uniquely. The mission of each is unique to each and that mission varies according to their unique hearts. Pastors, engineers, healers, counselors, artists, writers, mothers, fathers, and leaders – these are only a few of the missions that he has destined for his children. You know well your sister Sarah and I pray you guide her to her mission’s end.

But do not build the walls of a temple, when you have not established the foundations of it. Do not progress first to lead Sarah to her mission, when she has not laid firm the foundation of prayer, which is to her soul a fountain of living water. And to you a source of strength. For it will bring her the peace that the world cannot give. And it will infuse into your sword the fire of his grace to drive back the attacks of the enemy. Yes, if the opportunity should present itself, inspire her towards the mission to which she has been called. But do not exhaust your strength, when it is limited.

First, focus on guiding her back to her daily practice of speaking with the Beloved, who yearns so desperately to hear her voice. Even now, I hear Him! “Sarah. Sarah,” he calls. “How long will you have me wait?” As with Israel, His heart recoils within Him. (Hos. 11:8) He yearns for her to speak to Him, face to face as with a friend. Even as they used to speak.

Lead her and when the Beloved speaks directly to her soul, you must seize that moment and intercede for her by illuminating her soul and her body. Remember that humans are different from angels, as they have bodies and, therefore, they experience emotion in their whole body. Beware though: the enemy has poisoned the goodness of emotions for humans, tricking them into believing that real faith is beyond emotion. It is a subtle trick because, in part, that is true. Emotions often waiver with the ebb and flow of human life, while true faith like that of the Mother of our God was unchanging.

What the enemy hides is the fact that Mary received the Holy Spirit into her entire body and soul and the Holy Spirit “overshadowed” her emotions, as the cloud of power once descended over the Ark of the Covenant. And it was through receiving the Holy Spirit into her entire being that she conceived of God. As an early Christian once said, she “conceived God in her heart before she conceived of him in her womb.” Mary was as a tree that drew up waters of light into every part of that tree. The rest of humanity, however, is quite different, since all others draw up water into only parts them themselves. That is why, when you look upon humans, some seem brighter to our eyes than other – for they have received God’s light into a greater part of their souls.

How though, you might still wonder, does knowing this help your work? Because you must lead Sarah to accept this grace, not only with her intellect, but with her entire being. You must be like a channel pouring out light and water into her emotions, filling her whole heart with Christ’s love.

Though I caution not to do this often, as Sarah may confuse the goodness of the emotion, which brings a passing joy, with the goodness of the Light of Christ, which gives a lasting joy and peace that endures through all experiences, good or ill. That is why Mary’s heart was at peace even while it was pierced with suffering. Lead Sarah away from clinging then to any particular emotion. It is as foolish as if a tree were to hoard the water it pulls up, while forgetting the river which gave the water.

This then is your singular task: you must lead her to Him who is the source of life. There are other dangers to consider if you focus too much on leading Sarah to her unique mission. I can mention those in my next letter. But this is the biggest danger – that you might lose strength because she does not pray. And it is upon this point that all other victories will hinge.

So, stay alert, my sister Shariel. Lead her to prayer. Now is the time for battle.

Servant of His Healing Spirit,