I probably shouldn’t pretend to know what the lovely Ms Kondo is all about without having seen her or watched her show, so forgive this boldness. Truly, there is so much out there concerning her techniques that one imagines that her joyful approach to simplifying spaces might be an echo of what pseudo-Chrysostom offers us today in the Office concerning our spiritual house. He has these joyful words on the importance and efficacy of prayer:
Prayer is the light of the soul, true knowledge of God, a mediator between God and men. Prayer lifts the soul into the heavens where it hugs God in an indescribable embrace. The soul seeks the milk of God like a baby crying for the breast. It fulfils its own vows and receives in exchange gifts better than anything that can be seen or imagined.
Prayer is a go-between linking us to God. It gives joy to the soul and calms its emotions. I warn you, though: do not imagine that prayer is simply words. Prayer is the desire for God, an indescribable devotion, not given by man but brought about by God’s grace. As St Paul says: For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself intercedes on our behalf in a way that could never be put into words.
If God gives to someone the gift of such prayer, it is a gift of imperishable riches, a heavenly food that satisfies the spirit. Whoever tastes that food catches fire and his soul burns for ever with desire for the Lord.
Then, his homily brings us to a metaphor, drawing on the person as a temple of the Holy Spirit and how to arrange that temple:
To begin on this path, start by adorning your house with modesty and humility. Make it shine brightly with the light of justice. Decorate it with the gold leaf of good works, with the jewels of faithfulness and greatness of heart. Finally, to make the house perfect, raise a gable above it all, a gable of prayer. Thus you will have prepared a pure and sparkling house for the Lord. Receive the Lord into this royal and splendid dwelling — in other words: receive, by his grace, his image into the temple of your soul.
Prayer indeed is the joy of the soul, and we need to remove those things that inhibit our ability to embrace God through this spiritual contact. Raise the roof and clear out the clutter. Turn off social media if necessary and commit to spring cleaning. The results may not be evident immediately, but they will take effect gradually, firmly, and profoundly, making Eastertide a season of true wonder. Beg for the gift of deep prayer and the disposition to treasure it when it’s given, and resist all back-sliding. Growth takes time and can even be boring — like watching over a sleeping child (but surely we know the quiet value of a sturdy nap!)
The highest good is prayer and conversation with God, because it means that we are in God’s company and in union with him. When light enters our bodily eyes our eyesight is sharpened; when a soul is intent on God, God’s inextinguishable light shines into it and makes it bright and clear.
Happy Lent, dear ones. Wishing you light, peace, and joy.
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