Man is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.I'm okay with the first three paragraphs. The fourth one is much more difficult to swallow, but after some reflection I see his point. I must admit I have not been evaluating the things in my life in this strict of a manner.
The other things on the face of the earth are created for man to help in attaining the end for which he is created.
Hence, man is to make use of them in as far as they help him in the attainment of his end, and he must rid himself of them in as far as they prove a hindrance to him.
Therefore, we must make ourselves indifferent to all created things, as far as we are allowed free choice and are not under any prohibition. Consequently, as far as we are concerned, we should not prefer health to sickness, riches to poverty, honor to dishonor, a long life to a short life. The same holds for all other things.
Our one desire and choice should be what is more conducive to the end for which we are created.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Paradigm Shift
I started reading The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius today and came across this rather piercing statement:
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There is a line that a person could easily cross reading something like this carelessly, and that is the false idea that God prefers his people impoverished, sick, and dishonored. If we are so for the sake of Christ, then they can only be glorious. If it is because we are succumbing to the condition of the world, a condition that we are no longer required to submit to, then it is a waste.
God can redeem such an error, but redemption of error and destiny are not synonymous.
I do agree that this requires very careful reading. Indeed, ultimately what should be preferred above all things is intimacy with God- not our comfort. It should be the first thing we are willing to part with for Him, and something that He will for sure ask us to part with so that our faith can be refined and grow.
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