The economy

Blog | 01.20.2010 | 3 Comments

So much of our concern today revolves around the state of our economy.  How distressed are the banks?  How poor is the American working class really?  How helpless would we be if the market tanked?  However, the real economy is a spiritual one, measured not by the riches of the 30 blue chip companies that compromise the Dow Jones Industrial Average, but measured in the poverty of our heart. When it comes to our heart and God, it pays to be poor, it pays to be helpless, it pays to be distressed, it pays handsomely with incredible dividends.  Few realize the riches that come from this kind of poverty.  Check out this swath from a Thomas Merton devotion on spiritual life.

“If we know how great is the love of Jesus for us we will never be afraid to go to Him in all our poverty, all our weakness, all our spiritual wretchedness and infirmity.  Indeed, when we understand the true nature of His love for us, we will prefer to come to Him poor and helpless.  We will never be ashamed of our distress. Distress is to our advantage when we have nothing to seek but mercy.  We can be glad of our helplessness when we really believe that His power is made perfect in our infirmity.  The surest sign that we have received a spiritual understanding of God’s love for us is the appreciation of our own poverty in the light of His infinite mercy.” –Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

I find it no accident that the people who nourish my soul the most are those who understand and appreciate their poverty.  These people are not ashamed to receive the lavish grace provided by God the Father, through God the Son, by God the Holy Spirit.  When it comes to matters of the heart they prefer poverty.

3 Comments

by Lou on 01.20.2010 

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

by Katie on 01.22.2010 

Another profound truth, in the words of Thomas Merton:
“A saint is not someone who is good but someone who experiences the goodness of God.”

by Anita on 02.02.2010 

Let not sins or fears hinder you, but come to Jesus just as you are. Do you long to pray? Would you pour out your heart before the Lord? Keep not back. The mercy-seat is prepared for such as need mercy; a sinner’s cries will prevail with God. You are invited, nay, you are commanded to pray, come therefore with boldness to the throne of grace. C.H. Spurgeon

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