“St. Thomas says that a man is good when his will takes joy in what is good, evil when his will takes joy in what is evil. He is virtuous when he finds happiness in a virtuous life, sinful when he takes pleasure in a sinful life. Hence the things that we love tell us what we are” – Thomas Merton “Thoughts in Solitude”
I’ve been hearing a lot from Merton recently and decided to finally get around to reading from one of the most celebrated Christian minds from recent history. I appreciate his depth but also the clarity in which he writes. Here he explains another great thinker’s view on virtue. Honestly, when I read this, I was leveled.
It’s frustrating when a mirror is so blatantly placed in front of our wounded souls.
Previously I had been thinking that the reason for personal sin comes from an identity as a sinner. While painfully true, both Thomas and Merton strip away excuse to the humanity of sin – we enjoy it. Our lives are an accumulation of what we enjoy.
Seems simple, right?
Yet, when we choose sin, it is because that is the object of our affection in that given moment. We buy into the promise of joy which hides the echo of the empty. This is the reason we see such a demand for the trading of desires in Scripture. Left to our own, we desire that which will wound and kill us. We choose wrongly because we love wrongly. Here we see our condition betrayed by our affections.
Do I truly love what is good, noble, and true?
Or do I love the darkness that masques my true nature?
The heart finds rest in the light of what is true. If it is to be found in contempt, we must be honest with its motivations in order for the healing power of Christ to impact us where it is so desperately needed.
Today, take stock in what you love – in what you love to do and the object of affection. Have a brutally honest conversation with the savior in which your soul rests.
Lord, change my desires. May you be the utmost object of my affections and longings. Teach me to take joy in your virtue and grace
Amen
Matt simon blog 