It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. Mark 10:25
“I have known some, in fact, I may say numerous souls, who have reached this state, and for many years lived, apparently, a regular and well-ordered life, both of body and mind. It would seem that they must have gained the mastery over this world, or at least be extremely detached from it, yet if His Majesty sends very moderate trials they become so disturbed and disheartened as not only to astonish but to make me anxious about them. Advice is useless; having practiced virtue for so long they think themselves capable of teaching it, and believe that they have abundant reason to feel miserable.
The only way to help them is to compassionate their troubles; indeed, one cannot but feel sorry at seeing people in such an unhappy state. They must not be argued with, for they are convinced they suffer only for God’s sake, and cannot be made to understand they are acting imperfectly, which is a further error in persons so far advanced. No wonder that they should feel these trials for a time, but I think they ought speedily to overcome their concern about such matters. God, wishing His elect to realize their own misery, often temporarily withdraws His favors: no more is needed to prove to us in a very short time what we really are.
Souls soon learn in this way; they perceive their faults very clearly, and sometimes the discovery of how quickly they are overcome by but slight earthly trials is more painful than the subtraction of God’s sensible favors. I consider that God thus shows them great mercy, for though their behavior may be faulty, yet they gain greatly in humility. Not so with the people of whom I first spoke; they believe their conduct is saintly, and wish others to agree with them. I will give you some examples which will help us to understand and to try ourselves, without waiting for God to try us, since it would be far better to have prepared and examined ourselves beforehand.
A rich man, without son or heir, loses part of his property, but still has more than enough to keep himself and his household. If this misfortune grieves and disquiets him as though he were left to beg his bread, how can our Lord ask him to give up all things for His sake? This man will tell you he regrets losing his money because he wished to bestow it on the poor.
I believe His Majesty would prefer me to conform to His will, and keep peace of soul while attending to my interests, to such charity as this. If this person cannot resign himself because God has not raised him so high in virtue, well and good: let him know that he is wanting in liberty of spirit; let him beg our Lord to grant it him, and be rightly disposed to receive it. Another person has more than sufficient means to live on, when an opportunity occurs for acquiring more property: if it is offered him, by all means let him accept it; but if he must go out of his way to obtain it and then continues working to gain more and more — however good his intention may be (and it must be good, for I am speaking of people who lead prayerful and good lives), he cannot possibly enter the mansions near the King.”
Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) in Interior Castle Third Mansion, 2.1-5 (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 43-44.
Behind the Bible, of course, there may be no better book on the topic of examine in human history than Interior Castle. Reading Teresa is like talking to a wise person who digs into things no one thinks about but everyone needs to think about.
I am safely to Hyderabad, India. As I read this on my flight, I thought readers might find themselves in different places sketched herein. Some might be disturbed and disheartened. Others might need someone to compassionate their troubles. And a few might, like the rich man, be overcome by losses.
Notice Teresa suggests that we conform to the will of God. This takes our souls to a place of peace, detached from things and attached to the only One who can satisfy. While this is hard for everyone, rich people find this very challenging as they often become too attached to money.
Think about a rich person you know. Or it may be time to look in the mirror to examine! Where are you in this reading? Do you want but not have liberty of spirit, that freedom from thinking you need to acquire things to sustain you?
In the context of today’s biblical text, Jesus looked at the rich man and “loved him” or in Teresa’s words, he modeled what it means to “compassionate their troubles.” Don’t judge or condemn others, especially rich people. Love them and show them how to love God above all else.