One of the most fundamental problems in the spiritual…
““One of the most fundamental problems in the spiritual order is that we sense within ourselves the hunger for God, but we attempt to satisfy it with some created good that is less than God. Thomas Aquinas said that the four typical substitutes for God are wealth, pleasure, power, and honor. Sensing the void within, we attempt to fill it up with some combination of these four things, but only by emptying out the self in love can we make the space for God to fill us. The classical tradition referred to this errant desire as "concupiscence," but I believe that we could neatly express the same idea with the more contemporary term "addiction." When we try to satisfy the hunger for God with something less than God, we will naturally be frustrated, and then in our frustration, we will convince ourselves that we need more of that finite good, so we will struggle to achieve it, only to find ourselves again, necessarily, dissatisfied. At this point, a sort of spiritual panic sets in, and we can find ourselves turning obsessively around this creaturely good that can never in principle make us happy.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human beings seek fulfillment in finite things, but true satisfaction comes from divine union, not wealth, pleasure, power, or honor.
In simple terms: We try to fill spiritual emptiness with material things, which leads to frustration.
Key Takeaway
Seek God, not worldly substitutes.
Themes
spirituality
desire
fulfillment
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- counseling
- community worship
- ethical living
Key Concepts
concupiscence
addiction
divine union
Questions to Reflect On
- What finite thing are you using to fill a deeper longing?
- How might you create space for the divine?
A Different Perspective
Worldly pursuits can provide temporary comfort but not lasting peace.