5. Topic 5 Discussion Forum

How can the rich and affluent become 'wretched and poor'?

How can the rich and affluent become 'wretched and poor'?

by Deleted user -
Number of replies: 4

Point number 1: I believe the rich become wretched as soon as they believe they have no need for anything. In that moment they negate their need for God and their neighbour. They become self absorbed and rob themselves of the wonder of God,  community, the joy of giving and bearing good fruit. They becomes slaves to ensuring they will never be in need and in that wretched state they will never cease to labour in vain, never satisfied,  never fulfilled and never truly at peace.

 

In reply to Deleted user

Re: How can the rich and affluent become 'wretched and poor'?

by Deleted user -
The "rich and affluent" (which includes most of us who live in Canada) can become "wretched and poor" by realising that our wealth is a gift of God and continually thanking God for our being wealthy. We must also trust in God and not misuse our wealth but share it. We must be humble, realising we owe our very existence to God and our wealth to our use of the resources given to us as stewards of creation. Actually, we as individuals only played a very small part in contributing to our wealth. Most of it comes from the efforts of others, many long passed away. That is the origin of the Catholic Social Teaching term "social mortgage" and is why we have to pay it off with our contribution to the common good.

But as Benedict XVI has said, quoted elsewhere on this website, without material wealth we cannot eliminate material poverty.

In terms of material poverty, a key statement is that we are called: "........ to render justice to the poor, ...... actively seeking a new social order in which adequate solutions to material poverty are offered and and in which the forces thwarting the attempts of the weakest to free themselves from conditions of misery and slavery are more effectively controlled. When this happens, the Kingdom of God is already present on this earth, although it not of the earth." (CSDC 325)

To "actively seek a new social order" is hard work!
In reply to Deleted user

Re: How can the rich and affluent become 'wretched and poor'?

by Deleted user -
Andrew seems to be speaking of a positive aspect of being "wretched and poor". When the rich and affluent can leave off being idolatrous and lukewarm towards God, and instead acknowledge that all wealth comes from God, gratitude can enter their lives. When they go on to admit their condition of spiritual poverty before God, they may find their prayers heard and answered by Him, their lives blessed by Him who blesses the poor. With this new attitude, their wealth may be applied to relieving the material poverty of others, as taught in the Scriptures and in the CSDC. It needn't be hard work all the time; Francis shows us how to make it a natural part of our way of life.
In reply to Deleted user

Re: How can the rich and affluent become 'wretched and poor'?

by Deleted user -
In response to Terry's entry, I would ask: Isn't it as if these people have made a "bad trade"? Instead of the joy and wonder of community, of giving and bearing good fruit, they must endure the misery of "performance orientation" ... all those "nevers" you listed with such impact! Like those celebrities whose disaster-prone lives are described in supermarket tabloids, they discover that riches cannot buy happiness or love. If complacency and self-satisfaction set in, they can become the "lukewarm", like a stagnant pond with no movement at all. Who wouldn't want to spit them out!
In reply to Deleted user

Re: How can the rich and affluent become 'wretched and poor'?

by Patrick Mayo -

Hi Julia,

I really like what you said about having made a 'bad trade'.  They really have traded joy for wealth and the best wealth can do is to purchase fleeting pleasure.  It makes me wonder if in deep down in the early hours of the morning when they are all alone if they don't really want to spit that whole lifestyle out!

    Thanks for the Post!  Pat