What the Rich Young Man Discovered
- FATHER TADEUSZ DAJCZER
God, getting closer to man, weakens him.
He does just the opposite of what we would expect. You may believe that it is you who are approaching him, and that, under those conditions, you should become increasingly stronger and increasingly more able to get along by yourself. However, it is he who is coming closer to you, and his approach makes you weaker — physically, mentally, or spiritually.
He does this in order to dwell in you with his might, since it is your weakness that makes room for his might. When you are weak, you cannot trust in yourself; you cannot believe in yourself; and then the opportunity comes for you to turn to him and to desire to rely on him. So often you shield yourself against this greatest grace, the grace of weakness, but Saint Paul has already written, For power is made perfect in weakness. I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me...for when l am weak then l am strong (2 Cor 12:9-10).
Your own power and strength must collapse sooner or later. Strictly speaking, there is nothing you can call exclusively your own strength. Any kind of strength is a gift — a gift that you usually claim as your own, and that is why it must be taken from you.
This is Meaghen Gonzalez, Editor of CERC. I hope you appreciated this piece. We curate these articles especially for believers like you.
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Acknowledgement
Father Tadeusz Dajczer, "What the Rich Young Man Discovered." from The Gift of Faith (Fort Collins, CO In Arms of Mary Foundation, 2011).
Reprinted by permission of In the Arms of Mary Foundation. All rights reserved.
The Author
Fr. Tadeusz Dajczer (†2009) was ordained to the Priesthood in 1955 in Warsaw, Poland. In the life of Fr. Dajczer, a decisive moment took place during his confession with St. Padre Pio. St. Padre Pio asked his penitent, with astonishment and great force, why he did not want to go toward God to the end. For Fr. Dajczer it was a shocking experience and at the same time, the beginning of a search for sanctity both for himself and for his penitents. He is the author of The Mystery of Faith: Meditations on the Eucharist, and The Gift of Faith, which has been translated into 26 languages. He is the co-founder of the Families of Nazareth Movement, which is currently present in 40 countries.