The Contemplative Life

657- Do those who dedicate themselves to the contemplative life, doing no evil and thinking only of God, have any merit in the divine sight?
“No. Even though they do nothing evil, neither do they do any good. Moreover, not doing good is in itself evil. God wants men and women to think about God, but does not want them to do only that, for God has given them duties to fulfill. Those who spend all their time in meditation and contemplation do nothing meritorious before God since their life is entirely personal and of no use to humankind. God will ask them to account for the good they did not do.” (See no. 640)

Contents
Home