Jane Frances deChantal: Too Avaricious

Jane Frances de Chantal (1572–1641) in Selected letters of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (London: Washbourne, 1918) in letter LII “To Mother A. C. de Beaumont” dated 1623.

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In today’s Scripture, we see the goodness of the steadfast love of the Lord and celebrate His matchless care for our needs. He satisfies us.

Today’s reading comes from a letter to the senior administrator of another monastery who likely had real needs and yet probably felt forgotten since God had not seen fit to supply.

Perhaps you can relate? You trust God to supply. You pray and share your needs with the Lord. And all you get is silence in return. It seems like God is not working for you.

Notice the reply from Jane Frances: “Truly that heart is too avaricious for which God is not enough: and miserable is the heart which is satisfied with anything less than God.”

It’s a paradox. When we try to find satisfaction in anything but God, we feel perpetually unsatisfied and have miserable hearts. Our actions say “I want God and this or that.”You fill in the blank. This is too avaricious.

Instead try this. Entrust yourself to God’s care. Ask for what you think you need. Wait. Trust His timing for provision of this or that, if He thinks you need it. Surrender to Him. Let His will be done.

Brace yourself for a bold statement. You cannot practice generosity until you learn this lesson. Otherwise your living, giving, serving, and loving will flow from a miserable and avaricious heart.

Remember, that even if you give away all your possessions but don’t have love, it’s meaningless. Attach to God alone. Let Him exchange your miserable heart with a heart full of His steadfast love. And watch your experience of His generosity flow through you to a broken and hurting world.

You’ve got this. God’s got you. I depart California and return to Colorado today. Thanks for your prayers for safe and uneventful travel.