A Blessed Hunger and Thirst

One can be aware of the fact that one lacks certain possessions that are gener­ally considered valuable, and yet be glad, because of this poverty. Think of the women in Bethlehem, when the sword of Herod swept through the land to kill all the babies of two years and under, in order to kill the Christ-Child. Although there were childless wives who longed intensely to be blessed with a son or daughter, they were glad that at the moment they had no child, and did not need to suffer the grief of...