Plato, the great Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, said: “Human behaviour flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge”.
Human desire is the fundamental motivation of all human action. In an interesting article onTime Magazine, the American television writer and producer of TV series Power, Courtney Kemp Agboh, wrote: “As humans, we are plagued with desire – it consumes us, it fuels us, it destroys us”. Desires can be filthy and lead those engaged with them into big trouble. Simply notice the deleterious effect of desire when power is concerned. Courtney Kemp Agboh says that “when it comes to power as it functions between humans, it all comes down to desire. If you know what someone wants, you can control him or her. It is as simple as that”. However, “if you have control over your own desires, no one will ever own you”. Agboh’s last thought reminds me of what Mark Epstein, speaking from the context of Buddhism, wrote: “Desire is a teacher: When we immerse ourselves in it without guilt, shame, or clinging, it can show us something special about our own minds that allows us to embrace life fully”. Desires can go either way. They can either build or demolish. They can fortify virtue or erode any signpost of what is right and wrong.
Going back to what Mark Epstein observed, is reality only what the mind perceives it to be? Is there something deeper than the human mind to interpret reality? It is said that without vision we perish. Hence, we need to trail far beyond what the mind merely says or thinks. The Bible presents us with the great revelation of the Spirit! Our spirit is not isolated, as if it is left to fend for itself. No! Our spirit comes from the Holy Spirit of God! As the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans put it, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness” (Rom 8:26), not simply about “how to pray as we ought” (Rom 8:26) but He shows us what to desire and not to desire. Therefore, if we desire “fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing” (Gal 5:19-21), we will simply perish.
The Bible warns us: “Those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:21). However, if we desire, “the fruit of the Spirit”, that is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23), then we “belong to Christ Jesus” (Gal 5:24). Moreover, the criterion of belonging to Christ Jesus is clearly established by God’s Word: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal 5:24). And, as if to hammer the argument down even further, the Bible says in the following verse: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Gal 5:25).
In a splendid catechesis regarding The desire for God, delivered on 7 November, 2012, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI described such a desire as “fascinating aspect of the human and the Christian experience: man carries within himself a mysterious desire for God”. This great Roman Pontiff reminded us of what the Catechism of the Catholic Church takes as its starting point: “The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for” (n. 27).
If you are feeling restless because your heart is empty, void and without hope, take the step of Saint Augustine. Channel your desire from being lawless, unclean, unholy, and vain to “desire to be satisfied from Him (God)” (Confessions, Book 10). He alone is the joy we “verily all desire” (Confessions, Book 3). Hence, with Saint Augustine, let us pray: “Lord, have mercy on me, and hear my desire” (Confessions, Book 11).
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap