God’s comfort

Every virtue needs correction by its opposite virtue. A jungle flower in the East Indian tropics smells putrid alone, but mingled with the other forest scents is pleasant. So some virtues taken by themselves can “smell bad.” Denunciation in spirit, recognizing that one is bankrupt at the core of their life ends in lonely asceticism unless balanced by engagement with the world. Such involvement will lead to mourning because of the pain in the fallen societies. But it’s those who grieve over the sorrow brought by evil who wind up with God’s dearest comfort.