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Christian Mysticism: Session 5
The Way of Knowing God in the Darkness She said, “I tried, and it didn’t work.” He replied, “...and it never will.” History is littered with story and legend extolling the pursuit of peace. World-breaking conflicts and personal crusades grip our imagination as we cheer on the hoped-for conclusion: peace. Everyone wants peace. Yes, I know even as you read this, there are some whose minds go to the witness of madmen and despots. However, the tragic and distorted lives of the notorious only serve to reinforce my statement. Even the insane and delusional want peace; they are simply incapable of the revelation of self. True peace, as an end of human effort, is an impossibility in this world. True peace is only possible through the relationship with Christ. To accept the peace we so desperately want and that is promised to us, we need to acknowledge and embrace the Darkness. The Way of Knowing God in the Darkness “Because of our God's deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79) As a child, protected by my parents, the darkness that terrified me was physical and it concealed the thing under my bed. As a young adult that fear subsided but was not gone. Instead, it was supplemented by another form of itself: the thing under the bed was now the thing out there or down there…in the dark. Darkness could also conceal violence, but with the proper tools it was easily overcome: just turn on the light. That simple remedy, the flick of a switch, was like a cleansing release and it brought hope and even courage. In the light I felt safe and in control and I thought no more of darkness or the thing that lay in wait. Being afraid of the dark is common to all cultures and peoples. It is a fear of being harmed, of being helpless, of being prey. It would be wonderful if I could say that when I became an adult I was “cured” of my fear and of the thing that lurks in the shadows, but that is not true. All people are aware of God and afraid of the thing. God is present to all his children, though many reject his presence. The deep interior awareness of God’s call is possible because God knows we need Him, and God makes it possible for us to be aware. But that awareness is not limited to God and rejecting God does not shut down the awareness. The darkness holds more than the absence of light: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. (Ephesians 6:12) Most of us don’t stop in the darkness; we rush through it to the light. Those who do stop, don’t linger and the few who stop and search for the thing, are sure to find it. Darkness is a physical reality in which physical dangers are present and darkness is a spiritual reality in which spiritual dangers lurk. We use darkness as a metaphor in our lives: darkness of thought, of emotion, and of knowing. The reality and dangers of darkness plagues and pursues us. We know it. God knows it, too. This is why Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”(John 8:12) Jesus acknowledges that we live on the edge of darkness and that we are frequently overtaken by it. He knows that we live in fear, a deep droning fear brought on by the uncertainty of the dark and of the thing that lives there. As adults, we learn to ignore the darkness as best we can, and to pretend the thing does not exist. But we can’t. God is the only solution, the only light that can pierce the darkness and illumine the Way. Growth in spiritual depth sharpens our awareness: God comes closer, Jesus is felt, and fear is arrested. The darkness in our lives does not go away. The thing never stops its pursuit. It is always with us. Thanks be to God that we are not left to face this alone: as we are assured that “ In him(Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.” (John 1:4-5) I cannot emphasize enough the change that is experienced when we are no longer afraid. When the fear we have learned to ignore is embraced and given over to Christ, there is a freedom never-before experienced. The invitation to walk in the spirit, to experience living in mystical union with Christ, is not meant to simply be an academic or intellectual pursuit. True spiritual union with God (deification) requires conscious devotion and, once undertaken, changes everything! St. Francis DeSales wrote, …so devotion is the real spiritual sweetness which takes away all bitterness from mortifications; and prevents consolations from disagreeing with the soul: it cures the poor of sadness, and the rich of presumption; it keeps the oppressed from feeling desolate, and the prosperous from insolence; it averts sadness from the lonely, and dissipation from social life; it is as warmth in winter and refreshing dew in summer; it knows how to abound and how to suffer want; how to profit alike by honor and contempt; it accepts gladness and sadness with an even mind, and fills one’s heart with a wondrous sweetness. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Ch 2) Jesus calls us to the light through the darkness: embrace the darkness. If you deny the thing in the darkness and ignore the fear by the dim light of platitude and excuse, you will not be able to accept Christ’s true light and true love. True devotion means truly opening yourself to God. You must open those doors you have bolted shut to let Christ’s light shine in that darkness. The healing illumination of your heart and spirit will change your effort into peace. Devotion is no longer an act you undertake because you want to, but the communion with God you need to have. It becomes not a means to an end, but truly a journey of discovery and new life. Next week, we will review the steps thus far, answer a few questions I have received, and peer into a different kind of darkness. “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8) In His Light, Fr. Bill+
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Christian Mysticism:
The Way of Knowing God in the Darkness Deification (Greek theosis): process by which a Christian becomes more like God. …as they gathered around the sage, old, blind man he began to speak, “the life you are living is a lie! Look to the heavens; you say there are stars, the sun, the moon, you are wrong. I know this for I have looked as well and have seen nothing, you must see as I see and know this as well.” The crowd dispersed having wasted their time. So, where do we start as we try to untangle the blind man’s ravings? All Christian experiences, mystic or not, begin in scripture. That is not to say that a person can’t have an experience of God without first reading the Bible; rather that the experience they are having finds its root there. In Genesis 1:27 we are told that God created us male and female in God’s own likeness. In community, thinking, creative beings are capable of amazing things. Possibility and power were grafted into us as a mirror of God’s own self. Perhaps the greatest, and least thought-of power we possess, is the ability to make (or re-make) the world in our own image. All this was and is ours, for we were intended to assist God in the furthering of creation. We, like God, are caregivers and lovers, participating in the protection and flourishing of life. Even as we possess these abilities today, we rarely use them as they were intended. Having broken away from God (Genesis 3), enticed by power, and seeking the self instead of the other, we are preoccupied and distracted by fear and loathing. God continues to call to us, and we do hear though many times—most of the time—we can’t hear that sweet, still silence. Still, we know that we are being called and we are afraid of what that means and we are ashamed of the misuse of the power God has given us. The tragic results are broken relationships, seeping regret, and disquietude. From Genesis 1 through Genesis 7 the physical and spiritual trajectory of humankind is mapped: from being created as the image of God in joyful communion to broken trust, murder, the perversion of nature, and worldwide destruction. The rest of the Old Testament is an ongoing account of war, famine, destruction, deception, slavery, and death. But, through it all, in every age and time, there is hope. Through the biblical witness, God is calling, leading, at times even pleading for healing and renewal. Throughout time, God has called us, not by our power, but by God’s. God is always the initiator, leading through spirit and presence, always affirming that our wholeness lies in union with the divine (Deification). Ultimately God points the way to the consummation of all things in a New Heaven and New Earth, where there will be reconciliation and wholeness—in God. Human power, the usurped power God has given us, is never why God chooses us. God chooses out of love and seeks weakness and humility in those who are made in God’s image. To show us exactly what that looks like, what we are meant to be, God becomes one of us, the perfect image of God’s self, God reflected in us as we are reflected in God. Born in a humble state, Jesus, the Imago Dei, (image of God) reveals love, hope, caring, joy, peace, and relationship as the path to wholeness. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3a) as he is both the author of life and the teacher of what it means to live. By love, in love, through love, Jesus—God incarnate—leads and witnesses God’s self to us, not through power and oppression or fear and selfishness, but by self-giving (Genesis 1). So, in short, the pattern of scripture (and our lives) is: wholeness, rebellion, brokenness, self-justification, fear and resignation, potential awareness and wholeness, rebellion, brokenness, . . . In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-10) Jesus clearly teaches what we must do to break this cycle and begin growing in his likeness (completely human). Seeking God in all things as the answer to all things we will be filled—enlightened. Enlightenment: spiritual awareness of God’s presence and purpose and of God’s pre-creation devotion to communion with us. As Jesus spoke with Nicodemus, he told him to be “born again;” to be born of the spirit. The only route to enlightenment is through Christ. As Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” and that way through him is by being born again by the Spirit. Jesus did not speak these and other words of instruction idly or frivolously; what he said he meant and what he proposed is possible. Sadly, most often these words of Jesus are taken to mean simple discipleship, believing, and following the Lord, but they mean so much more. How can it be that we can be transformed into the likeness of Christ simply by saying we are Christians and deciding to do good things? Surely, God will honor those who take this first step and stop, but God intended us for much more. Jesus commanded us to “be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). What a cruel and ridiculous thing to say if were not possible; but it is possible, of course it is. To achieve this, St. Peter witnessed that indeed we need to be “…born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). St. Paul admonishes us that unless we gird ourselves in the Holy Spirit we can’t progress. In order to grow in the likeness of Christ we must be protected from ourselves and the forces around us: Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:10-12, 18) Jesus commands us to be perfect as God intended us to be and has shown us and given us the method by which we embark on this journey. To achieve the command of God to be like the Son; we must move beyond our self-effort to improve and give ourselves over to be improved by God. Not by our effort, but by our humility is the way to theosis. The blind, old man said, “I know this for I have looked as well and have seen nothing, you must see as I see and know this as well.” The first step in this journey is to see ourselves and the world differently. Next week, we begin. On the path of enlightenment, Fr. Bill+ What Christian Mysticism is NOT
Let's start off by separating our topic from “modern” mysticism and “spirituality.” When I was growing up, I remember a lot of movies with bits about mystics and shamans, séances, and mediums. In almost all cases, except horror movies (thank you Boris Karloff), the depictions were of gullible people and greedy charlatans. Today, we are still beset by mediums and clairvoyants talking to our dearly departed (for a substantial fee) and predicting love, radical success, trial, and triumph--even death (you're welcome, $cha-ching). Even the church isn’t immune to these dramatists preying on the fears and hopes of others. Mega-church pastors have made millions off the trust and hope of desperate people. Brian Hiatt of Mother Jones News wrote, “The kinds of things that have been commonplace in carnivals and communes are now center stage in the church. The principles of sociopsychological manipulation that have been used by stage hypnotists are now being used by pastors.” Unfortunately, these modern perversions taint legitimate world Christian Mysticism. Still further, we all have been exposed to people who are “spiritual” and claim a “special relationship” with the “divine” through their own effort, goodness, and awareness. These people have no need for the church or God but relay their own power and special status. In every conversation I have had with a spiritualist, I have been told (either explicitly or implied) that they are more enlightened than the people who are still attending an actual church. In mixed conversations, I have witnessed their effort to lead astray those who are going to church with promises of joy from the ‘unfettered freedom’ they experience. In our undertaking, we must first rid ourselves of any mental or emotional connection/reaction with these images. To be fair, there are forms of mysticism which witness to a genuine search for enlightenment. The “Mystic’s” goal is obtaining enlightenment through which they can experience union with the divine. The mystic’s experiences are self-motivated following a myriad of traditions/instructions to achieve the desired union. Union with the divine transforms the mystic, infusing their mind, body, and soul with divine power. The mystic becomes divine and lives as a portal through which wisdom and divine emanations can be experienced. The goal and end of this mysticism is self-enlightenment. What Christian Mysticism IS Christian Mysticism is seeking communion with God through Jesus Christ. This search leads the seeker through layers of self-awareness guided by the Holy Spirit with the witness of Holy Scripture. The Christian’s goal is to draw closer to God because that is God’s plan and, in all things, follows the witness of scripture. Christian Mysticism describes the seeker as, “one steeped in Holy Writ.” There are many wonderful writings by far-advanced masters who have trod this path, but the Bible will always be the primary source. And that is just what we will be exploring together in this series. Step One: Self Awareness There are many ways that we come to “self-awareness.” The Christian Mystic begins with the realization that his or her seeking is not self-motivated but is the response to God’s call. Like all our lives, Christian self-awareness as a conscious act of our existence, is rooted in relationships. In the same way, a married couple acts throughout the day considering their partnership with the other like going to the grocery store and buying food or making plans for the night, so it is with the Christian Mystic in the consideration of God. Self-awareness means being aware of God in all things because God is present in all things. Self-awareness is being aware when we are not aware of God, and being aware that we are not aware of God will change our awareness. Starting with a foundation of proper devotion and focus makes moving toward communion with God possible. Next week we will look at the witness of Scripture and see how our spiritual journey is mapped out for us from the very beginning. Starting with the intention of God (pre-biblical witness), through the pattern of creation in Genesis, we will see the image of our own spiritual journey. Moving through the scripture to the New Testament, Jesus' words will explode as we become aware of the greater depth of meaning. See you here! Being self-aware, Fr. Bill+ Introduction
Pseudo Dionysius, Meister Eckart, Margerite Porete, Maximus the Confessor, Symeon the New Theologian, Hadewijch of Antwerp, Julian of Norwich, Hugh of St Victor, Hildegard of Bingen, Beatrice of Nazareth, Gregory Palamas, Macarius of Egypt … There are so many more names I could list; a few you may know, most you would not. These, and the many more, are regarded as Christian Mystics. Christian Mysticism is a little-spoken-of and highly misunderstood path of spiritual enlightenment. It is a mode or experience more than an intellectual endeavor, though the mind is obviously called upon to grasp and understand the experience of God. Christian Mysticism is concerned with the direct experience of God and the transformative presence of Divine love. It is a way of encountering God outside of the “normal” methods of devotion. It is something we experience more than something we learn and is expressed in terms such as union, unknowing, way-less-ness, Theoria, uncreated, phronema, hesychast, and theosis. It is focused on union with God and the cultivation of a deeper awareness of God’s presence in and through everything especially prayer, meditation, contemplation, reflection, and sometimes visions. Christian mysticism has a long and rich history, spanning from the early Church Fathers and Mothers to modern times. In my last series, Reflection, Contemplation, and Prayer: A Triad of Spiritual Awareness, I spoke about methods of devotion; that is, ways (methods) by which we can ascend. I say ascension in the sense that, through certain methods we can learn the habit of encountering God and, from that place of encountering, ascend. It is, in itself, a paradox that the methods require spiritual ascension through which ascension is achieved. Practicing our methods, we move beyond the method itself which is filled with us--our minds and hearts—to an empty place above and beyond filled with God. As I say this, I am aware that this may be the first time many of you have heard this seemingly tangled proposition, but I am hoping to help with that. For the next several weeks I will open the door to Christian Mysticism. We will only scratch the surface, but even the surface has depth rarely plumed. I pray that you will accompany me on this short journey into a part of Christian devotion and discernment that has the power of divine enlightenment. Part One: Preparation and Overcoming Fear This short study already seems more like a riddle than an answer. It is normal that, when faced with a seemingly complex issue or a so called “sophisticated” process, our first reaction is to leave, move on, or check out. We fear that we will be unable to understand what is being said and, not wanting to be proven right, we do not engage. How sad it is that through time brilliant minds and astute observations have gone unknown and unheard by this fear. Christian Mysticism, though there are strange words and rare combinations of words, is about revelation—divine love. This is an opportunity to stretch our spirit towards God in ways we have never thought of. New words and word uses help us to separate Christian Mysticism from what we already know and do and from other forms of “spirituality” that lead not up, but sideways. Christian Mysticism is about Jesus. It is about the Father. It is about the Holy Spirit. It is about the depth we seek in prayer now ascended to Divine presence and transformative to our daily life. “Transformative to our daily life” –that alone is a scary concept! We are mostly comfortable with who we are—more so as we get older and seek simpler forms of life. We all take pride in our strengths, our ability to manage or lead or create or whatever. To be told that this will be transformative to our daily life is in a way threatening to who we know ourselves to be. So, the first thing to do is to deny that perspective and the stagnation it produces. God is calling you into a deeper ascendance (more on that later) that will empower and revitalize you. You can’t be threatened that you’ll be revealed as less than you are, or you’ll be overcome by complexity. You can’t be threatened because it is Jesus who walks with you and the Holy Spirit who comforts as the Father calls out to you. God will not let you fall or falter when the entirety of your effort is to lay in his arms. In God’s arms there is no place for excuses or fear; in God’s arms there is only love. Prayer of Readiness In your prayers, ask God to set you free. Ask God to open your mind to God’s self in new and exciting ways. Ask God to be made known to you in the “in-between moments,” your gentle pauses and the rhythm of your breath. In your prayers, look with your mind’s eye for the likeness of Jesus as you ask the Father for revelation. Now, feel. There is no fear or trepidation, only love and possibility. Next week, we begin. Unknowingly, Fr. Bill+ Dear Creator Family,
As we enter Fall, it is time for us to give God thanks for all we have been given this summer. In a global sense, we give thanks for…
We face what we must contend with each day. In a global sense, we fear that…
Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (1) We strive to rest in God and live through God’s call for liberty and justice for all. Our faith, history, and heritage become one in our deepening submission and relinquishment to God in all things. We have no greater clarity or assurance than that which springs from the heart of God: Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (2) This year’s Fall programs and events are, in part, our answer to the call of God and the opportunity that Jesus gives us to grow. They are:
It is my prayer that you will be filled and will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (3) Learning and growing in Christ Jesus, Fr. Bill+ 1. Matthew 11:28 2. Matthew 11:29-30 3. Ephesians 3:18-19 * Please check our calendar for additional gatherings and parish events. “To love Jesus Christ is the greatest work that we can perform on this earth but it is a work and a gift that we cannot have of ourselves; it must come to us from Him and He is ready to give it to those who ask Him for it . . . A day will come . . . where we shall find united with us many hundreds of thousands of souls who at one time did not love God but who, brought back to His grace by means of us, will love Him and will be for all eternity a cause of gladness to ourselves. Should not this thought alone spur us on to give ourselves completely to the love of Jesus Christ, and to making others love Him? I finish but I could go on forever from the desire I have that I might see you all filled with love for Jesus Christ, and working for His glory.”
–St. Alphonsus Liguori, Founder of the Redemptorists Congregation So, the hustle and bustle started once again. School, the fall rush, and all those cooler-weather chores waiting in the wings, are almost upon us—so be it. We are not overwhelmed or done-in; we are people of faith! Our strength comes from the Lord! And our peace is found in God’s companionship. The “long green season” of Pentecost is green, in part, to hold before our eyes what we know in our hearts: the world is where we live, but eternity is where we belong. Long through the centuries men and woman have prayed for religious renewal and the deepening of the spirit for which we are so in need. St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) was known as the Patron Saint of Moral Theologians because of his brilliance, the Patron Saint of the work of Lay People because of his productivity, and the Patron Saint of Confessors. For 64 years he served the church as an Italian bishop, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher, theologian, and founder of The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (known as the Redemptorists). To say the least, St. Alphonsus was truly devoted to Christ. His 111 spiritual texts have gone through more than 20,000 separate editions and have been translated into more than 60 languages, making him the most published author in history. St. Alphonsus’ prayer beautifully articulates the prayer of devotion and service to God. How in need we are of Christ’s inspiration and leadership as we seek His call to serve. As we begin the rush of the impending fall months, pray for guidance for us all and a discernment of call for yourself. The Fire of the Holy Spirit is ours as we face challenges every day, and we pray with St. Alphonsus to keep that truth before us always: Holy Spirit, divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints. I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me. O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Theotokos, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon. Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity. Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation. Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul. Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter. Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world. Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Amen. St. Alphonsus Liguori Peace in Christ, Fr. Bill+ Reflection, Contemplation, and Prayer: A Triad of Spiritual Awareness
Part 6: The End of the Beginning In the realm of prayer and contemplation, experience is the key word. We experience our experience of prayer as a special thing/time/process in which we practice various techniques and apply specific methods. Our experience is one of being an adventurer, beginning that amazing journey for the first time–even though we may have passed “this way” many times before. Unknown lands and unimagined vistas await us, but first, we must figure out how to navigate the ticket counter and endure the long boring bus ride. That bus is taking us to those places we have dreamed of, seen in our minds, and felt in our hearts. We KNOW those places are real and waiting for us, but the journey to get there (at least at this early stage) is duplicitous and numbing. Somehow the miles of anticipation are sucked dry by the distance yet untraveled. We rally by re-reading that National Geographic we brought along and by re-living the dream, forcing to mind the excited conversations we had about the journey before we left. For a while we are satisfied with our progress, but just before we fade into sleep, the noisy brakes squeal and the bus lurches to a stop at yet another road-side diner. History and well-written memoirs have chronicled more than one starry-eyed adventurer who turned back, depressed and dissuaded by the monotony of the road. How eagerly we start our journey, but how tragic can be our ending. So it can be with spiritual progress. Our journey, while it resembles that earlier adventurer is different in that, as we travel, the ride itself is part of the journey, not simply a means-to-an-end. Those road-side diners aren’t just delays keeping us from the far-off vistas, but incredible opportunities in and of themselves! Experience is the key word here. We experience our experience of prayer as a special thing/time/process, linearly not linear; it is a state of being rather than a state of doing. The fits and starts we have discussed here are mostly unavoidable as you begin this journey; but unlike our ill-fated counterpart, your bus ride actually began long before you bought that ticket. Perhaps the greatest attestation to your effort to pray and grow in your spiritual life is your pre-experienced awareness of the presence of God. You may feel you are far along on this journey or maybe just starting out; either way now is the time to revisit how you got here. Think back on it. You wanted to grow closer to God, to pray, to grow in your spiritual life. You have undertaken the steps and are dedicated to the process through discipline and devotion–and this is true, but now look again. Read this out loud: Jesus is pulling me closer. God is speaking to me through prayer and giving me eyes that see all in spiritual beauty. I am a handmaid of the most high, a son of the living God! I belong to God and I am following Jesus. And there it is. You didn’t start this, God did. You have always known it, but the miles have obscured and confused this truth. As a child that has wandered too far from home, plagued by a sense of distant belonging–no matter how old, you long to go back. There you know you will be safe and secure and loved–that special love, again. This is the way you must see and know your life from now on; God is your home. The Father has been providing and Jesus has been walking and the Holy Spirit has been talking with you all along. To look around is to see God at work; to look inside is to see Divine peace. Home is where your heart is. The longer you seek after the presence and awareness of Christ in your life the more easily you will see and know him to be. Interrupted prayer time, wandering mind, fractured attention span, and another road-side diner, are all experiences of the presence of God and your growth in the spirit! There is much more to learn and experience, God is every moment of every moment showing you the Way. With Jesus as your companion on this journey, you will experience unknown lands and unimagined vistas in everything you do. If you would like some companionship navigating the ticket counter or just sitting with you on the bus, I am here for you. A million miles along and unimaginable distances to go… On the journey with Christ, Fr. Bill+ Reflection, Contemplation, and Prayer:
A Triad of Spiritual Awareness Part 5: Contemplation For the Christian, the question is not “Can I connect with God?” but rather “am I aware of God?” Awareness is the same thing as being conscious, present in the moment of the moment's presence. Awareness is the knowing of a thing beyond sound and sensation; it is a connection that exists below the surface and permeates deep into the being. Sitting alone in my house reading, I suddenly become aware of a change, a subtle shift in the world around me. It is a ripple in the flow of life into which we pour ourselves, discerning anew that we were already aware of. For the purpose of this series, I have separated Contemplation from Reflection and defined them as overlapping, but different: Reflection: 1. Approaching a time, object, memory, or circumstance with the intention of seeing God at work. 2. Engaging a time, object, memory, or circumstance, such as recalling a memory or looking at a crucifix, focused on God to perceive God reflected in the moment/object. Contemplation: 1. To be fully present in our heart and mind, focused on one aspect of our selves while also being emptied of the self in order for God to be present. 2. Intentionally emptying the mind of thought to provide a quietude to encounter God. Paradoxically, Christian contemplation is as if one is being emptied and filled at the same time–a series of moments in which the individual empties her mind and heart even as she is being deeply filled. Ultimately, contemplation is the state of being fully aware with God and God being fully present with us. We embrace the connection of self and the divine which is ever present, in order to become what we already are, but is dangerously obscured. The goal of Christian contemplation is to simply be with God at rest, to be in the presence of God – “resting in God,” as Gregory the Great called it – and enjoying the love of Christ. In an odd way, the state of emptying is in itself an action filled with effort and distraction. How do we achieve the peace which enables emptying? John Cassian, also known as John the Ascetic (c. AD 360 – c. 435), was a Christian monk and theologian who penned much on the mystical way. As he writes in The Contemplative Life: “To cling always to God and to the things of God—this must be our major effort; this must be the road that the heart follows unswervingly. Any diversion, however impressive, must be regarded as secondary, low-grade, and certainly dangerous.” (Conferences, Vol. I, 8, 42.) The danger Cassian speaks of is something you and I experience constantly. When I was young, I remember watching a movie (the name escapes me) where one man yelled at another, “You're losing your soul!” It was very dramatic. I was impressed by the danger the man was in, but I didn’t really know what the man meant. I do now. It wasn't about his soul being ripped away, torn from him by some horrible creature; he was literally losing it. And our illustrious C. S. Lewis writes in Screwtape Letters, instructing Wormwood of the subtlety of loss: You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. (Letter 12) Lewis answers Cassian by giving flesh and blood to the dangers once spoken of. It’s the small things, or rather, the lack of the small things, that will do us in: fewer and fewer small ways of seeing God, hearing God, thanking God, small moments of devotion, and small thoughts of others, the safest road…is the gradual one. The need for awareness–the contemplation of God–is rooted in the core of our being. Drawing close to God is what we were meant for, and God waits for us patiently inside every moment. The how of achieving this is two-fold: as Cassian said, “To cling always to God and to the things of God—this must be our major effort.” So yes, it is an effort. In preparation for your prayer time, as you reflect on that passage of scripture, your reward will be your growing awareness of yourself. The effort to include God in the fabric of your day changes the tapestry of your life. The picture is different, you are not alone, and you can see it. In your prayer time, whether or not you have suffered through the stages (part 4) or experienced the prayer awareness trap (part 1), you are able to Contemplate. Contemplation is emptying. Emptying yourself of the thoughts that assail your effort to be quiet requires an effort that itself can become a trap. Thinking about not thinking about the things you think about often produces a “Mobius strip” of the mind. While it may be ‘natural’ to respond with frustration over your inability to find quietude, the better response is to talk. What should you do when this happens? Talk to God, laugh at the event, and invite God into the moment as a partner and companion. God is not somewhere else, and you have to find him; God is right there with you. Now, try again. Before or after your “formal” prayers, simply stop and think no more. I know; that's easy to say… The key here is to remember, as you seek to quiet your mind, that God is already there in that place of waiting. Now slow down; time itself will drag and flounder. God is helping you to be at peace and quiet and suddenly, or slowly, you are there. This is the place of Contemplation. In the end, Contemplation is not something that can be achieved through will, but rather it’s God’s gift. It is the opening of mind and heart – one’s whole being – to God. Contemplation is a process of interior transformation. It is a relationship initiated by God and, as we participate in it, leading to divine union. Isaac the Syrian (c. 613 – c. 700), also remembered as Abba Isaac, was a 7th-century bishop and theologian best remembered for his written works on Christian asceticism. One of the greatest spiritual thinkers, he describes Contemplation and the fruits of Contemplation in his Ascetic Treatise 31: The joy of prayer is one thing; the prayer of contemplation is another. The latter is more precious than the former, as an adult is more advanced than a child. The verses of a psalm may be very delightful on the tongue, and the singing of a single verse during prayer may prevent us from continuing and passing on to another verse, so inexhaustible is it. But it may also happen that prayer gives rise to contemplation, which interrupts what the lips are saying. Then the person is in ecstasy. Contemplation makes him, as it were, a body without breath. This is what we call the prayer of contemplation . . . but there is still a measure in this contemplation . . . it is always a prayer. The meditation has not yet reached the point where there is no longer any prayer. It has not yet arrived at the higher state. In fact, the movements of the tongue and of the heart are keys. And what comes next is entry into the treasure house. Here every tongue and every mouth falls silent and the heart, too, that gathers together the thoughts, and the spirit that governs the senses, and the work of meditation. They are like a flutter of impudent birds. Let their activity cease . . . for the Master of the house has come. Through the heart, you are led to God. By the Holy Spirit, you are joined with Christ. A more elevated state of the soul . . . it is the contemplation of God alone, an immeasurable fire of love. The soul settles in it and sinks into its depths. It converses with God as with its own Father, very familiarly, with special tenderness. - Cassian, Conferences IX, 18, 111–112. Contemplating God, Fr. Bill+ Reflection, Contemplation, and Prayer:
A Triad of Spiritual Awareness Part 4: Interlude Two Stages of Prayer When we began this journey together, I said to you that we were undertaking a “four-week walk toward spiritual awareness.” Did I lie? This is the fourth week, and we are not finished. Perhaps I meant four weeks separated by other weeks, or maybe I misjudged, or I am illustrating a point. I will go with that last one. How desperately we want our progression into the depths of God to be smooth and speedy. With leaps and bounds, we joyfully ascend the heights of spiritual maturity, basking in the divine light of God’s companionship! How wonderful that would be. Alas, we all know that our desires for easy and constant progression through spiritual discernment are fraught with difficulty, punctuated with loneliness, desperation, and doubt. Your first decision when undertaking this adventure thus, is whether you are serious enough to embrace the punctuations and deal with the disappointments. Four weeks turn into forty, time stands still; the unexpected becomes the norm. Our life experience, as badly as we might want to regularize and systematize it, is a series of random interruptions and constant adjustment after another. At our best we flow with the undulations; at our worst, we rebel in destructive fury; but neither way will change the system. “The best-made plans of mice and men” are companions in futility, if we believe that we can muscle or wish our lives into perfect order. Embracing the punctuations and disappointments of life with optimism and grace acknowledges the power of the system and our mastery over it. Yes, mastery! When St. Paul proclaims, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8-9) he is proclaiming victory over the forces of this world. Jesus never told us or implied that all troubles, or even interruptions, would go away when we follow him. St. Paul emphasizes Jesus’ teaching by sharing his own difficulties in the missionary journeys he undertook and in his personal life. His and our mastery over the forces of “sin and death” does not mean bending reality to our will, but embracing all we encounter with Jesus Christ. As believers, we claim the promises Jesus made as he proclaimed: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20b) Our confrontation with the random and often disagreeable forces of life can be with optimism and grace as we remain aware that we are not alone—even when we feel we are. Stages of Prayer As you undertake your prayer you will find, as we discussed in Part 1, that it will quickly fracture and degrade; this is unavoidable. This is the normal progression, the same system of life we struggle with—or embrace—every moment of every day. Can you relate? But when we turn to God to grow spiritually, we often believe that this system will be healed, even overwritten by God. When that does not happen, when the system breaks our vision of perfection, then we are in the most danger. Without some kind of intervention, you may write all this off as a fantasy, or as some overrated emotional fiction. Let me assure you it is neither. That God can and will heal the fracture with focus and peace and will overwrite the degradation with presence and love, is without question. You will get glimpses (you may already have), but it may be a while before it becomes a constant respite. To progress along the path, you must be constantly aware of the stages of prayer. By this I do not mean the method of praying or even the order of prayers, but the stages of victory and failure, light and darkness, knowledge and unknowing. Stage One: Encounter You receive immediate and blessed contact with the divine as you release yourself to God in prayer. This is God’s gift to you and is intended to strengthen you for what is to come. Stage Two: Dedication You dedicate yourself to prayer and the process of prayer. Empowered by the Encounter, you are energized and elated, filled with optimism and love. Stage Three: Distortion You have “a bad night” or a “hard day,” which will explain your lack of focus and feeling at your prayer time. You move into your own thoughts and explain away the distant feeling you have as a product of outside forces. Stage Four: Rally You redouble your efforts and force yourself through your prayers with the sheer force of will. With personal resolve, you power through your prayers, aware of your own effort. Stage Five: Fracture You are unable to find peace or focus even before you pray. Even the thought of prayer seems exhausting. You decide to “take a break” until you feel better. Stage Six: Disillusionment Thinking about the prayer experience, you decide it didn’t work because it is “not for you,” or that it may not even be real. You convince yourself that the great feeling you had when you started was of your own making, as when you get excited to go to a party. You don’t go back. Maybe I should have called these, The Stages of Response to the Call to Communion by God through Prayer by My Own Power. The time that we are spending together here is intended to short-circuit these stages. At any stage, you are capable of breaking out and reinitiating your journey. At any point in your prayer process, you can interrupt the stages and begin again. The secret is to be aware of the stages themselves. Remember what St Paul proclaims, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Roman 8:38-39) While St. Paul is absolutely correct, he did not mention the greatest power of all: our ability to turn away from God. Jesus will always be with us, but we can ignore, or even try to run away from him. My thoughts, my power, my practice, and my rationalization will keep me from feeling and knowing the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. You must expect the fracture and the distortion, the degradation of your thoughts, and the breaking of your expectations as you fail to pray and fail to feel the presence of God. At that moment, you must recognize that Jesus is with you and knows what you are thinking and feeling and will save you from yourself. Stage Zero: Awareness and Relinquishment Know what you are doing, and embrace doing and thinking it. See yourself in the moment and give that person to God. Relinquish your thoughts and breathe the holy breath of calm surrender. Start again with this thought: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” In Him as He is with me, Fr. Bill+ Reflection, Contemplation, and Prayer:
A Triad of Spiritual Awareness Part 3: Reflection You may have noticed by now that I am not addressing this topic in the same order as I express it in the title. As you undertake the incredible journey of deepening Spiritual Awareness, you will find progress in fits and starts. Just as you feel comfortable with the way you are praying, you will feel unsatisfied with your reflection. Or, just when you have settled down to your routine in contemplation, your mind wisks you to errant thought. While this will be unsettling (and possibly discouraging) it is normal and a sign that you are, indeed, progressing. I am taking these topics in a random order from the title because your progress will randomly gyrate. This will, no doubt, be more difficult for those who are more dedicated to order. This is, however, the way it works because as you grow in one area and are sufficient, God will perfect another area you are lacking. It is like a child learning arithmetic: as they learn numbers, they can then learn to add, but to add more, they must learn new numbers. Today, then, we will briefly discuss Reflection. Reflection: 1. Approaching a time, object, memory, or circumstance with the intention of seeing God at work. 2. Engaging a time, object, memory, or circumstance, such as recalling a memory or looking at a crucifix, focused on God to perceive God reflected in the moment/object. Contemplation: 1. To be fully present in our heart and mind focused on one aspect of our self while also being emptied of the self in order for God to be present. 2. Intentionally emptying the mind of thought to provide a quietude to encounter God. Prayer: 1. A spiritual communication between us and God; a two-way relationship in which we not only talk to God but also listen to God. 2. Prayer includes Adoration/Blessing, Contrition/Repentance, Thanksgiving/Gratitude, and Supplication/Petition/Intercession. Going to God in Prayer is necessary, as God has commanded it; but as with the stages of prayer (more on this later) Reflection has several sides. Reflection will always be a part of our prayer process as we pray. Reflecting can happen in the moment when we feel called to ponder a prayer we have just offered. Reflection is often a necessary interlude when we are in prayer dialogue with God. Reflection, as a spiritual moment–out of time, but in time as prayer–is our mental/spiritual response to God’s prompting for deeper thought; but there is also a preparatory phase to prayer that must be undertaken–Reflection. We reflect on all the areas of our lives at one time or another: “Did I say the right thing?” “Should I have left?” “Why didn’t I say something?” “WHY?” Often these reflections die as reflective moments because they were unwanted and intrusive in the moment. You were just walking along, and this thought came into your head demanding to be reflected upon: “WHY?” Why? Some circles say that this is your subconscious trying to work out an unfinished thought or event, and it may well be. The problem is that it is almost always unpleasant, and so we snuff it out as quickly as possible. As people of faith, however, we know that God speaks to us “in good times and bad” and calls us to be the better “us” by refining who we are through reflection. Thus, when we snuff out that intrusive thought, we are slamming the door on divine instruction. We need to cultivate the process of accepting those reflective moments and engaging them in serious thought and consideration, i.e. Reflection. “Why did I? Hmm, maybe it was because…I don’t know, is that how I really feel? Why?” The process of proactive deliberative thought about who we are and why we do the things we do will absolutely lead you to be a better “you”. This is why God intrudes. We live with the invitation and possibility of Reflection every moment. Whether intrusive or sought after, Reflection is God honoring our desire to be better/more. To become something new, however, we must recognize the need for change and “to boldly go where I have never gone before” (sorry, I just had to). So important and vital is this process of Reflection that it is ubiquitous with life itself—so constant and yet so obscured. Why do we not recognize the opportunities for Reflection more often? For one thing, it is work. We are so inundated with information and the demands of life for so long that this interior level of reflection simply becomes a deliberation, and we have the power to turn it off. Our earthly responsibilities, commitments, and desires have succeeded in exhausting us and obscuring the greater good: God’s promise to “be with us always.” For, how do we know someone is with us unless they are made known to us? When we become aware of the opportunities in everyday life to reflect and change to the glory of God (and the benefit of all those around us), we also become aware of the need for help. To this end, and for other reasons, many people engage in a daily “inspiration;” for example, an inspirational prayer, devotion, booklet, or podcast to start off the day. However, as wonderful as morning devotions may be, the key is not in the hearing, but in the Reflection. “I know I need this; now how do I apply it?” is the question you must repeat all day. “...but there is also a preparatory phase to prayer that must be undertaken–Reflection.” As you prepare for Prayer and continue to up the ante (your buy-in) to spiritual growth, your awareness of and commitment to Reflection moves to a new level. Not only are you reflecting on that podcast, but you are also seeking after the scripture you heard or were reminded of. Or perhaps you are waking in the morning to a passage of scripture already in your head. You seek it out; NEVER let the moment go by that a passage of “random scripture” pops into your head as anything but God speaking to! This practice of seeking scripture and reflecting on it throughout the day needs to happen every day. The reflection of the day will feed, power, and clarify your prayer time. The single most effective thing you can do to accelerate and deepen your Spiritual Growth is to reflect on the meaning of Scripture in your life. Scriptural Reflection will illuminate God working in your life. This will be a blessing in itself, as you will feel closer to God now realizing God has been with you all the time, but you will see that more clearly. Scriptural Reflection will show you the areas of your life that need attention and the unproductive habits that are holding you back. While this sounds bad, God’s gift of grace mediates these revelations, and with love and compassion, frees you from a burden you may not know you had. Now, in your prayers, you can truly confess your failings to God and receive forgiveness. “...a preparatory phase.” Reflection: 1. Approaching a time, object, memory, or circumstance with the intention of seeing God at work. Wake with the intention and practice of going to God in all things. Embrace the “WHYs?” of the day with excitement, trusting that God is leading you into a new beginning. 2. Engaging a time, object, memory, or circumstance, such as recalling a memory or looking at a crucifix, focused on God to perceive God reflected in the moment/object. Encounter and traverse the day with Scripture in your heart and mind, reflecting on the divine life of Christ. Scripture is the Word of God, manifested through time in written form. Hold onto Jesus throughout the day as, through him (Spirit and Word), you will find a depth to your life and spirit you have never known. We continue next week with part 4. Reflecting on God, Fr. Bill+ |
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October 2023
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