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Contents
1. Wisdom Poem
2. Scripture
3. Comments
4. Spiritual Exercise
Wisdom Poem
"What would
spirituality
give me?"
said an alcoholic
to the Master.
"Nonalcoholic
intoxication,"
was the answer.
*Anthony De Mello
Scripture~Ephesians 5.18 (NLT)
18 Do not get drunk with wine. That leads to wild [or, wasteful]living. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit [en pneumati, lit. in, or with, spirit, or Spirit]."
Comments
We are each vessels to be filled with something. This is a natural, spiritual, and universal law. The question is not "Will I fill my life with something?" but "What shall I choose to fill my life?"
Paul makes clear some persons fill their lives with alcoholic intoxication. Alcohol becomes that person's faith object. Paul warns us not to trust in liquid intoxication. Why? Not just because it is wrong. Paul knows such filling will leave us empty, providing only temporary relief. Rather than alcoholic intoxication freeing us, it will control us. Have you ever known an alcoholic in control of alcohol?
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Divine Wisdom, still, does not leave us without the benefits of intoxication. We are offered filling, as the Greek means, "to the brim with the Spirit."
The Spirit is to pervade our entire selves, altering habits of thought and action, and transforming emotional tempers. Like liquid intoxication altering personality, the spiritual Christian's personality is altered to the Nature of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual Christian assumes, not by effort alone but effort in opening to drink of the Spirit, the likeness of Christ inwardly and outwardly. Why? The Holy Spirit is none other than the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ Jesus, the Spirit of the Trinity.
Exercise
Pray the following prayer, or offer your own prayer, for the intoxication of Spirit...
Sweet Jesus Christ, I long for the fortunate death to my ways and likeness to your Ways. I know this is my True Self, and I know that in thought, action, and emotion, I have wandered from Your Good and Gracious Influence. Breathe within and upon me, from deepest Center to outer flesh, your Divine Presence. I open to You my inner self and body, for you to set it apart in spirit to live in You, for You, and to share You in all my words and actions, and more so in my presence. I disown myself, here and now, again, to be a captive of Your Love. Amen.
INVITATION~Persons are invited to request membership in this writer's House of Light, a web village for persons interested in or living a contemplative life. To request membership go to www.7Villiages.com .
See next page for Purpose of OneLife and reference to a couple of the writer's written works; and reference to sources.
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