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Wisdom Story
The Abbot summoned a young monk to the chapel. The monk always showed great respect to the Abbot. But the Abbot, being a man of great humility, knew that he was not to receive such a degree of respect from anyone. When the monk arrived in the chapel, the Abbot said, "My dear son, you show too much respect to me." Pointing to the windows, the Abbot continued, "Windows are only the means of light. Why venerate the windows? Be attentive to the light."
Scripture
He is the image [Greek, icon] of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
*Colossians 1.15 (ESV)
Comments
Being in Christ, we, with Christ, share in being an icon
of the invisible Reality of Beauty! This is part of
the mystery of every true Christian being within
the Body of Christ.
Respecting persons most arises from seeing each one as a window of the living Christ. You are a window of the Beloved of God.
Like ordinary windows, with differing degree of openness to share light, we each, to varying degrees, are means of the splendor of Christ Light.
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The Sun does not differ in capacity, for it shines equally everywhere. If the light is not as bright and clear through one window as other windows, we cannot rightly say, "Look, the light shines differently from one to the other." Rather, the capacity of one window is different from the other, based on the degree of clarity of the glass itself.
Some persons are practically closed to the Christ Light. Other persons are almost pure means of Light. Still, those who appear to be devoid of transmitting any Light, by moral and spiritual cleansing and formation, can grow as means of the Beauty of Gracefulness.
Suggested Reflection
1. What are some moral qualities that you judge essential to your being a means of the love light of Christ?
2. Is there any one spiritual virtue that you especially struggle to live?
3. What does it mean to you that you are a means of the Christ Light?
4. What other image, other than a window, could we use to convey the idea of being a means of Christ? Explain.
5. What is an icon? How does that relate to the Incarnation of Christ and our being, as part of Christ, a means of the Presence of God to other persons?
See next page for details on OneLife Ministries, Brian's book An Ache for Union, and material pertaining to sources used in the writing.
Feel free to submit a query on how OneLife Ministries can better serve you. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
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