|
Wisdom Saying
Since the Christian is essentially a being-in-communion, he will normally be called to live in the midst of the world, busy with the practical tasks of building the city of mankind and preparing the food with which other bodies are nourished and of which even the mind has need. It will therefore be his mission in the world to be the tangible sign of the love (agape) and the koinonia [mutual participation] of the Spirit, and in the Church, the "visible sacrament of unity", to work for the realization even on this earth of the Kingdom which Jesus came to establish.
*Abhishiktananda (1910-1971), Christian mystic, missionary to India, In Spirit and Truth
Scripture~I John 1.1-4 (NJB)
1:1Something which has existed since the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have watched and touched with our own hands, the Word of life-this is our theme. 2That life was made visible; we saw it and are giving our testimony, declaring to you the eternal life, which was present to the Father and has been revealed to us. 3We are declaring to you what we have seen and heard, so that you too may share our life. Our life is shared with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4We are writing this to you so that our joy may be complete.
Comments
Contemplative Prayer, or the Prayer of Pure Love, is consequence of yielding all human faculties to rest in our common Ground, the Triune Infinity, in pure faith. Love responds to Love.
|
|
Within the Ground, there is no division. In the Prayer of Pure Love, one is led to that New Jerusalem, beyond the wilderness of separations. Here, is pure Sharing~what the New Testament calls koinonia.
The veil of separation is removed from the heart. Then, is seen with the inner eyes all reality to be only consequence of coming forth, always, from the Ground of Pure Simplicity.
In the Ground we find ourselves as being-in-communion, imaging the Trinity, or Being-in-Communion. Each creature is becoming in time, continually begotten from timeless Being, and its sharing in time arises from the potency of timeless Sharing.
Here, then, in the world, we discover the heaven within us. We discover, likewise, that hell already lives within us, if we do not surrender our prejudices to the agape of the Word Within all persons. Until I surrender such, to the extent I resist this unitive Grace, I am a manifestation of hell and cause of hell, regardless of how outwardly religious or pious I appear before other persons. Even the finest outward religion, if it does not surrender to agape, sharing in Sharing as a means to heal our creaturely divisions, is a religion of hell, regardless of how acceptable appearing or what the name attached to it. And, such religion does not deserve the name of the Christ, who identified Sharing with those that the established clergy and faith failed to see the Light of agape shining within in godly yearning for a reflection of their inestimable worth in the Eyes of God.
Suggested Reflection
How does being-in-commuinion challenge you in your sharing with other creatures~not just humans?
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. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
Continued... |
