|
Easter Season 2009
Welcome to OneLife Ministries. This site is designed to lead you prayerfully into a heart experience of Divine Presence, Who is Love. While it focuses on Christian teaching, the writer hopes persons of other faiths find inspiration here. Indeed, "God" can be whatever image helps you trust in the Sacred, by whatever means Grace touches you. Please share this ministry with others, and I hope you return soon. There is a new offering daily.
Blessings,
Rev Dr Brian K Wilcox, MDiv, MFT, PhD
Ecumenical Pastor-Teacher, Author, Workshop Leader,
Spiritual Counselor, Chaplain
LISTENING TO THE SCRIPTURES
51"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
52The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." 59Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.
*St. John 6.51-59 (ESV)
RECEIVING SACRED TEACHING
A woman said, "I have lit dozens of candles, fasted, and said countless prayers and, still, I have no idea what to do with my life. I just don't get an answer from heaven or a sign or anything."
"You cannot induce God to appear."
*Story and quote from Caroline Myss. Entering the Castle.
* * *
This subject of eating the flesh of Jesus and drinking His blood, I had never heard taught or preached, indeed, never heard referred to in a Worship setting. I was faced with a question: “What are we Protestants going to do with such Eucharistic passages as Jesus referring to our having to eat his flesh and drink his blood to have Life?” Jesus says, "[T]he bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh" (v. 51). And the text continues:
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever" (vv. 52-58, ESV).
The passage for today speaks to me of the essence of Christian faith, of faithing in Christ. Jesus says, "I give myself to you, all of me." Is it not palpable, intimate, this placing food and drink into my mouth, assimilating it? Does it not become one with me? Am I not to receive it as a gift? Then, is not Jesus saying that I am to receive as a gift his whole being, thereby allowing him to communicate his Grace to and within me? Do I not, thereby, in one spiritual Act give myself to him?
John Owen (1616-1683), the famed Puritan, in Sacramental Discourses, writes about the spirituality of this partaking of the elements of Christ. He refers to the liturgy of the Lord's Supper, or Eucharist.
The fourth thing [aspect of this] is, the mysteriousness; which I leave to your experience, for it is beyond expression, - the mysterious reception of Christ in this peculiar way of exhibition [in the Supper]. There is a reception of Christ as tendered in the promise of the gospel; but here is a peculiar way of his exhibition under outward signs, and a mysterious reception of him in them, really, so as to come to a real substantial incorporation in our souls. [Christians] raising up their souls to a mysterious reception and incorporation of him, - receiving him to dwell in them, warming, cherishing, comforting, and strengthening their hearts.
* * *
I am persuaded the spiritual experience Owen refers to is not communicated in a way in the Supper that is contrary to how we can experience Christ daily. There is nothing communicated of Christ in the Eucharist that is not available at any moment. The Eucharist is a liturgy to remind you and me that our lives can be fully Eucharistic. Life itself, your life, my life, the life of anyone, can become such a Rite. We can receive this mysterious reception as a regular diet of our daily lives.
Yet, there is a mystery to its experience. For to receive such Life is to receive God. And, as Caroline Myss reminds us: “You cannot induce God to appear.” The felt-experience of this reception is not a constant and arises in a way free of our effort. Indeed, some persons have injured their health trying to induce God through extreme denial. They may get visions, for example, arising from food and drink deprivation. But is that receiving God? Others seek to induce God by clearing the mind, in what they call meditation. Their brain becomes dull, under a type of self-hypnosis. But is that receiving Christ? Others act in hysteria, calling that praise and worship. Soon, or late, they exhibit so-called manifestations of the Holy Spirit. But is that receiving the Holy Spirit?
* * *
Yes, we can prepare ourselves to receive God, and more of the Essence of Heaven. We are to do that. Yet, finally, Grace is a mystery. How Grace appears to us, in varied ways and times, we will not fathom. We can only keep preparing ourselves, trust God is filling us always - Christ is Fullness - , and enjoy moments when the sweetness of Union manifests in our senses as heavenly delight. Beyond this, what is more than any focus on this mystery, is service in Divine Love.
One act of kindness is more important than all your sweet sensations of Union. You eat and drink Christ, to be Christ, and to give Christ.
QUIETLY RESPONDING
What is the essence of Christianity to you? Explain.
Do you enjoy intimacy with Christ? Explain.
Blessings!
Rev Dr Brian K Wilcox
Friday the Second, Easter Season
April 24, 2009
*Originally written August 20, 2006, Lee, FL.; Edited and Expanded April 24, 2009, Punta Gorda, FL.
* * *
*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian K. Wilcox, of SW Florida. Brian lives a vowed life and with his two dogs, Bandit Ty and St. Francis. Brian is an ecumenical spiritual leader, open to how Christ manifests in the diversity of Christian denominations and varied religious-spiritual traditions. He is Senior Chaplain for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Punta Gorda, FL.
*Brian welcomes responses to his writings or submission of prayer requests at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Contact the above email to book Brian for Spiritual Direction, retreats, or workshops. You can order his book An Ache for Union at major book dealers.
|
