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4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was shown, 5 he saved us [rescued, healed] because of his mercy [kindness, grace]. It was not because of good deeds we did to be right with him. He saved us through the washing that made us new people through the Holy Spirit. 6 God poured out richly upon us that Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior.
*Titus 3.4-6, NCV
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"What must I do for Enlightenment?"
"Nothing."
"Why not?"
"Enlightenment doesn't come from doing-it happens."
"Then can it never be attained?"
"Oh yes it can."
"How?"
"Through non-doing."
"And what does one do to attain non-doing?"
"What does one do to go to sleep or to wake up?"
*Anthony de Mello
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There is a mysterious gratuitous to Grace that baffles and offends persons. Grace is an Act to, in, and through us. This defies our felt-need to make it happen when it comes to life in God.
There is that God gives to us, that which we do not grasp by intellect, but can love by heart. Buddhists refer to this "that" as That. The mechanism of thinking ceases to know what we cannot know, That, and to know what shall be further clarified after this life process.
St. Paul attributes to the graceful work of Spirit any capacity to fathom what God did in Jesus of Nazareth. St. Paul extends that fact to any revelation of Christian Mystery.
6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God — his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”
10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.
St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-1274), an eminent intellectual and Doctor of the Church, is an example of humble reliance on the Holy Spirit to fathom spiritual Truth. One assessment of his mode of doing intellectual work follows:
Thomas did not acquire his knowledge by natural ingenuity, but rather through the revelation and infusion of the Holy Spirit, for he never began to write without previous prayer and tears. Whenever a doubt arose, he had recourse to prayer. After shedding many tears, he would return to his work, now enlightened and instructed.
*Martin Grabmann. St. Thomas Aquinas - His Personality and Thought.
Fr. Christopher Rengers speaks of our innate longing for the Infinite, stressing how the denial of this desire can manifest in varied cultural expressions.
In literature, the emphasis on reason alone has led to intellectualism and sensualism - as a rebellion against the inadequate answers of reason with regard to man's destiny - to over-simplicity and functionalism in architecture, to abstractions in art. In many modern buildings, the mind, stretching always for the infinite, feels hemmed in. There are no mysterious curves, no intricate patterns. Straight lines and bald simplicity stare back with the aspect of coldness and incompleteness. There are no interesting corners or nooks hinting at unknown treasures beyond. Reason claims to be and indeed wants to be complete, though it is not. It pretends to have all the answers, though it does not. Men of this cast of thought put their thinking into literature, art and architecture; and intellectualism, sensuality, over-simplification and functionalism are the result.
*The 33 Doctors of the Church.
Sadly, we can extend the above analysis to much of the Church, its worship, teaching, ... Is there not a loss in much church life of the sense and evocation of Mystery? Should we have any surprise many persons outside churches see as boring "church" and "Christians."
The purpose of the mind is to stretch toward Infinity, for the mind is an aspect of Infinity, and in seeking Infinity seeks its innate Purpose. Truly, the Infinite seeks Its self-actualization, a fellowship with Its knowing of Itself, even as a person knows its image in the form it sees of itself in a mirror. The mind is the mirror of God for God, and we joyfully partake, thereby, as the medium of God knowing God. For God being in union with us means God knows God through us and we know God through God, even as we know ourselves in and through God alone.
The desire to fathom Mystery drives one to the exhaustion of seeking. The mind opens to the intuitive knowing of dark contemplation, where the mind is given sure knowing of Mystery in Itself, not in the particulars which reason sought and failed to find due to its limits.
Grace has given us the path to and the gift of Pure Faith. Our role is to receive into our experience what the Divine Presence wills to offer beyond our reasoning. The move more into this darkness of Pure Faith is a move more into union with God, for God, being Infinite, is infinitely beyond our intelligent grasp.
Last, Christian contemplation speaks of this dark contemplation as a loving knowledge. Therefore, we find that the more we enter into Pure Faith, we move, likewise, more into Love. For God is the Fullness of Truth and Love in the unity of Triune Being.
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Have you ever experienced a certainty of knowing that surpassed your understanding, one not by a "blind faith" but a seeking that had pressed up against the limits of human reason? If so, share what that was like for you.
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Story from de Mello at www.soulwise.net .
*Charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in the continuance of his work of ministry. For contributions, contact Brian at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Brian's book of spiritual love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers, or through the Cokesbury on-line store, at www.cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox lives in Punta Gorda, FL, and Clearwater, FL, with his wife, step-son, and two beloved dogs. Brian has an independent writing, workshop, and retreat ministry focused on Christians living as spiritual disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life. He serves the Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. Brian is vowed at Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a vowed, contemplative life and inspires others to experience a more intimate relationship with God-in-Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused, experiential Christianity and renewal of the focus of the Church on addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons.
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