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Wise Words from Church Tradition
"Through faith, without the works of the law, the dying thief was justified, because ... the Lord inquired not what he had previously wrought, nor yet waited for his performance of some work after he should have believed; but ... he took him unto himself for a companion, justified through his confession alone."
*Origen
"Grace is give to you, not wages paid to you ... it is called grace because it is given gratuitously. By no precedent merits did you buy what you have received. The sinner therefore received this grace first, that his sins should be forgiven him ... good works follow after a justified person; they do not go before in order that he may be justified ... good works, following after justification, show what a man has received."
*Augustine
Today’s Scripture
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
*Luke 19.10 (NLT)
Wisdom Story
A weary, lost traveler was wandering down a dark, scary road. There appeared suddenly before him a bright and marvelous castle. There was a welcome sign over the entrance. The traveler was glad to have reached rest and safety at last. Approaching the open gate, he saw a strange sight. Other lost travelers were walking right past the castle, not seeing it. He asked a castle resident about this odd behavior. He was told: "This is a magic castle. Only those who realize and admit they have lost their way can see it. The castle can’t appear to persons who demand their own way. Your own self-honesty made the castle appear for you. Enter, for all its riches are now yours.”
Reflections
There is no reconciliation to God in Christ without reconciliation with myself. This reconciliation is not as I would want to appear. This reconciliation to myself is an honesty that aligns the confession of mind with the actual state of the heart, a heart that has lost the way and cannot find the way. Indeed, the more I seek to find the way in my being lost, the more I become lost, for my being lost entails within it a moral weakness to admitting I cannot find my way and a spiritual inadequacy to discovering the true state of being lost.
I cannot on my own become un-lost, that Jesus makes clear. Something outside my being lost must intervene. Something must be able to intervene and not become lost in my being lost and reconcile me from outside my lost condition to Itself. That is Grace. Otherwise, my very attempts apart from Grace to discover grace are futile attempts that perpetuate my being apart from Grace.
This one thing is simple and transformative: admitting that I am lost and cannot discover the way back to being found without help. I admit that Grace is the only answer. When I do, Grace connects me to the healing work of being returned to the Way.
If I refuse this self-honesty, Grace by its nature cannot reconcile, for Grace is the responsive and just Presence of Love, a Love that can only enter when I am reconciled to my own lostness. This reconciliation to lostness opens the way to reconciliation with God, with being found. Grace precedes and effects both reconciliations, while my honesty is responsive to the responsiveness of God to my need of God.
Suggested Reflection
What does it mean to affirm that attempts to reconcile ourselves apart from Grace blocks the work of Grace? Do you agree with the statement, or not? Explain.
©Brian Wilcox 10-12-07 (no. 21); Revised 12/21/08.
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*Quotes from the Church Fathers is at www.justforcatholics.org . Ironically, I, a "Protestant," prove their site is not just for Catholics.
*Charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in continuing his 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 the Cokesbury on-line store, cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox, a United Methodist Pastor, lives in Southwest Florida. He is a vowed member of Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a contemplative life and seeks to inspire others to enjoy a more intimate relationship with Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused, experiential Christianity and renewal of the Church through addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons.
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