I love the idea that Epiphany celebrates the inclusivity of all people and all nations. How is it possible to grasp this idea beyond what we know from each of our corners of belief systems? I recite the line “One holy catholic and apostolic church” every time I go to mass. There has been a growing sense in me of this truth.
Sometimes, I need to borrow a bigger idea of God from other faith traditions in order to get a better grip on this reality. Richard Rohr enlightened me the other day with this statement.
“I think the genius of the Dalai Lama and of Buddhism is that they do not get lost in metaphysics and argumentation about dogmas and doctrines. They stay at a different level and thus avoid much of the endless disagreement that we find within Christianity. They do not argue about “what” but spend all of their time on “how”—which we have tended to neglect while we argue about “what.”
Now that we are leaving behind the liturgy of Advent-Christmas-Epiphany 2013 I am pondering a small summary from a very large space.
Jesus came to show us our divinity.
As I move toward the unknown of 2014 I am taking with me a huge emphasis on the word “us”.
I grew up Roman Catholic and before I was old enough to really grasp some of that deep heritage, I left the church for a very conservative and fundamental view of God then later came back to my inheritance. By that I don’t really mean the Catholic Church although it is literally true. I mean, I came back to the idea of inclusivity without wasting time on a theology of exclusivity. Going back to my Catholic faith was hugely instrumental in this expansive idea. How wonderful to now see a Pope (Papa Francis as I call him) who is putting this idea into action.
Rather than the typical New Year theme of resolution (which never works for me), I hope to focus on the idea of renewal. I want to be more about letting go of the bad or even the good, in exchange for the better and best. One of those growing ideas for me is that I am letting go of the idea that Christians are saved and others are not. There is a whole lot of mystery there and I am okay with it. I leave you with this picture painted by Father Laurence Freeman who says one of the signs of our love for Christ is in our response to our view of other religions.
“If we drew a line in the sand that included Jesus with all of the “saved” on one side of the line and the “unsaved” on the other, as soon as we draw the line in the sand Jesus would move to the other side”.
Where shall we flee from his presence?
val-head
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Val, you’re preachin’ to the choir, sister! I’m reading through portions of the Philokalia right now. The genius of this great work is that it starts with teaching spirituality as a “how.” In other words, at its most basic level, we learn simply how to approach God, how to utilize silence, how to listen for the still, small voice, etc. Therefore, it pursues the most basic need of relationship and connectedness with the Divine before every moving on. The second “level” begins only after our relational underpinnings are secure. Only then does it enter into more theoretical regions. Here, the authors wrestle with the “what” and “why.” The final leg of the transformational journey is one of “gnosis” or “deep knowing” – contemplatio as the Abbas and Ammas might call it. It is a rest, not in answers, but in non-answers of a settled and peace-filled “unknowing.”
How big a front door is that!?
That door doesn’t have a size. It is ever expanding. How big an idea is that?
If God is God, then God is at once everywhere and every time. We, however, are not. Hence, we don’t approach a door that is either open or closed, categories we must contend with in time and space. It simply ‘is.’ God is that door. God is eternal, that is, outside of the boundaries of time and space. Hence, to be found of God is to be taken up out of the simple dimensionality in which we presently live into the perfection of God’s “place.” If God is a ‘door’ then that ‘door’ will have the same characteristics that define the indefinable God.
That’s a pretty immense welcome I figure!
Stellar points my friend. Ahhh, yes but if God is everywhere and nowhere (meaning infinite) then neither is God a door. Figuratively, God is not one who opens or closes. As you say, God has no dimension. But if you were to say God is a door and God is not a door I would say then, ok I see how God is a door. I know this sounds crazy but I am trying to let God be mystery.
Ha! Well said. Jesus used such metaphor for himself. But he of course was the dimensional Incarnation of the eternal God. Very good.
So much richness here, Val, in your post and in this dialogue you and Rob are sharing. Where do I even begin?!
I love the what you said about needing to go and borrow a bigger idea of God. A fun (and unintimidating) way to think about it.
I’m so glad you’re someone who is OK with mystery. I am too, increasingly. It’s so peaceful in this place. It’s so trusting. Even as it makes me so aware of my smallness.
The focus on “how” makes me think of discipleship. I know that word is tired and carries baggage for so many of us, but at its core it is about helping people meet and walk alongside Jesus. This is so much a “how” question. It’s what I want to spend my life doing.
Christianne, I share the shared pool of baggage on the word “discipleship”, which for some of us might need to start wearing a new name or meaning. Yes about walking alongside Jesus…and more! The hidden Christ is a mystery that keeps growing for me. The pearl of great price and the buried treasure is something that when discovered, turns out to be our true selves. Like Willard used to say, Jesus + me = Me.