Prologue to The Rule (paragraph 3)
Let us open our eyes to the light that can change us into the likeness of God. (From para. 3 of The Prologue to The Rule from Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
First, I believe that the light is always with me, even as the smallest particles in the darkness, and it's my choice to acknowledge them. Secondly, what could it mean for me to change into the likeness of God except that I always have that choice, at every moment, to be awake, to be love, to be free.
First, I believe that the light is always with me, even as the smallest particles in the darkness, and it's my choice to acknowledge them. Secondly, what could it mean for me to change into the likeness of God except that I always have that choice, at every moment, to be awake, to be love, to be free.
“What did God have in mind when he decided to become a man in Jesus?” asks a quite sincere minister nephew of mine a few days ago on Facebook. I like the thirteenth century Franciscan theologian Duns Scotus answer. Scotus emphasizes God’s free choice and selflessness. God is the great Artist who takes great joy in making art. He loves beauty and making beautiful things. This 13.5 billion light year-wide universe is one of his works of art, a thing of beauty. The earth where we live is a beautiful thing. Each element, each atom or cell or star or planet or person are all his individual beautiful works of art. His greatest art piece demonstrates himself, how he is love. He created planet earth and mankind and from all eternity chose to show his love through the drama of becoming a man and living and dying and rising. Thereby he gives each and every one of us a chance to freely choose to become him, to make art, beauty, and beautiful things with him. “God became man so that man could become God” said the early Fathers. Benedict wrote his Rule as one way to freely choose to do this. The Rule itself is one of his beautiful art pieces.
ReplyDeleteMeditation is a "simple" way and as I "persevere in meditation, we(I) enter ever more deeply into relationship with this Spirit(of Jesus), with God who is love dwelling in our hearts, enlightening us and vitalizing us."(Word into Spirit, p.17) By coming closer into relationship with the Spirit of Jesus, I learn to be love in whatever way I can translate it into my life.
ReplyDeleteI read this and think, Lord, please help me to keep my eyes open! I am so prone to falling asleep through distraction to anything other than the light. Lord, please help me surrender to you. As I begin again a new reading of this Rule, please allow it to further root itself in me, so that you can change me more and more into your likeness.
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