Olivier Clement writes in The Roots of Christian Mysticism that People never cease to project on to God their individual and collective obsessions, so that they can appropriate and make use of him. (26) And yet the psalmist tell us to come before God, that the Light of your face may shine upon us.
How do we know which position we are in? Are we the best judge of our spiritual progress? But if we are not, then who is? Who knows our relationship with God better than ourselves? It's a good question to ask. I don't pretend to have an answer.
Clement writes further 'In him we live and move and have our being' (Acts 17.28) as St Paul said to the Athenians. But, enclosed as we are within ourselves and also enclosed 'in his hand', we can know him only if he freely establishes with us a relationship in which distance and nearness are made the setting for a Word, of Someone speaking to someone.
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Thanks for this post. You have raised some great questions. I think we are often blind to our "individual and collective obsessions," the things that objectify God and make for idolatry. Seems to me that the collective obsessions can be dealt with through good liturgy and the individual obsessions through work a spiritual director. I recognize, however, those are just beginning points and not ultimate answers.
ReplyDeletePeace, Mike+
Thanks, Mike, for sharing that thought. After I posted this morning, I was in prayer, and it came to me that part of a good relationship, especially with God, is knowing we are "not there" yet, we are still learning and discerning. I think there is nothing worse for a relationship than thinking you've arrived or that you have it all together.
ReplyDeleteABG