Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation
Pomegranates, Majorca (detail) by John Singer Sargent, 1908. Private Collection.
"Love: Week 2""The Hidden Secret"
Monday, January 4, 2016
Bonaventure, the Franciscan philosopher and theologian, taught, "We are each loved by God in a particular and incomparable way, as in the case of a bride and bridegroom." Francis and Clare of Assisi knew that the love God has for each soul is unique and made to order, which is why any "saved" person feels beloved, chosen, and even "God's favorite." Many biblical characters also knew and experienced this specialness. Divine intimacy is always and precisely particular and made to order--and thus "intimate."
The inner knowledge of God's love is described as joy itself (John 15:11). This inner knowing is itself the Indwelling Presence. But which comes first? Does feeling safe and held by God allow you to deal with others in the same way? Or does human tenderness allow you to imagine that God must be the same, but infinitely so? I do not suppose it really matters where you start; the important thing is that you get in on the big secret from one side or the other.
Yes, "secret," or even "hidden secret," is what writers like the Psalmist (25:14), Paul, Rumi, Hafiz, Bonaventure, Lady Julian, and many mystics called it. And for some sad reason, it seems to be a well-kept secret. Jesus praises God for "hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them only to the little ones" (Matthew 11:25).
Gateway to Silence: "There is nothing better or more necessary than love."[St. John of the Cross]
Reference:
Adapted from Richard Rohr, Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi (Franciscan Media: 2014), xviii, 163-165.
---------------------
Last chance to register!
Immortal Diamond: A Study in Search of the True Self
January 27-April 6, 2016
A self-paced, online course * No application required * Scholarships available
Learn more and register at cac.org.
Registration closes January 13, 2016, or when the course reaches capacity, whichever comes first.
Canadian, eh?
If you live in or visit Canada, please take a quick moment to confirm that you wish to receive emails from the Center for Action and Contemplation. Canadian anti-spam legislation requires that we obtain your express consent to be on our email list. Reconfirm your email subscription by clicking the button below.
Yes, continue sending me emails
By confirming your subscription you're granting us permission to email you. You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe link found at the bottom of every CAC email.
Center for Action and Contemplation---------------------
Center for Action and Contemplation
1823 Five Points Road SW (physical)
PO Box 12464 (mailing)
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87195, United States
---------------------
---------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment