Our Journey into Christ

Part 2

As I was writing this blog, one of the things I noted, was how quickly the days slip by – we are almost halfway through 2025! Outside, as the rain falls noisily, reminding us that autumn has well and truly arrived! I was reminded of the time I spent in the Franciscan Community of Little Portion in Arkansas USA. By May, the winter snow had gone, and the days were filled with warmth … and our daily work was spent mainly outdoors working in the Community's farm and gardens. It was good and 'honest' work that engaged us, hands-on, in the 'Lived Experience' of Community Life.

What also reminded me of that time was this week's Gospel reading (John 13:31-35) where Jesus told his disciples that the time would come when he would no longer be with them and they would become his physical 'hands and feet'. For example:

"I give you a new commandment that you love one another, just as I have loved you"(John :34-35)

"You are(already) the light of the world-- so let your light shine so that others may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14)

"Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls". (Matthew 11:28-30)

I imagine the disciples panicked a bit- they were so used to having Jesus physically with them. Yet, Jesus had been preparing them to carry on his work ... and perhaps for this reason alone, the Way that Jesus taught and lived was inclusive, liberating, life-giving and life-enriching because he understood that the essential core of being a follower of Jesus was an experiential relationship with the God who created us and still continues to love us even when we might not understand or believe hat such a thing was possible. 

In a sense, Jesus was inviting his disciples (and us) to live in the moment and to 'cast your cares upon the Lord for he cares for you' (1Peter 5:7); yet, I don't know about you, but it is so easy to lose sight of that fundamental truth. It is not always easy or straightforward to learn how to weave our spiritual life into our secular life, so all of life becomes Holy. Yet it was only as the disciples grew in their awareness, that God's image and likeness was already hidden within themselves, were they able to guide and help others to grow in that knowledge and love of the One who created them (and us) and whose Word still has the power to renew us, as the Franciscan Priest Richard Rohr has noted: 

“God’s presence becomes experiential and undeniable for a person. Most of us believe things because our churches tell us to believe them, so we say 'I believe' as we do in the creed. A mystic doesn't say 'I believe'. A mystic says (with conviction)'I know' because they have a knowledge that comes from first-hand experience.”

Elsewhere, Rohr has noted that: 

 "We cannot attain the presence of God because

 we are already totally in the presence of God. What is lacking is our awareness".

His simple method inspired another Carmelite, St Elizabeth, to make it her daily goal to always seek to be aware of God's presence with her in a very similar way to Br Lawrence. She discovered this simple practice transformed her mission in life, and it enabled her to help others find a way that would help to transform their life into the image and likeness God intended them to be. She is also remembered by the following prayer:

O my God, Trinity whom I adore...

may each minute bring me more deeply

into your mystery!

Grant my soul peace.

Make it your heaven, your beloved dwelling,

and the place of your rest.

Amen.

Kia mau te rongo me te pai ki a koe i to haerenga

May you find peace and goodwill on your journey.

Phil