p. 119 - The sinful consciousness that lies behind ecological sin is that of a dualistic mentality that treats other creatures in a subject/object fashion of manipulation and control. This dualism accounts for the sin of putting the egological ahead of the ecological.
As I started to read, I thought of Genesis where God gave man dominion over earth. But what kind of ruler (person with dominion) pollutes and ravages his kingdom? It makes no sense. I understand the egological - the I want what I want and if it pollutes the earth, harms my neighbor, causes pain to others - then the ego does it anyway and lets the chips fall where they may. But a wise person nurtures relationships and ecology and puts the health of all humanity above their own ego needs. Whether that be emotionally, friendship, global or cosmic. We're not the all in all - God is the All in All.
p. 119 - Another sin of omission that is named for us in the Via Positiva is the sin of limiting, always guarding or policing, pleasure. This sin of omitting Eros or love of life from our lives expresses itself in a preference for Thanatos, love of death. Thanatos represents the preoccupation with death, with the putting off of death, or with clinging to death-filled objects. By sinning in this way we refuse to fall in love with life, to love what is lovable, to savor life's simple and non-elitist pleasures, to befriend pleasure, to celebrate the blessings of life, to return thanks for such blessings by still more blessing.
I perceive myself as embracing both Eros and Thanatos. I am learning to love life... but even more surprising and mysterious is I'm learning to love MY life. I'm sure some people would look at my life and wonder why I would love it. It's a simple life that has had a bumpy, painful road and often a life traveled alone, yet seldom have I been lonely as I am a good companion to me and God is a companion. That doesn't mean I don't have some close friends whom I love; because I do and they bring me pleasure and sometimes the pain of growing in deeper relationships.
Yet, I embrace Thanatos in a realistic way. This earth suit is not eternal but has an unknown expiration date. I accept it will wear out and pass away and be planted in the ground to spout for my glorified body that Paul talks about. I can rejoice in that, too. I recognize life at work in my body but I also recognize death there, too: encapsulated and to be released at a future, unknown time. I am accepting of that... I won't say fate but truth since it will happen to all.
Even recognizing the occasional death-pang, that is like Braxton-Hicks contractions to an expectant mother - a reminder of the future change; yet life is good and worth living. I like growing old because my energy is less so I have learned to be more gentle with myself - and that skill can now be graced to others in how I manage my half of relationships.
I didn't even know I could enjoy this life, until I discovered I was ill. It seems there is inverse proportion: the healthier I was the less I enjoyed life and the sicker I become the more I enjoy life. I think part of that is from the old St. Peter at the gate jokes. What if I got to the pearly gate and the only question I was asked to obtain entrance was, "Debbie, did you enjoy the life God gave you?" I'd hem and haw and blush and look at my shoes and say, "Well, I always thought I'd enjoy it when it got better, so it didn't happen. I apologize for wasting my one life on earth." I don't think there is any entrance questions to go through the pearly gates; but that did get me to thinking that if I'm going to enjoy my life - I'd better do it today because there is no guarantee there is a tomorrow or that tomorrow would meet my egocentric criteria for what I needed to enjoy life. I am very grateful for that lesson.
p. 120 - When religion fails to celebrate authentic Eros in our lives, we fall into ersatz pleasures which are subject/object pleasures that can be bought and sold but do not satisfy.
As a recovered addict, I can sooooo relate to that. One of the things I find interesting is when I was in the charismatic circles, we were often taught on how to enjoy life and even how/why to increase the joy of marital relations; yet a lot of what I was taught was egocentric and anti-sin, anti-immaturity. God calls me to the liturgical area of the body and I'm taught how to be more expansive, to mature, to redefine sin to take it out of legalism, but I've heard almost no teaching on enjoying life or sex. It made me chuckle that some of the best teaching I've listened to on sex was from a celibate Catholic priest, Fr. Richard Rohr. Yet, with my almost 10 years of celibacy, I have learned more about my own sexuality then I did in 35 years of marriage. Sometimes the way God teaches makes me giggle.
p. 120 - One scholar tells us that for St. Francis salvation meant "enchanted existence."
Since this blog is my journey into discovering if I am to become Franciscan, I smiled when I saw a quote by St. Francis. I agree with him, living in Christ and having Christ in me is an "enchanted existence."
p. 121 - ... a greater reverence for our uniqueness, and therefore a greater reverence for that of God's other creatures.
I have found that in my life. It started with realizing the more I loved God, the more I loved me and the more I could love others. I came to realize the more I know God, the more I know me and the more I want to know and connect with others. Thus, that sentence helped me realize that the more I reverence my own uniqueness the more I reverence other creatures.
p. 122 - Ironically, Jesus, who comes to announce the presence of the kingdom/queendom of God, is mocked at the end of his life with a crown of thorns and an inscription that he is "king of the Jews." Yet he came not to be king himself--he rejects those temptations in Luke 3:21-4:14 -- but to redefine kingship and to redistribute it so that everyone realizes that he or she is king or queen, a royal person with dignity and responsibility to the cosmos.
Not much to say about that; but I loved the wording and the teaching. It's very appropriate during this Lenten season.
p. 124 - He calls us also to follow him, to guest, host and Eucharist to one another, to be alive, to be eaten and consumed. If every human person is truly made after this person's image, then hospitality becomes the empowerment of every individual: we can all do it, we are reassured. We can trust and our trust will heal us.
I know my priest often talks about this and I love the concept. Yet, there is some fear of stepping off the deep end and participating more in being Eucharist to one another. Yet there are times with people I love and trust that I can do that. But I'm not out of fear enough to have made much progress. But I'm God's craftsmanship, so it is all in His timing and I can trust Him to lead me on the right path.
p. 124 - He [Jesus] chose the way and the lifestyle of the story-teller, the parable-maker who fashions a new creation out of the holy materials of the only creation we all share in common: the birds, the lilies of the field, the fishes caught, the fig tree in bloom, the sheep versus the goats, the leaven in the bread, the mustard seeds of the world, and the rains that fall on the unjust and the just alike. His reverence for nature was so great that the creatures of nature were indeed his teachers, his professors, who he recognized instinctively were looking "on him with affectionate looks" and with truth to tell.
I realize I've often missed Professor bird, Instructor Fish, and Teacher Rain to instruct me. My prayer has been for a more simple life where I become aware and love creation (including people) enough that I can perceive and accept the lessons they teach.
p. 124-125 - He teaches a blessing theology, how to receive blessing and bestow it, that culminates in the blessings of the Beatitudes. He also insists that the blessings are for all, especially the lame and sick, the poor and the widowed. Royal personhood is no longer restricted to any blood line.
I've memorized them, read books, commentaries and heard sermons on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 2-17) and I don't get it. The closest it comes to making any sense (but still very little) is from Word on the Street Bible that says:
I’ll
tell you who’ll laugh last: the people who don’t think too much
of themselves, who knows they’re a mess—their ticket to heaven’s
already in the post (first class).
Who’ll
be happy? The people who know about grief, who don’t shove the mess
behind the sofa, but face it—God himself is going to put his arm
round them.
Who’ll
be content? The modest, gentle types, who don’t go round
grabbing—they’ll get given the world.
Who’ll
be laughing? The people who only want to do the right thing, like
it’s their food and drink—their “good news in tray’ will be
piled high.
Who’ll
be laughing? The people who don’t hold grudges, who forgive and
forget—they’ll get treated likewise.
Who’s
laughing, deep down, already? The people who aren’t polluted with
stuff that mugs the heart—they’ll get to see God.
Who’s
laughing, deep down? The people who stop fights and start
friendships, who turn fists into high fives—they’ll get known as
God’s children.
Who’s
laughing? The people who get slapped down for doing the right
thing—they get given the security code to heaven’s gates.
And you’re
laughing if people despise you. You’re delirious if they pick on
you. If they slag you off just because you’re on my side—throw a
party! Go wild! Paint the town—your bonus in heaven is hitting the
humongous mark. Because that’s exactly what they did to all the
couriers who prophesied my arrival.”
In God's timing maybe it will happen.
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