Revealing Himself to the childlike

[ncjohn]

Following is part of today’s (7/15) meditation from the Word Among Us.

It is important to understand that we draw nearest to God not by being “wise and learned,” mastering theological truths or living up to high standards of holiness. Rather, God reveals himself to those who are trusting and childlike, those who have no pretensions, those who know they do not deserve God’s mercy, yet do not refuse the free gift he offers them.

It is primarily a matter of the heart, not of the head. Of course, it is helpful to know about God’s pronouncements and his mighty deeds. He clearly reveals himself in these ways. But everything God says and does is meant to bring us into a close, personal relationship with him, not just to give us information about him. We are closest to Jesus when his name springs to our lips in prayer, not when we make true but abstract statements about who he is.

In your prayer today, set aside your attempts to understand who God is and what he is up to. Instead, jump up on Jesus’ lap and let him hold you close.

How often we are tempted to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and try, like Adam and Eve, to become like God. Certainly there is a desire on the part of those who love God to want to know more about Him. But when that desire becomes something other than a desire to draw closer through that knowledge, but rather to achieve a means to earn our salvation by knowing the “right way”, we stop being childlike and trusting.

This temptation toward such “head” knowledge seems to be more and more prevalent, and seems to manifest itself in the ever-more-sophisticated rules and regulations that we create to “monitor” the progress of ourselves and others. Jesus, while not abandoning the Law, made it clear the fulfillment of the Law came from a desire to love God and our neighbors as ourselves. From this would come the desire to fulfill those commands that God has laid on our hearts, and which mere “compliance” or obligation can never do.

While for some, because of early experiences in which Jesus was taken away in some way, “climbing up in Jesus’s lap” to be held may be a difficult concept, hopefully over time we can image a loving God in some form that will allow us to know that we don’t need the knowledge; only the childlike love and trust that He is truly in control.

Peace,

 

[DBT]

Hi John

The first thing I thought of when I saw your post was all the discussions St. Teresa had in her works about “learned men” – the priests, confessors, theologians with whom she came into contact.

These souls were often “book smart” but had no interior life to speak of (i.e. practical experience in the way of prayer). In short, they were all “head” and no “heart.” And some of St. Teresa’s greatest spiritual trials were the direct result of bad advice given to her by these souls in the confessional. But as a sign of her tact and diplomacy, St. Teresa was often able to turn the tables . . . converting, if you will, many “learned men” to seek a much deeper prayer life.

Somewhere I heard it said that “mystical theology” is the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of God’s ways infused into our souls through contemplation (the way of the heart). “Scholastic theology” is the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of God’s ways we learn through intellectual study (the way of the mind). The saints, and St. Teresa in particular, leave little doubt as to which is the true way to find God.

Dave

 

[ncjohn]

Hi Dave, good to see you again.

I totally agree with you. It’s hard to love with our heads, and the great commandment is to love one another as He has loved us.

I love studying and learning about God, but I hope that my intentions are always as they were when I was learning about my wife. That they be so I can learn how to please Him, as they were to learn how to please her.

I think I’ve mostly found that those with that heart knowledge just exude a joy and peace that can’t be taken away, except for the briefest of intervals. The need to worry just isn’t there because the trust that all will be as it should pervades everything, which reminds me of St. Teresa’s comment of “May God deliver me from gloomy saints.”

Glad to run across you again Dave. I’ve not spent as much time in this little corner of the forum as I need to. Perhaps letting myself get too caught up in the thorns.

Peace,

 

[DBT]

I think I’ve mostly found that those with that heart knowledge just exude a joy and peace that can’t be taken away, except for the briefest of intervals.

No truer words than these!

Very good to see you again too, John

Dave.

 

[Joysong]

Ah, such wisdom you guys!

As I read your posts, the words of Ps. 23 came to mind, for it was the very truth of how I felt when I chanced upon this thread:

In verdant pastures He gives me repose, He refreshes my soul, He guides me in right paths …

How often I strayed lately in the desert wilderness absorbing the head knowledge of men, leaving me dry, empty, and very often filled with spiritual desolation. The words of Christ’s servants are “spirit and LIFE.”

Yes, I honestly feel refreshed! Praise God, and thank you!

 

[InLight247]

You are so right about the difference between heart knowledge and head knowledge.

The degree of our love is related to our knowledge of the person. If we don’t know enough about a person, we usually won’t feel great affection. Even with plenty knowledge, without personal interaction, knowledge remains as knowledge. It is when knowledge is applied along with personal encounter, affection and friendship start to develop. In our walk with the Lord, it is very important to have this personal encounter – the bridging over of knowledge from head to heart.

I remember when I was young in my late teens, shortly after my baptism, I was once evangelizing to a lady who was a famous writer I admired much, about my new faith. She asked me to explain why following Jesus is good. I could not answer. I was a new Catholic with my newly learned knowledge with no real faith experience.

After following the Lord for so many years, looking back, seeing the abundant grace being bestowed, my heart is full of awe and gratitude. When I count my blessings, the love of God becomes a reality in my soul, and nothing can take it away. That is when the
knowledge of God becomes conviction of love.

 

[ncjohn]

Your posts have refreshed my soul on many occasions Joysong. Perhaps this one was just sent to you by “special delivery”. I know I’ve found myself playing the role of “mailman” on a few occasions.

Peace be with you,

 

[DBT]

Hi John, Carole, Inlight and all!

Well, I was just going to sit down and do a bit of reading and I opened my book to this passage. Guess that means I was meant to post it
St. John of the Cross:

Those, therefore, who value their knowledge and ability as a means of reaching union with the wisdom of God are highly ignorant in God’s sight and will be left behind, far away from this wisdom. Ignorance does not grasp what wisdom is. St. Paul says that such wisdom is foolishness to God, for in God’s sight those who think they have some wisdom are very ignorant. The Apostle says of them in writing to the Romans: Taking themselves for wise, they become fools.

Only those who set aside their own knowldege and walk in God’s service like unlearned children receive wisdom from God.

Dave

 

[InLight247]

Hi John, Carole, Inlight and all!
Well, I was just going to sit down and do a bit of reading and I opened my book to this passage. Guess that means I was meant to post it
Dave

Originally Posted by St. John of the Cross, Ascent of Mt Carmel, Book 1-Chapter 4
Those, therefore, who value their knowledge and ability as a means of reaching union with the wisdom of God are highly ignorant in God’s sight and will be left behind, far away from this wisdom.

I think we are talking about contemplation here.

John of the Cross calls contemplation a loving knowledge.
This knowledge does not come through the normal working of our senses or intellect. It wells up from the depths of the soul where God dwells. It is a mysterious knowledge of the loving union with God, a special gift.

That is probably why St. John says who value their knowledge and ability as a means of reaching union with the wisdom of God will be left behind. Because this loving union with God, the contemplation, is infused. And those who are pure, open, trusting, and loving, those childlike, are easier to receive such a great gift.

Hopefully my understanding is not too far off.

 

[ncjohn]

That is probably why St. John says who value their knowledge and ability as a means of reaching union with the wisdom of God will be left behind. Because this loving union with God, the contemplation, is infused. And those who are pure, open, trusting, and loving, those childlike, are easier to receive such a great gift.

Hi InLight,

I think you have pretty well summarized the passage there. And I think Dave posted it for that reason, as it pretty well reflects the thoughts of the original post, that it is those with childlike trust who are most open to experiencing God and His gifts, while those relying on their own knowledge won’t even be looking for the gifts.

Dave, as so often happens with me, when I’m supposed to be focusing on something, God sends the message from multiple sources to make sure I realize that, until I finally look up and say “Ok, I got it already!”

It would seem that God is using more than one mailman to make deliveries on this one.

 

[Joysong]

Today’s meditation from Word Among Us is really speaking to us further about this topic in response to today’s gospel:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

However, Jesus was not talking about physical rest but spiritual rest. In addition to physical work, many people of his day were laboring under another yoke: the host of regulations that were not part of divine law but were added on by some of their religious leaders. In their overarching zeal, some scribes and Pharisees ended up obscuring the truth with these regulations. Jesus, however, came to show that following God was not about rules: It was about rest, the rest that comes from knowing Him and finding peace in his Father!

Even today we need to be reminded that Jesus wants to give us rest. We too can legalize our relationship with God by focusing on what we must do in order to please him. We may say all the right prayers, and do all the right things, but we find it hard to surrender our “messy” hearts to him. We don’t always seek his help and healing for our problems—and we wonder why they never get resolved!

It is significant that those who practiced the Law with utmost fidelity and adherence to the rubrics were the very ones who were incapable of recognizing Him. “Your disciples don’t fast like WE do, they don’t wash their hands, they break the Sabbath, etc.” Their downfall, not that keeping the rubrics is to be ignored, was due to pride in their practices and knowledge; and worse yet, condemning in their hearts those who were not following with the same extreme zeal as theirs.

In today’s reading, the words that caught my attention were, “Come to ME …” (not the book).

What is so sad to me is that if we approach this type of person with love and healing in our intent, our efforts seldom bear fruit, just as Jesus failed to reach them. He wept.

 

[DBT]

And I think Dave posted it for that reason, as it pretty well reflects the thoughts of the original post

 

[ncjohn]

What is so sad to me is that if we approach this type of person with love and healing in our intent, our efforts seldom bear fruit, just as Jesus failed to reach them. He wept.

Indeed. And often they not only don’t bear fruit, but will bring you scorn.

I think though that that is largely a product of fear, combined with an inability at that time to accept the possibility that there may be understanding beyond what they currently have.

I know that is what I experienced before God was kind enough to knock me off my horse. I saw a bunch of “do gooders” who thought that God was talking to them, and figured it was all in their mind. So I wrote them off as demented to avoid having to consider the possibility that maybe they knew or had experienced something I hadn’t.

I think deep inside though I did that because I feared what living such a life might call me to, and what I might have to “give up”. I liked my little “secret garden” of sin that I didn’t want to even think about giving up. And the “S” word–surrender–was not something I even wanted to consider.

In the end, as long as we’re living in our heads, surrender is going to seem like “burden” rather than gift. And the true burden–living under obligation rather than living out of love–will seem like the easy way out. It takes a leap of faith, or getting knocked off your horse, to find out that his “yoke really is easy and his burden light.” But once you know…

 

[InLight247]

John:
Thank you for starting this discussion.
Actually, you are the mailman who delivers the message for all to reflect and recollect. You who already have the answer modestly present yourself as at the receiving end. I appreciate your humility.

Dave:
What am I going to say? I just like to see your posts, I learned a lot from them. They are always inspiring and helpful to me. Thanks.

Joysong:
So good to see you again!
Your words and thoughts along with that beautiful rose bud are always refreshing.

I am always grateful for good spiritual discussions.

 

[ncjohn]

Thank you for your comments InLight. I wish they were as true as you make them sound.

When I posted this, it was because it spoke to me, but I have to admit to a bit of “spiritual pride” in just considering it a reminder. And when Joysong came in, I saw myself as the “wise mailman” who was here to pass on MY wisdom through that reminder delivery to her.

Thankfully Dave’s post was indeed a gentle delivery from God to remind me Whose wisdom I was passing on and that my own house does indeed need a little tidying up.

I just hope I’m not the only one who constantly has to battle being proud of my humility. I have just enough “head knowledge” about humility that I far too often forget to actually be humble in the presence of my God.

 

[Joysong]

I am always grateful for good spiritual discussions.

Hello to you also, Inlight - it’s really been too long! Like John, I have wandered into thorns, but as I read here, I suppose I may be guilty of spiritual gluttony, for I am so delighted to be among all of you in spiritual communion.

Psalm 133

1 How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.

3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

Maybe these precious dews of refreshment are the pauses we need before God sends us back into the fray, for I admit my soul has been utterly sated lately. Time to look into beauty and joy and brouse among God’s lilies here.

We are blessed that God sends us comfort through one another!

Carole

 

[DBT]

“spiritual pride”

Boy do I know where you’re coming from!

Not to digress, but you just hit the nail on the head why I often need to take long breaks from these forums. The more I’m able to remain in God’s presence through recollection the more I come to distrust myself. So when it comes to posting, no matter how “good” I might feel my intentions are; I see there’s always an element of “self” in it lurking just below the surface. And God has a wonderful way of shining a very bright light on that

It seems to me the closer we come to God in the ways of the heart; the farther away from Him we see we really are.

Dave

 

[Joysong]

ncjohn:

I love studying and learning about God, but I hope that my intentions are always as they were when I was learning about my wife. That they be so I can learn how to please Him, as they were to learn how to please her.

John, your intentions are definitely in the right place, and as I considered your desire to please God, it seems good for us to remember that when Jesus called His disciples, He did not open the Torah and teach them about temple sacrifice, but taught them how to live in God’s will. I’m thinking of the beatitudes as I write this, and also about Zaccheus and a host of others who were attracted to Him, and became impelled to change their lives after the awesome encounter - all born of love and our desire to please Him.

Throughout my life, I have loved reading biographies of saints, and I’m thinking now of a statement made by St. Gemma Galgani to some clergy who were intent on trapping her into a slip that would reveal she was a phony. After grilling her with theological (head) questions to which she remained silent, she finally said, “Speak to me of Jesus!” They were so incensed that they stormed out of her sickroom and became her adversaries.

And the “S” word–surrender–was not something I even wanted to consider.

Me, too, but He has infinite patience with us and helps us ultimately to give all to Him. I was always afraid that if I surrendered everything, He might take those important things from me that I found so difficult to entrust to Him. Funny thing, after I did surrender, it so happened that some of them were taken, but there was a peace about it, and He gave them back to me in an even better way than before. We cannot outdo Him in generosity!

Carole

 

[Joysong]

DBT:

Not to digress, but you just hit the nail on the head why I often need to take long breaks from these forums.

So do I, Dave, and this is the first thread I dared to read today after my absence, and only because it was begun by someone whose words I trust. I have missed our good talks, too, and it was a double pleasure to see both of you again.

The more I’m able to remain in God’s presence through recollection the more I come to distrust myself. So when it comes to posting, no matter how “good” I might feel my intentions are; I see there’s always an element of “self” in it lurking just below the surface. And God has a wonderful way of shining a very bright light on that.

But isn’t that a joy, too, Dave? When God sends light to correct us, I have always noticed He does not condemn us, but with the light comes a peaceful humility and a quiet desire to embrace the teaching. Never does it cause us despair or distress, and if it does, I have discovered those are false lights that are not from Him.

 

[InLight247]

It seems to me the closer we come to God in the ways of the heart; the farther away from Him we see we really are.

Talking about spiritual pride, isn’t that one of my concerns to myself? Actually that is one thing on my list to discuss with my SD in the coming meeting next week. Often times I sincerely think my spiritual beliefs and understandings are good. You see.

And the “S” word–surrender–was not something I even wanted to consider.

I was always afraid that if I surrendered everything, He might take those important things from me that I found so difficult to entrust to Him.

How much I can relate to that. Actually that is another thing on my list for my SD discussion. I always want to reach the state of total surrender and total obedience, that “even if He slaughter me, I will still worship and love Him.” But it is a long way to freedom.

1 How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.

Yes!, That is comforting! The precious oil!
I am glad we the branches are all linked on the tree trunk.