Thursday, July 20, 2006

The School of Kenosis

For most of us, the Beatitudes sound so utterly impossible, so fantastically untenable and unlivable, that we shake our heads and turn away in sorrow like the Rich Young Man. But they are impossible, untenable, unlivable only if we insist on making them static ideas of self-mastery required to placate a cold perfection external to us. The seeds of the Beatitudes are already within us, and we have only to become aware of this latent potency, to desire them to grow, to water them with the tears of our desire as we search for the Face of Christ our Sun, whose warmth will mingle with our tears and bring us to being; whose light will disperse confusion and illuminate the darkness; whose love will transform and sustain for all eternity.

Pillars of Flame, pp. 140-141.

2 Comments:

Blogger Lindy said...

I like this a lot. Been reading Eknath Easwaran on the Beatitudes lately -- just keeping the book handy in my car -- and enjoying your posts as I go along with him. It makes the rest of the Sermon On The Mount seem like comentary on these points. It's as if Jesus gives us the beatitudes and then continues on saying "Yes! I really mean it."

Thanks.

Lindy

1:26 am, July 22, 2006  
Blogger Lindy said...

For a long time I thought kenosis was about pouring out. When I realized that the better understanding was EMPTYing out it took on a little different significance.

Lindy

1:28 am, July 22, 2006  

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