posted April 14, 2009 03:35 AM           

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Why is commitment so difficult?

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We've inherited millions of years worth of bad karma: the sins of the fathers. And "the enemy" will go to any lengths to keep us from breaking out of those cycles; to keep us from reversing the flood of the fall. We may wonder why it is not more difficult. But I think the greatest difficulty is in making a beginning. The foundation must be strong, or the tower crumbles. But once a solid foundation is in place, the work can be done with relative ease. At least, this is what I am hearing from those who have done it. It seems, we all imagine that, starting small, we will gradually build up our devotion... This is certainly true, but, it is also true that the beginning is when we must be the most vigilant. We must come to appreciate the Lord as a constant and loving presence, the source of all our good, and the end of all our lamentations. Here is the soul's turning to God amid the dim tragedy of forgetfulness; the soul that wanders in banal despondency, and loses Herself in cynical comforts, here turns an eye towards Heaven. Here the angel descends to bless with God's sweet grace the heart of the afflicted. Here is the Holy Presence, deep and penetrating; a breath which stirs within our very cells, awakening the sacred blood. Here is the vitalizing Presence, pregnant with meaning, and virginal with the innocence of pure expectation. All around us is the Lover, intent on communicating some message of His love. He will crawl into the most unassuming places, in order to deliver the smallest signs of His love. Here is the cradle of the Christ child, and the foundation of the world. How tenderly we must hold the seed from out of which the weightiest of worlds can grow.

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More?

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Well, I have a headful of theories, all wonderfully esoteric and plausible. But, simply, the Christ is something which all men and women of true wisdom have revered, long before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, and which they will revere until the end of time, long after the name of Jesus has been forgotten. Jesus gave perfect, or near perfect, witness to the Christ. He did not spare his flesh in the effort to be of service to God. Because he surrendered completely, he transcended completely. So, he is worthy to wear the mantle of The Christ. I also think that the humanity of Jesus is relevant and significant for even the most mystical of Christians. The life of the Spirit is a breath which passes from God to man, and from man to God, and back down to man. That last part is often forgotten. The presence of God is not found in the most remote corners of the angelic realms, but, rather, it is something so close to our mortal existence. Without Jesus, the Christ does not incarnate. This is why Jesus is the prototype for us all, as mortal vessels for the holy light (the Christ) of God. It is as easy to respect, revere, and want to honor the sacrifice of the man, as it is difficult to comprehend the condescension of the God. And yet, are they really distinct?

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Yes, I've decided to petition and pray too. I had a dream last night, but I'm not sure
what it means or even if I could trust it. The smog is dense.

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I hear you.
I advise you to find someone
who you know you can trust --
perhaps it is only Our Lord,
and that is more than alright --
and confide all of your suspicions,
and all of your concerns about the dream.

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I'm not sure how to ask you ...

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I'm not gay, if that's your question.

posted April 15, 2009 09:48 AM           

That was so much fun to read. Bonus Ratzinger references too! Although I never thought Marie acted with malicious intent, I think her sense of loyalty and protectiveness for Steiner sometimes caused her to fall short, yk? Some things that happened within the Society after Steiner's death are very telling, aren't they?
I'm an Ita Wegman fan myself

posted April 15, 2009 10:04 AM           

Jesus is Immanence...

The Christ is Transcendance...

And Jesus Christ is the Immanent Transcendence

posted April 15, 2009 07:46 PM           

I'm going to continue to reread your first remarks on commitment. I think your thoughts are very pretty, but I'm maybe feeling too cynical at the moment to allow them to sink in as well as they might.

"Esoteric and plausible" are my very favorite sorts of theories. I like what you've said here, HSC. I believe we're in agreement.

I advise you to find someone
who you know you can trust --
...

Yes, I think I should too. As soon as the opportunity presents itself I will.

I'm not gay, if that's your question.

No that wasn't ever my thought.