Fr. Richard Rohr, in writing about how God calls us to community says that there are two great mysteries that bring people together in the interconnectedness of life. The “mystery of spirituality and the mystery of vulnerability and powerlessness.” (p 124)

I believe this truth is made bare in the tragedies of life we have recently been experiencing in our country. The onslaught of disaster we experience can bring out the community we often seem to lack or ignore when life seems to be good. The human spirit that seeks to rebuild in the midst of destruction and the blessings we see from so many people who reach out to help in every way possible are inspiring and hope-filled for all of us.

The challenge for us is to begin to build upon and sustain these mysteries into a deeper relationship with God and community. The “mystery of spirituality” is a reminder of our need for the greater. We can become a mirror of ourselves if we continually focus just on the ME, ME, and ME of life fail to look beyond the mirror into the deeper and more profound truth where in reaching beyond ourselves we discover the true self God has called us to be.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI where he says to us, “The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” We are drawn to the greatness of life when in our spiritual journey we choose to serve, to go beyond the narrowness of the ego ME and reach out into the messy reality of relationship and life. This is where the joining together in worship and prayer become vital and life giving. We, in the celebration of the Mass, are asked to move beyond our self and enter into a community of prayer allowing ourselves to be united around one altar of blessing not because everyone is like us but because and more importantly everyone is not like us. United in our unique differences of seeking a greater and more holy which is union with God we live the mystery of spiritual growth and find truth and blessing.

Then we come to the “mystery of vulnerability and powerlessness” two things we all dread at some level. The natural and man made tragedies and sins of the world bring the reality of being vulnerable and powerless to the forefront. With all the gifts of human intelligence and advancement, the wind, rain, fire and shaking of the earth still remind us of how fragile and precious life is and how easily it can be lost. But is also wakes us up to how the “stuff” that seems to posses us at times cannot fulfill our lives because it disappears within a moment. In the moments of vulnerability and powerlessness we discover the lasting gift of true life and unity as friend, neighbor and stranger reach out in the grace and blessing of the hand, voice and embrace of God. It is the discovering of a love that desires to simply serve without reward or recompense as we seek to heal in grace the hurt, pain and suffering of the other as Jesus reaches out to us in our prayer and desire to be made into love.

We have all heard and read of the gifts given and shared and we are called to continue to serve and to bless. It is in the wonderful stories of service and blessing where we come to understand the greater truth of our faith and religion that draws us more deeply into a relationship of life and grace with God where we learn , “Religious transformation works best when you know you are an instrument and not the origin, an aqueduct and not the source. ( p128)

God bless

Fr. Mark

 

 

“What the Mystics Know: Seven Pathways to Your Deeper Self” by Fr. Richard Rohr OFM