Matthew under the arm 74
[I am taking some 'time-out' on the Pilgrimage with Columba...just two weeks. Some reading, some thinking, some looking.... I WILL BE BACK WITH COLUMBA ON 16TH SEPTEMBER. I hope you'll join me again, maybe for the first time! Thank you for your company!]
We decided two days ago to do some night walking. The moonlight and starlight was sufficient for us to find along a path which was clearly marked in any case. As we left our lodgings, there out in the middle of the street, was a brawl. Inevitably, a crowd was forming with much shouting on behalf of one or other of the brawlers. Fists flew and blood poured from broken noses. The shouts got louder. I was appalled at the behaviour of the crowd. However, I had ignored the fascination in my heart. Sweating with rage, I shouted to no avail for the fight to stop. Nothing happened. There on the other side was Columba who had wormed his way through the crowd into the clear space. He stood still with his eyes closed. For a while he was pushed and shoved in an attempt to get him out of the way. I was terrified for his safety. The fight stopped and the crowd stared at Columba in amazement at his calm presence. Prophecy by silence. We started walking....
Matthew 16:1-4...
To develop ‘the eye of the heart’ (Ephesians 1) is to have the insight of a prophet. Prophecy is the gift of seeing what is happening around us in this present moment and finding God in that...no matter how consolate or desolate the experience. This will lead to having insight on behalf of others (and for ourselves!) that may be hopeful, decisive or even disturbing. Jonah was swallowed by a whale for three days (a convincingly desolate experience!) and then spewed on to a beach (consolation?) - death and resurrection. What seemed a curse was in fact a blessing. But insight may in some cirucmstances lead us to the reverse conclusion!
In the reality around me, let me be know Your Truth and Your Wisdom
Discerning the presence of God in every circumstance may seem extreme, if not impossible. It is not the same as giving reassurance. Christian spirituality is not about experiencing ease or even peace. Try taking into your prayer (with the sentence) an experience you have had recently; some event or exchange that you have observed. Ask to perceive the Spirit of God in it. Don't force the prayer. Wait and watch. Write down what you felt in your prayer and wait on clarity emerging.
+Martin
Argyll and The Isles
We decided two days ago to do some night walking. The moonlight and starlight was sufficient for us to find along a path which was clearly marked in any case. As we left our lodgings, there out in the middle of the street, was a brawl. Inevitably, a crowd was forming with much shouting on behalf of one or other of the brawlers. Fists flew and blood poured from broken noses. The shouts got louder. I was appalled at the behaviour of the crowd. However, I had ignored the fascination in my heart. Sweating with rage, I shouted to no avail for the fight to stop. Nothing happened. There on the other side was Columba who had wormed his way through the crowd into the clear space. He stood still with his eyes closed. For a while he was pushed and shoved in an attempt to get him out of the way. I was terrified for his safety. The fight stopped and the crowd stared at Columba in amazement at his calm presence. Prophecy by silence. We started walking....
Matthew 16:1-4...
To develop ‘the eye of the heart’ (Ephesians 1) is to have the insight of a prophet. Prophecy is the gift of seeing what is happening around us in this present moment and finding God in that...no matter how consolate or desolate the experience. This will lead to having insight on behalf of others (and for ourselves!) that may be hopeful, decisive or even disturbing. Jonah was swallowed by a whale for three days (a convincingly desolate experience!) and then spewed on to a beach (consolation?) - death and resurrection. What seemed a curse was in fact a blessing. But insight may in some cirucmstances lead us to the reverse conclusion!
In the reality around me, let me be know Your Truth and Your Wisdom
Discerning the presence of God in every circumstance may seem extreme, if not impossible. It is not the same as giving reassurance. Christian spirituality is not about experiencing ease or even peace. Try taking into your prayer (with the sentence) an experience you have had recently; some event or exchange that you have observed. Ask to perceive the Spirit of God in it. Don't force the prayer. Wait and watch. Write down what you felt in your prayer and wait on clarity emerging.
+Martin
Argyll and The Isles
Labels: Prophecy Desolation Consolation
posted by Martin at 8:33 am
1 Comments:
Columba sat patiently waiting for his friend who had to go on a short journey to help a friend recover from exhaustion. It was a pleasant spot to wait, the sun shone gently through the trees and he could hear the gentle rippling sound of a distant burn. He was pleased with his friends responses so far and was wondering how he would take his next comments on Matthew’s gospel, the part about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. He was saddened by the way so many were not heeding this teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ but he was pleased that some did follow all of Jesus teachings.
Columba was getting impatient, where had his friend got to? But he knew he must be patient because the near future of the church depended on his friend listening to divine authority. He sat waiting, plucking blades of grass; would he listen, yes, no, yes, no. He thought, if only it was as easy as plucking blades of grass to get people to listen to God.
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