Matthew under the arm 94

It was a 'fast' day yesterday. I have been trying on each of these days throughout the pilgrimage not to eat too much; steering clear of the local wines and even going without a meal, which is quite hard on a strenuous pilgrimage. Columba sat outside on the wall on a farmyard munching away at a huge slice of bread and some local cheese. In his other hand, he had a huge mug of hot soup. I approached him (with nothing in my hands, of course) and just stared. There was a mixture of pride in the fact that I had got through until 4.00pm with only some water and a rather elderly apple. Columba stopped still in mid-munch. He had that dreadful habit of speaking with his mouth full, which caused mangled crumbs and cheese to spray! 'What are looking at me like that for?' ....I could just make out his meaning. 'This is a fast day', I said in a low meaningful voice. 'Do you feel better?' he asked.


Matthew 19:23-26….
Jesus begins by saying that it is hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom and concludes by suggesting that it is impossible. The initiative for entry into the Kingdom is God's. So the rich are not alone. A camel going through the eye of needle, even if ‘the eye of the needle’ refers to a tiny gate in the walls of a city, would seem to inhibit anyone including the disciples. There is the common assumption that if you try hard enough and get your spirituality ‘right’, then you’re ‘in’. Even extreme asceticism becomes another rich possession! [The intractable disease of the lust for being right!] The question is: how do anyone become spiritual without turning it into another project that can be measured in terms of success or failure? It is the wistful freedom that comes from a trusting attitude in God that draws you into His love.


Enter into My Light and My Life and grow in trust of my gift of freedom


Learning about the spiritual life can even be useful, but the basis of it is simply you and God in all your experiences whatever they are and with whoever. Silence and stillness do bring an attentiveness. However, the perplexing truth is that the experience of God is there for the most unlikely people in the most unlikely set of circumstances. Any exclusive spirituality goes against the grain of the inclusiveness of God. It is worthwhile speaking to a friend who is experienced in the spiritual life (not an expert! In fact, if you come across one, run!) to check out how possessive you are about your spirituality! The most encumbered and, perhaps, dangerous person spiritually, is the one who gains spiritual acumen as some sort of expertise.

+Martin
Argyll and The Isles