“Whoever remains in me as I remain in them, will bear much fruit” (John 15:5). That’s the preferred language of all the mystics—the language of union. If it’s not some language of union and healing, don’t trust it as authentic religious language. Unfortunately, religion has largely descended to a language of exclusion, which is almost the exact opposite.
Mother Teresa said that a person consciously filling a vase with water—out of union with and love for God—is giving more glory to God than a priest at the altar who is standing there in a state of anger, superiority, or separateness. It’s all about the “Who,” not the “what” and we spend all of our time concentrating on the “what” that I should do or not do. If you get the “Who” right, the “what” does not matter too much. It will always be good…
Richard Rohr, adapted from Contemplative Prayer (CD)
Oh, how I long for those who trouble Synod with their arguments, schismatism, “anger, superiority, or separateness” to simply stop, sit still, and get this. There really is so little need for all the pain and the nonsense, and to be prepared to sin in order to be right is the worst bargain going, in the light of eternity, as Jesus kept pointing out to the scribes and Pharisees…
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