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Great Thinkers in the History of the Church (no. 16)
"The Divine Plentitude in us is primary in relation to our movement of ascent." ... "An age of anthropocentric humanism cut off from the Incarnation, an age in which science finally carried the day against wisdom, and the effort of progress turned to the destruction of human values."
--Jacques Maritain (1882-1973), Science and Wisdom
Esteemed by many to be the leading Catholic philosopher of the 20th Century. Applied the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas to the challenges of modernism.
Story
A monk was befuddled when the Abbot said to him, "Son, you are much too religious." The confused monk replied, "Father, but am I not vowed to the religious life and to be committed fully to it above all else?" "Yes," replied the Abbot, "but I did not tell you not to be committed completely to your religious vocation. I told you that you are much too religious." Still confused, the monk asked, "Father, how can you tell when a monk is too religious?" "Son, when a monk is very pious but not very joyous, he is too religious," answered the Abbot.
Comments
Huston Smith wrote, regarding the joy of early Christians, "Life was not challenges to be met; it was glory discerned" (The Soul of Christianity)
Yesterday, I visited a lady whom I had never met. Her name is Minnie. Minnie lives in a care facility. She had one leg amputated about four years ago, and since then has lived in the facility.
A nurse moved Minnie from the dining room into the hall, so she and I could meet. I bent over and placed my hand on Minnie's shoulder. I introduced myself, and we talked a while. Amazing, in her eyes, as I saw also her tongue protrude again and again from her mouth, I saw a well of joy. Her smile was radiant. We shared prayer.
I left Minnie blessed by her presence, her joy. This sister in Christ lives in a bed and a wheelchair. Yet, prior to seeing her, I had felt very ill at ease, exhausted, and I had concluded it was likely related to the many changes in my life over the last several weeks. But, when I left Minnie, I left feeling renewed, ministered to by the joy of one whom I had arrived to minister to.
I am confident that Minnie radiates joy due to her relationship with Jesus Christ. I see this same joy repeatedly among older Christians confined to bed or chair, at home or care facility, in what would be debilitating living situations for many of us.
Jesus speaks to us in the Gospel of John:
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (ESV)
This is the joy of union with Christ, a gift given in contemplation. In the Body of Christ, the Body shares the joy of the Head; in the Vine and Branches, the Branches share the joy of the Vine. This joy is our joy by gift, for His joy is the fount of joy.
God is Joy, and the more intimately we know Christ, the more intimately we know the bliss of Communion with the Trinity. This joy comes from the Divine Plenitude referred to by Maritain; thus, this bliss is infinite and each person in Christ can claim it to the full.
Reflection
Are you growing in experience of joy? Explain.
Spiritual Exercise
Meditate using the word "joy" as your prayer word.
*Path of Spirit is a Christ-Centered ministry of writings for persons of all faiths seeking to live in honor of God, as he or she best understands God, sharing faith, hope, and love with all peoples. The author, Brian K. Wilcox, is a Pastor in the United Methodist Church and vowed member of the ecumenical contemplative community Greenbough House of Prayer, Scott, GA. Brian lives in North Florida with his two beloved dogs, St. Francis and Bandit Ty.
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