The majesty of the desert always fascinated me, the stillness, solitude, emptiness and nakedness.....
The desert is a reflection of our spirituality, it is here where our innermost being meets God. Only in stillness that we are able to listen to God. In emptying ourselves.
Hos 1: 16 "But look, I am going to seduce her and lead her into the desert and speak to her heart"
The desert Fathers saw the importance of this approach. rather then going in the desert like our spiritual fathers, for us it is more of a spiritual attitude for our search for God, according to the former, (cf the dawn of our spirituality by Segundo Galilea0), there are three requirements renunciation, conversion, and the practice of mercy [ibid p4].
my opinion we must learn to renounce evil, and anything that is not christocentric, in other words a complete change of heart, ( Ezk; 36:26 " I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you, I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead")
"compunction of heart" to love Christ above everyone else including our dear ones! And to love like him. According to the fathers of the desert [ibid p35] "the compunction of heart and permanent conversion are a gift from God,for which the must pray". So one can see here the importance of being still, [away from the hedonistic approach], reading the bible and praying, like the desert fathers, it is at this point that our soul can truly meet God, and listen to God, this is the truth....And this truth will set us free. JN 8:31-32 " To the Jews who believed in him Jesus said: if you make my word your home, you will indeed be my disciples; you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free".
2 comments:
It is from this stillness, darkness and totally pitch black place and environment that the soul reaches out a hand in search for its creator. It is a terrifying place where the soul asks questions like 'Does God still Love me?' 'Has God forgotten me?' and a thousand and one simillar question are asked. In this stillness His answer comes forth from the ages...'Be Still and Know that I AM GOD'. Then a million voices of the Angels and Saints of all ages are heard praising God - singing HOLY is the LORD, when then the Brightest light appears and illuminates this pitch black darness.. a light that can only be God himself visiting this aching Soul. Thanks Doreen - Charles Caligari Conti.
So true my dear brother in Christ....what an insight! you should create a blog yourself. thank you for visiting, Give my love to your family,
God Be with you all
Doreen
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