Friends of God: the third Sunday after Epiphany



Jonah 3:1-5, 10
St. Mark 1:14-20

The truth will come out; that is the nature of truth. But human nature is not so certain. If we share the truth without love, we risk Jonah’s end, alone beneath the dead trees which might have borne us fruit. (Jon. 4:2, 7-8) If we share in love, we may often be returned hatred. But if we share the truth from a place of simple love for those with whom we share, like Christ did, we rarely spend life alone. (Eph. 4:15-16)

Van Heemskerck's Jonah under the Gourd

The cure for loneliness is spiritual friendship, like Abraham’s friendship with God, (Isa. 41:8-10) or the old Irish idea of the “soul friend.” And I do not mean that loneliness which strikes like some hunger pang, and is satiated by joining the virulent roustings of humans: to meet and drink and sing carouse. This is earthly desire, and is even a great good in its season. (Eccl. 3:4)

I mean the loneliness which is the shadow of our own soul. This portion of our being is so easily ignored; indeed many spend their whole lives running from the shadow. But when we are quiet, perhaps at the mysterious hour of 3am, some ache wakes us and we can do nothing but think, we may see the shadow. It is the part of us which says that, with all the power and delights of earth, we can hope for nothing more than a pleasant ride to the grave. Indeed, the shadow reminds us of Satan’s unenviable position: power in this world, and yet the old devil can do nothing but count the hours to his end. 

As the faithful, we know that in the light of Christ’s love and friendship, this shadow disappears. (II Cor. 4:3-6) We are illumined, and in us there is no darkness at all. (I Jo. 1:5-7) The shadow from which we have run is suddenly itself chased away, not by our power, but by the body of Christ. (Psa. 112:4, Jhn. 8:12) It is this Body, I mean the church, which can come to us in a deep spiritual friendship.

Ikon: Christ calling the first disciples
And oh how wonderful the road to spiritual friendship is! It begins, like the disciples, with a simple call: come and follow. (Mark 1:17) But where do we follow to today? Our High Priest is less commonly found out for a stroll by the lakeside these days. And perhaps the call is less direct than we would sometimes wish. But there is the Body. There is the place where we can be led and follow. Sweet saints, go to the place where the holy ones keep. Such treasures of love they have in store for you. To share with you the truth in love.

Consider it. To live in community with others under the friendship of God; to love truthfully, not to satisfy or secure yourself, but because you are loved. (Eph. 4:1-6, I Jo. 4:17-19) To love like laughter, and share both with strangers. To follow recklessly, trusting that God will not put you to shame and will guard your life

- Evan Underbrink

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Leper of Christ: Reflection on the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image
Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 I Corinthians 10:31-11:1 St. Mark 1:40-45 By: Matthew David Wiseman Leprosy is usually associated with what is called Hansen's Disease, and not without some reason. Both are highly contagious skin infections which have traditionally excluded people from society. However, even a cursory reading of today's lection from Leviticus makes it clear that the biblical leprosy is not the same as Hansen's Disease. There is no deformation of fingers and toes here, and the lesions are rather different from Hansen's. The truth is that there is no clear disease or pathology which these chapters of Leviticus describe. In fact, some Jewish commentators conclude from this that there is no such disease, but rather that leprosy was a special curse from God. Ikon of Christ cleansing the leper All of this only contributes to the strangeness of what is already, for modern readers, a very strange story in St. Mark chapter 1. In our socially conscious, ev
Read more

How good and pleasant it is: the mission of our community

Image
 Dear readers, We have been working on our constitution and canons as we are able for several months now, and while we are still having conversations with trusted advisors and mentors about them, we have decided that it is a good time to publish a draft of our founding principles in order to get feedback. Please note that this document is not final. The purpose of publishing it at this point is to hear more perspectives as we continue to refine our vision. Any insight or wisdom that you have to share with us is appreciated, and we will take it under prayerful consideration. In the name of Christ, The Fellowship of St. Columbanus Constitution and Mission: Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Ps. 133:1) So begins the one hundred and thirty-third psalm in the Authorized Version. It is the purpose of this community to embody this blessing by the communion of lay oblates (and hopefully one day also consecrated members),
Read more

The Resurrection of the Lord - Hail thee, festival Day!

Image
The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!  Surrexit Dominus vere, Alleluia!  (Source: Unidentified)  Excerpt from an Easter Oration of Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, also known as "the Theologian", Archbishop of Constantinople (329-390 AD) Yesterday the Lamb was slain and the door-posts were anointed (cf. Exodus 12) and Egypt bewailed her firstborn, and the Destroyer passed us over, and the Seal was dreadful and reverend, and we were walled in with the Precious Blood.  To-day we have clean escaped from Egypt and from Pharaoh; and there is none to hinder us from keeping a Feast to the Lord our God—the Feast of our Departure; or from celebrating that Feast, not in the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (cf. 1 Corinthian 5: 8), carrying with us nothing of ungodly and Egyptian leaven. Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; to-day I am quickened with Him; yeste
Read more