October 14, 2009> 3:47 PM
dark night 1:5:2 More from St. John of the Cross - Book 1, Ch. 5 of Dark Night of the Soul, today, verse 2 - this one goes to meddlin'...
"There are other of these spiritual persons, again, who fall into another kind of spiritual wrath: this happens when they become irritated at the sins of others, and keep watch on those others with a sort of uneasy zeal. At times the impulse comes to them to reprove them angrily, and occasionally they go so far as to indulge it and set themselves up as masters of virtue. All this is contrary to spiritual meekness."
Oh my. "All this is contrary to spiritual meekness." Let's allow that sentence to sink in a bit.
I have seen this. I've probably done it. It almost seems like there is an epidemic of this kind of thing running through the Body of Christ. It seems like some take it on as a job - being irritated by the sins of others and keeping watch on them, and of course, fixing them - never mind the fixing, punishing will do.
What are we accomplishing when we do this?
I'm convinced that it really stems from a desire to see one's self as good. So any "light" that can be shone on the darkness of others only serves to make whatever "light" we have seem brighter - to us - perhaps we might think, to God as well. We would be wrong.
What are we doing?
Many times, I notice the "sins" of others that are so irritating, so worth keeping watch on, are no sins at all. Imperfections (as St. John puts it), perhaps. Maybe not even that. And even if they are sins, how does Love act? What IS our job in the spiritual life, really, primarily?
If I was pushed for a short answer, I'd say, "to love God - to love people - that is all."
Let us pray:Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.
October 14, 2009
> 3:47 PM
More from St. John of the Cross - Book 1, Ch. 5 of Dark Night of the Soul, today, verse 2 - this one goes to meddlin'...
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