this is a bit late but it’s still good…

Not sure why this quote from the Irish missionary Columbanus from my morning meditation guide (see foot note) was significant enough for me to blog what I heard.. Maybe because it’s important to Love for me to blog … emphasis on the importance for me to share what I hear from life. Anyway enough introspection. Maybe it caught my attention because he’s an IRISH missionary.I don’t really like traditional missionary work … but being a Murphy my soul perks up when I read the word ‘Irish’. Let’s hear it for Celtic spirituality.

Columbanus wrote: “Seek then the highest wisdom, not by arguments in words but by the perfection of your life; not by speech but by the faith that comes from simplicity of heart.”

His use of the word perfection causes me to “hear” the verse from the end of Matthew 5 – vs48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” KJV, the version I memorized and internalized those damaging, at least to me, words of Jesus. Hearing them as a child, while living under the threat of eternal damnation if I made any mistakes, was devastating to my soul and psyche. No wonder I rejected the idea of having to be perfect and the source of those words for a few years. As I grew wiser and less dualistic in my thinking I tried to listen with the ears of my heart. So instead of rejecting these words and their source, I’ve come to understand the word translated “perfect” can also mean “complete / whole”. That learning has given me a new perspective, that of a process – which gives me hope, not for perfection but to grow in my ability to love as I am loved.

For this blog, I’m going to include some of my usual morning devotional / listening process, which often includes some word Bible study, distinct from Lectio Divina. LD invites me to listen more to my heart, while study has me listening more to my head. During Lectio, when a word or phrase speaks to me I often check out what the word means in the original language. I’ve noticed how doing that moves my “listening” from my heart to my head and with a bit of effort and grace I can often bring my thoughts / head back into my heart for a concluding time of contemplation / Centering Prayer…on good days. (The cycle of Lectio Divina is Lectio – reading, art, music, life; Meditato – thinking about what stood out for me in Lectio and applying it to my life: Oratorio – talking to Love about what I mediated on; concluding with Contemplatio – where I often use Centering Prayer to sit in silence with all the above.) I’m still moving towards a more whole way of being love and Matthew 5:48 now gives me hope that it’s possible to move closer to loving as I am loved – oh I wrote that already… and I’m leaving it in for that is my hope.

Anyway – my “go to” website, for getting started on understanding what the original author probably meant – in the “original” Greek or Hebrew is Blue Letter Bible https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5046/kjv/tr/0-1/ It includes my old standby for word meanings – Strongs concordance. This morning I was reminded that the word “perfection” is the Greek word τέλειος téleios, tel’-i-os; from the root word G5056 τέλος télos, tel’-os; from a primary τέλλω téllō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit. Strong points out that Teleios broadens that meaning to include – complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness:—of full age, man, perfect.

These Greek words seem to imply … now I’m going more Meditatio … that Jesus wants me to aim at being as loving as God is. His final thoughts recorded in Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount chapter were – “Love your enemies.”

To get back to the source of this blog – Columbanus wrote: “Seek then the highest wisdom, not by arguments in words but by the perfection of your life; not by speech but by the faith that comes from simplicity of heart.”

More meditatio – for some reason, as I begin my 71st year (my birthday is July 9/55. No presents please, just invites for breakfast) I’m not as concerned as I once was that I’ll never be perfect in word or deed – caring for Mom, self, creation and others – God. It seems wiser and less stressful to aim to make the effort to be loving like Love demonstrates, and have the serenity to accept things I can’t change, and try to change, in me and around me, the things I can and seek wisdom to know the difference. If I have love and respect guiding my actions, according to Columbanus that may be more important than making sure I say the right and perfect thing. I get tired of hearing so many words, maybe others do to? Not sure what simplicity of heart means but for me it probably means to just have faith / trust that Spirit is willing to help me simply be a kind, loving person and if necessary, give me words of blessing. Linda often uses the WAIT acronym – Why Am I Talking.

Footnote: this morning meditation was in Common Prayer: a liturgy for ordinary radicals, edited by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hargrove, Enuma Okora, Zondervan 2010. A wonderful book of prayers, quotes and scripture readings for morning (every day) evening (7 prayers) and midday with songs, prayers, helpful suggestions on how to faithfully and joyfully follow the Jesus way by folk who are committed to the monastic and communal tradition of Christianity…which for them and myself seeks to be ecumenical and inclusive – Christlike.

sent from Stephen’s iPad