As monks our entire lives are oriented towards union with God and divinization. Divinization can sound esoteric and evoke images of ethereal beings no longer fully human. However, if becoming divine in and through Christ is what divinization entails, and if God is love, then Paul gives us a very good non-esoteric catalog of some of the signs of divinization occurring within us. Rather than losing our humanity, divinization will perfect our human nature as we find ourselves growing ever more patient and kind, less and less prone to jealousy, less pompous and proud, rude, or seeking merely our own interests. We will experience ourselves becoming more even-tempered and less and less likely to brood over past injuries. Along with not rejoicing over wrongdoing we will exult in the truth and be able to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. Imagine how different our community and world would look if all Christians were divinized—surely motivation enough to persevere in our monastic quest to make this a reality in our lives!
Neil W. McLaughlin says
Theses are great words to live by and share. Thank you.
Chareles Stevenson says
What a great commentary on the Christian life, the spiritual life, and the human life! Seldom have I seen so much said in so few words. Thank you, Father Abbot Joseph!
And where do God’s non-Christian children fit in? Does he not provide for them, as well? A buddy of mine, a secret sage working quietly in a sub shop in Overlea, near Baltimore, suggested a solution the other evening when he said, “Siddhartha, the Buddha, realized enlightenment. Jesus, the Christ, created it.” Well, when I heard this, a lot of things began coming together, including novel insight into Jesus as “King of kings,” underlying fundamental source, substance, and driver of all human faith. I paid for my salad and went home a happy man. Thanks be to God.
Peggy Anderson says
An awesome vision! Your thoughts, Fr. Joseph, stimulated me to return to Teihard’s writings on the divinization of our activities and passivities. As we seek union with the Creator, everything that we do must be divinized; is divinized as we stay aware that we are continually moving towards the Omega Point, the Christ. Thanks for your thoughts.