Oneness: God or Man or Both? Part 2
I find it enchantingly rich to delve into a mystery and explore it with my heart and mind to grasp from it all that I can, then let it go to take whatever course it will for my expansion. The mystery I want to deal with here is the oneness of God and man in Jesus. The Apostle John is particularly adept at pointing out in his writings the relations between Father and Son. It must be remembered that what facilitated him in this venture is that he knew Jesus intimately and loved him personally. John witnessed the accomplished work of God becoming man. All the references below are taken from his Gospel.
As to the origin of the union, it is said that the Son comes from the Father (8:42); yet the Father who sent him is with him (8:29). It is an abiding relationship.
It is a reciprocal love that binds them together. The Father loves the Son (3:35); the Son knows the Father intimately (8:55, 10:15).
In his mission on earth, the Son can do only what he has seen the Father do (5:19), can judge and speak only as he hears from the Father (5:30). It is as though the Father is a living fellow companion.
The Father's presence is confirmed further in what Jesus teaches and the power he has. The Son was taught by the Father (8:28) and has received from Him powers such as that of judgment (5:22) and of giving and possessing life (5:21, 26, 6:57). It is amazing that a human being can have such ability and efficacy once the person realizes God's presence.
In all things, the Son does the will of the Father (4:34, 6:38) and has received a command from the Father that concerns his death and resurrection (10:18). The Son brings the Father's work to completion. There is a synchronicity of wills, even for what seems the most difficult of tasks.
All these relationships between Father and Son are described in function of the Son's dealings with men. Later theologians take this gospel material pertaining to the mission of the Son AD EXTRA and draw from it a theology of the inner life of the Trinity.
If we take the words of Jesus seriously, he casts you and me into this Father/Son relationship. In 10:30, "The Father and I are one," we find that the unity posited there also concerns men; for just as the Father and Son are one, so they bind men to themselves as one--"that they may be one, even as we" (17:11). This unity that is communicated to believers is what prevents anyone from snatching them away from either Father or Son. Paul puts it in lyrical form in Rom 8:38-39: "Neither death, nor life, nor angels...nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord."
As with Jesus, so with us. The mystery of encompassing/permeating divinity continues. We're only dimly aware of how Spirit divinizes a human being. His presence pervades everything and everyone but each in a different way. In the "Word made flesh" there is a coming down and a lifting up.
Mystics through the ages have experienced and tried to explain this oneness. I will quote a few here: "Behold but one in all things; it is the second that leads you astray"--Kabir.
"You the one in all, say who I am. Say I am YOU"--Rumi.
"My me is God, nor do I recognize any other me except my God Himself"--St, Catherine of Genoa.
"There is only Spirit, there is only God, there is only Emptiness in all its radiant wonder"--Ken Wilber.
"Enjoy watching the glory of the Father unfold as my personal experience"--Joel S. Goldsmith.
The mystery of oneness is baffling, but Oh what a glorious discovery to find it piece by piece in life! As a nun friend told me of her experience, "I am God, not as He is, but as I am." Or the realization Robert Kennedy, a Jesuit, came to after his Zen experience. All his life he had been trying to develop a relationship with Jesus. But after Zen he saw everything in a new light. He declares, "I am Jesus! Right now! With all my limitations!" He moved from relationship to identity. These examples say that nothing is like working out the oneness for oneself.
If we choose to follow this path, we will run into difficulties and obstacles. At that time, all will depend on how we respond to the problem. The stumbling block must become a stepping stone. It contains the challenge we need to expand and go beyond the boundaries limiting us. Growth comes with learning, often learning the hard way. Each tiny expansion makes us not only wiser but stronger. In a sense, things have to be the way they are to bring about inner change. As someone has said, "It must needs be so."
The goal--oneness with God--must be kept in mind. The words of Jesus are forever true, "The first and greatest commandment is, 'Thou shall love the Lord your God with your whole soul, with all your heart, with your whole mind, and with all your strength.'" If this is God's commandment, then He must also make us capable of reaching that state. Love is not only a commandment; love is also a gift. Being follows love. We will become what we love, for love is overcoming. Many of us want what the mystics experienced, but few are willing to take the high hard road of tough love.
If at every turn, whether pleasant or difficult, I choose love, then I can't go wrong. A meditation that helped me was to pick out my biggest hurdle, a specific person or situation, and change my stance toward it. I know when I dislike someone, and I also know when I'm loving or not loving. What I needed to do first was to be very clear how I do see that person, without denying any negative thoughts or feelings. The goal is to accept what crosses my path. I am not to just love God, but to love the life that God has given me. Can I change my regard for Robert whom I don't like and avoid whenever I can? The boundaries are within, just as the breakthroughs and the unlimited expanse are within.
Energy follows attention, and that is why awareness is next to godliness. One day, my awareness becomes one with God's over-arching presence. We can then realize in the Spirit what we know to be true on a purely human level. It takes work to become a fully human, human being.
(Part 2 of "Oneness: God or Man or Both?" contains selections from Raymond E. Brown, The Gospel according to John I-XII, The Anchor Yale Bible, vol 29.)
As to the origin of the union, it is said that the Son comes from the Father (8:42); yet the Father who sent him is with him (8:29). It is an abiding relationship.
It is a reciprocal love that binds them together. The Father loves the Son (3:35); the Son knows the Father intimately (8:55, 10:15).
In his mission on earth, the Son can do only what he has seen the Father do (5:19), can judge and speak only as he hears from the Father (5:30). It is as though the Father is a living fellow companion.
The Father's presence is confirmed further in what Jesus teaches and the power he has. The Son was taught by the Father (8:28) and has received from Him powers such as that of judgment (5:22) and of giving and possessing life (5:21, 26, 6:57). It is amazing that a human being can have such ability and efficacy once the person realizes God's presence.
In all things, the Son does the will of the Father (4:34, 6:38) and has received a command from the Father that concerns his death and resurrection (10:18). The Son brings the Father's work to completion. There is a synchronicity of wills, even for what seems the most difficult of tasks.
All these relationships between Father and Son are described in function of the Son's dealings with men. Later theologians take this gospel material pertaining to the mission of the Son AD EXTRA and draw from it a theology of the inner life of the Trinity.
If we take the words of Jesus seriously, he casts you and me into this Father/Son relationship. In 10:30, "The Father and I are one," we find that the unity posited there also concerns men; for just as the Father and Son are one, so they bind men to themselves as one--"that they may be one, even as we" (17:11). This unity that is communicated to believers is what prevents anyone from snatching them away from either Father or Son. Paul puts it in lyrical form in Rom 8:38-39: "Neither death, nor life, nor angels...nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord."
As with Jesus, so with us. The mystery of encompassing/permeating divinity continues. We're only dimly aware of how Spirit divinizes a human being. His presence pervades everything and everyone but each in a different way. In the "Word made flesh" there is a coming down and a lifting up.
Mystics through the ages have experienced and tried to explain this oneness. I will quote a few here: "Behold but one in all things; it is the second that leads you astray"--Kabir.
"You the one in all, say who I am. Say I am YOU"--Rumi.
"My me is God, nor do I recognize any other me except my God Himself"--St, Catherine of Genoa.
"There is only Spirit, there is only God, there is only Emptiness in all its radiant wonder"--Ken Wilber.
"Enjoy watching the glory of the Father unfold as my personal experience"--Joel S. Goldsmith.
The mystery of oneness is baffling, but Oh what a glorious discovery to find it piece by piece in life! As a nun friend told me of her experience, "I am God, not as He is, but as I am." Or the realization Robert Kennedy, a Jesuit, came to after his Zen experience. All his life he had been trying to develop a relationship with Jesus. But after Zen he saw everything in a new light. He declares, "I am Jesus! Right now! With all my limitations!" He moved from relationship to identity. These examples say that nothing is like working out the oneness for oneself.
If we choose to follow this path, we will run into difficulties and obstacles. At that time, all will depend on how we respond to the problem. The stumbling block must become a stepping stone. It contains the challenge we need to expand and go beyond the boundaries limiting us. Growth comes with learning, often learning the hard way. Each tiny expansion makes us not only wiser but stronger. In a sense, things have to be the way they are to bring about inner change. As someone has said, "It must needs be so."
The goal--oneness with God--must be kept in mind. The words of Jesus are forever true, "The first and greatest commandment is, 'Thou shall love the Lord your God with your whole soul, with all your heart, with your whole mind, and with all your strength.'" If this is God's commandment, then He must also make us capable of reaching that state. Love is not only a commandment; love is also a gift. Being follows love. We will become what we love, for love is overcoming. Many of us want what the mystics experienced, but few are willing to take the high hard road of tough love.
If at every turn, whether pleasant or difficult, I choose love, then I can't go wrong. A meditation that helped me was to pick out my biggest hurdle, a specific person or situation, and change my stance toward it. I know when I dislike someone, and I also know when I'm loving or not loving. What I needed to do first was to be very clear how I do see that person, without denying any negative thoughts or feelings. The goal is to accept what crosses my path. I am not to just love God, but to love the life that God has given me. Can I change my regard for Robert whom I don't like and avoid whenever I can? The boundaries are within, just as the breakthroughs and the unlimited expanse are within.
Energy follows attention, and that is why awareness is next to godliness. One day, my awareness becomes one with God's over-arching presence. We can then realize in the Spirit what we know to be true on a purely human level. It takes work to become a fully human, human being.
(Part 2 of "Oneness: God or Man or Both?" contains selections from Raymond E. Brown, The Gospel according to John I-XII, The Anchor Yale Bible, vol 29.)