As I was studying for my Introduction to Christianity exam, I came across a paragraph in the professor´s notes that made me want to turn to the person sitting next to me in the library and say DO YOU GET HOW AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL THIS IS?!?!?
“Sometimes we believe that faith is our faithfulness to God. No! It is the encounter of two fidelities: that of a faithful man, and that of a faithful God. It is the encounter of two faiths: the faith of God and the faith of man. Henri De Lubac points this out: ´this encounter, faith as an encounter of two fidelities, evokes the reciprocal gift of the spouses: faith entails a certain dimension of “spousality” with God.´ This spousal dimension is something that is characteristic of faith. It is a particular spousal relationship, because it is not a relationship between equals. In faith, God always takes the initiative. God´s fidelity always comes before our own, and it sustains our fidelity.”
And there´s more. Today in our class on Fenomenology of Religion, we were discussing how a thing shows itself to us, and how we are able to know it as it is (that´s the normal-language translation of a bunch of philosophical terminology.) The professor was explaining how in order to receive something in its essence, we need to create an interior space of openness, interiority, and intimacy. It impressed me to look at an attitude of receptivity from a philosophical perspective, since I´ve so often reflected on it in the spiritual life or in relation to femininity.
These classes have been harmonizing beautifully with the melody I´ve had in my heart since our weekend course on the vow of consecrated chastity at the beginning of December. Starting with the topic of the spousal dimension of the human person, we delved into the fruitfulness from living the call to chastity, what the charism of chastity looks like when operative in someone´s life, and what chastity entails in areas such as solitude and community life. We reflected on quotes from Familiaris Consortio by JPII, Paul VI´s Perfectae Caritatis, Deitrich Von Hildebrand, Benedict Groeschel, Amadeo Cencini, and Edith Stein, to name a few. One of my biggest take-aways was the impact of reflecting on how much God lowers himself in order to have a relationship with me, and how all he needs me to do is to create a loving vacancy in my heart for him to fill. This is mind-blowing just beginning with the relationship of an adopted child, or of a friendship, or of the spousal relationship with God that each soul is called to through Baptism… but even more so in the spousal relationship he has called me to through my life of consecration to him. How is it that I could be invited to enter into this relationship of intimacy with my God and Creator?
This has become my theme song for this Advent. I´ve found it put to music in three songs that I´ve added to my Christmas playlists:
Be Born in Me by Francesca Battistelli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOPHkvbdOpw
How Many Kings by Downhere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS0QOYsoGOU
I Will Find a Way by Jason Gray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNbX1kQJTbs
From heaven to weak little baby… he does the same in my life each and every day. My God comes from heaven into my little heart.
