Hunting for a quote online, I discovered an interesting talk on silent and contemplative prayer given by a Benedictine abbott, John Klassen. As I read it, I was struck by his description of living in a "graced universe":
"... One of the fundamental intuitions of Saint Benedict
is that we live in a graced universe.
By this I mean that we can’t predict
when our conversion will happen,
when the word of scripture or the word of a spouse or colleague,
or the word of the our life situation will speak to our hearts.
That’s why Benedict quotes Psalm 95
in urging us to be attentive, expectant listeners :
‘If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.’
God’s word is generative, it is fecund,
it will do what it says.
But not in a violent, aggressive manner...
In the silence God’s word transforms the listening, expectant heart.
This transformation will not turn out according to our plans,
by our means,
but according to the parabolic ... nature of God.
By parabolic, I am not speaking about a geometric form
but rather that God is a Being of reversal, of paradox, of irony.
That which seems incontestable and secure will crumble into dust.
The first will be last; the lost will be found;
the stone rejected will become the corner stone;
that part of ourselves that we don’t like
will become our most endearing gift..."
Reading it, I had to admit that this is one of the things I love about God - so full of surprises!
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