We Christians have made an icon of Jesus. But an icon is to be seen THROUGH, not gazed AT. An icon is a window, opening to the boundless sublime.
When gazed AT, it becomes an idol, and the Christian becomes a rigid defender of a spiritual relic, guarding it against any infiltration of the different or any touch by anyone perceived as an outsider.
Jesus is not to be gazed AT and worshiped. Such a stance turns into a spiritual club that no one but worshipers of Jesus may join. All others are relegated to the status of those to be prayed for, pitied, resisted, and saved.
Jesus is to be seen THROUGH. He is a window, a door, an opening to the boundless sublime. When one leaps through that opening, one opens into pure joy, a joy that is all inclusive, with no one or no thing left behind.
When gazed AT, it becomes an idol, and the Christian becomes a rigid defender of a spiritual relic, guarding it against any infiltration of the different or any touch by anyone perceived as an outsider.
Jesus is not to be gazed AT and worshiped. Such a stance turns into a spiritual club that no one but worshipers of Jesus may join. All others are relegated to the status of those to be prayed for, pitied, resisted, and saved.
Jesus is to be seen THROUGH. He is a window, a door, an opening to the boundless sublime. When one leaps through that opening, one opens into pure joy, a joy that is all inclusive, with no one or no thing left behind.
The entire history of the human race demonstrates how profoundly difficult this task is. It never catches on as a mass movement, only as a personal one. Even then, most of us require what Buddhists call a Sangha and it's associated Guru. Even then most of us fall short and wander off in search of our favorite idol.
ReplyDeleteThis is just sadly true. You can't argue with history's bearing it out over and over again.
And yet in twos and threes and even alone in the hermitage, there are the minority experiences. There are just enough in each age to remind us there is another way, if only we can avoid complete destruction along the way.
Excellent comment, Christopher. And so true. Thank you.
DeleteHOLAY NICE PAGE!!!!~Lisa
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lisa. I remodeled it.
DeleteWhat is it about the humans psyche that tempts the people to make and worship idols? It is as if people are so caught up in the superficial that many are completely unable to see the depth of his true message.
ReplyDeleteGeorge, Here there is nice resonance of spirit.
ReplyDelete