God desires us, as if we were God
Rowan Williams
The whole story of creation, incarnation, and our incorporation into Christ’s body tells us that God desires us, as if we were God, as if we were that unconditional response to God’s giving that God’s self makes in the life of the Trinity. We are created so that we may be caught up in this, so that we may grow into the wholehearted love of God by learning that God loves us as God loves God.
Rowan Williams
Image: Filipe Tohi (Tongan, resident in New Zealand, 1959–), Fakaukau, 1996. Stone carving. Photo: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
To be caught up, captured by this attractive insight into God’s loving is God’s purpose and dream for us. What seizes our imagination affects everything. We are loved in the Beloved: loved as God loves us, ‘as if we were God.
Imagine what a difference this would make to your everyday,
if instead of feeding yourself ‘self -defeating parables’
you nourished your inner life with this attractive image of God.
How attractive is self-surrender to this kind of God?
Is ‘falling in love with love’ a grace you could ask for?
The images in this post are of sculptures by the Tongan artist Filipe Tohi. The image at the top of the post is called Fukaukau (Thought).
Its shape is based on the anchor stone through which Tongan fishermen tie the rope of their boats. You can see the hand of God holding the fisher tenderly yet securely as the fisher rests in that grasp. Source: Art and Theology, May 7 2019.
Jesus bleibet meine Freude, |
Meines Herzens Trost und Saft,
Jesus wehret allem Leide,
Er ist meines Lebens Kraft,
Meiner Augen Lust und Sonne,
Meiner Seele Schatz und Wonne;
Darum laß ich Jesum nicht
Aus dem Herzen und Gesicht.
Jesus remains my joy,
My heart’s comfort and sap.
Jesus obviates all misfortune,
He is my life’s strength,
My eye’s delight and sun,
My soul’s treasure and bliss;
Therefore I will not let Jesus go
From my heart and sight.
Text: Words: Martin Jahn (c.1620–82)
For a printable PDF of the text of this meditation please click on the link below.
1 Comment
As always, thank you, Philip.