I’m thinking that it’s probably easier to be active than to be contemplative.

I remember someone once commenting that we are Human Beings and not Human Doings. So why do we find it much easier to do than to be?

The same goes for our use of speech. It’s often easier to speak than to be silent, and too often we – I’ll speak for myself, too often I – speak too soon or too much or too unnecessarily.

Perhaps Jesus is aware of this in today’s gospel when immediately after the healing of the two blind men his instruction is clear: Jesus sternly warned them, ‘Take care that no one learns about this.’

Even a warning from Jesus was not enough for those two guys since when they left Jesus “they talked about him all over the countryside”.

They couldn’t help themselves.

I notice that many people as they age don’t seem to mature too much, while many others grow into living more contemplatively, speaking after careful consideration, and acting only when they have discerned the wisdom of what they are about to do.

We could say it’s the difference between being a reactive presence (the childish default setting) and an original presence (the fruit of a life lived intentionally and with divine purpose).

In the earlier stages of human growth we are naturally active. I suppose the positive is that this drive motivates us (as children, teenagers and young adults) to learn and to engage, to develop skills and initiate interactions.

However the spiritual tradition of healthy religion teaches us that this initial driven and highly motivated active and vocal way of being, while characteristic of the first part of life, is a stage which will be outgrown by the maturing soul.

I’m not sure that organised religion is too good at communicating this growth. Too often our catechesis and even evangelisation programmes seem to reinforce attachment to good and religious practices with little emphasis on intimacy with the God who calls us to and feeds us through these practices.

A couple of days ago in an inflight interview on his return from Beirut to Rome Pope Leo answered some questions about his own life and relationship with God.

He mentioned a book he had found helpful. In his own words:

“Besides St. Augustine,“The Practice of the Presence of God” by a 17th-century Carmelite friar named Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection is a book that can help anyone to understand their spirituality.“It’s a very simple book … I read it many years ago. It describes a type of prayer and spirituality where one simply gives their life to the Lord and allows the Lord to lead.”

I often hear people describe themselves as “non practicing Catholics” meaning they don’t go to Church. Then when they speak I discover that they have a great faith and are living in relationship with Jesus.

We must stop using the term non-practicing in such an inaccurate and distancing way.

Take an initiative and send me a date time and place for a FFF cafe-catchups. john@fff.org.nz. I’ll advertise these on each morning’s post throughout Advent.

Christchurch
Monday 8 December 10.00am
Moko Bush Inn Centre
Waimairi Road, Christchurch. Trish

Lower Hutt
Wednesday 10 December 10am
Shine Cafe
2 Waterloo Rd, Hutt Central. Catherine

New Plymouth
Wednesday 10 December 10.30am
Stumble Inn
200 Mangorei Road
New Plymouth. Joan

Christchurch
Monday 15 December 10.00am
Moko Bush Inn Centre
Waimairi Road, Christchurch. Trish

New Plymouth
Thursday 18 December 1.30pm
Stumble Inn
200 Mangorei Road
New Plymouth. Joan