What the artist does with the limitations of the medium is what we call beautiful. Clay, marble, paint, and the human voice all have limitations, of course. The artist reverences those limitations and works, labors, and accepts those faults.
A sculptor respects the unformed stone and begins with her/his image of what this could be, will be. He/she also reverences the stone’s resistances. Little by little, the image takes shape through the artist’s skill and patience.
The Jewish and Christian Scriptures reveal the long story of the Creator’s loving work to reveal the divine image of just who you and I are. This Creating God reverences the constant resistances of humanity. In prayer, it might be both amusing and humbling to wander through each of the invitations Jesus offers His Disciples and us, in today’s Gospel. It can be “amusing” when “humility” sits comfortably in the couch of honesty. Try it out!
Jesus is offering His artistic plan to His early disciples and opens with “poor in spirit”. What does this mean? I hope it doesn’t mean my letting go of everything and everyone. No! I want to relax in my having, by my own efforts and creativity, to protect who I am by what I have!
It is dramatic that Jesus follows “Poverty of spirit” by something about being happy while being one of those who “mourn”. I want to be “rich of spirit,” and the way I can resist missing, losing, and being mournful is just not to love. Letting go is easy when I do not want anyone close to me, loving me.
What I am arriving at is what I call “The Sad-attitudes”. I want to be the “Grabber,” not the spiritually poor receiver. “Mine!” is my human prayer. What Jesus’ invitation is to receive His prayer of comfort as I mourn, because I loved and received what she/he was and could not be for me.
I want to be merciful when the other apologizes first and with deep sincerity.
I enjoy and am happy when my heart and spirit are “clean” unless there is someone or something more attractive and inviting.
Thank You, God, Divine Artist, that you reverence my defenses, fences, walls. I know I am resolving slowly through Your artistic insistence and love. Jesus knew the ways of His early followers, and He kept faithful to their being created to be artworks of His relationship.
We are born to believe we are the center of our own beauty. Sad is the result of living possessing that image of who we think we are. I am sorry and sad when my own autograph defines my false identity. I enjoy my happiness when I see Your signature in my life. Keep chipping, sanding, filing, and polishing us. You do good work!
Rev. Larry Gillick, SJ
I entered the Society of Jesus in 1960, after graduating from Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and attending St. Norbert College for two years. I was ordained in 1972 after completing theological studies at the Toronto School of Theology, Regis College. I presently minister in the Deglman Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Creighton and give retreats.
I enjoy sharing thoughts on the Daily Reflections. It is a chance to share with a wide variety of people in the Christian community experiences of prayer and life which have been given to me. It is a bit like being in more places than just here. We actually get out there without having to pay airlines to do it. The word of God is alive and well.
