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Ben Moments Continue...dwelling in indwelling

7/7/2016

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Companions in Contemplation, Ben Campbell Johnson, 2009, pg 112

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
John 14:10
 
An astounding mutual indwelling! Christ in the Father, the Father in Christ and Christ in me.

Clearly he speaks of the divine/human union and Christ stands at the center as the Mediator. (The one who stands between, in the middle, the mediator between God and humans). The holy God on the one side, human beings on the other, and Christ, the God-Man joining both to each other.

When we meditate on this mystery, our minds hit a wall in short order; our reason cannot take us very far. Our minds cannot grasp the truth of this mystery. We may seek to grasp it, walk around it, view it, wonder about its profundity, and yet we feel helpless to comprehend it. Our efforts to realize the Mystery in which we live continually hit a wall and our imagination is staggered and remains helpless to comprehend this Mystery.

Contemplation may be of some assistance; it takes the way of ‘unknowing.’        What  the  powers  of  human  reason  stumble  over,  the human spirit realizes. Bowing before the mystery of God in Christ and Christ in me does not yield understanding but transformation. Being present to the mystery, of which I am a part in an inexplicable way, makes me vulnerable to the Holy and consequently change inevitably occurs.

Occasionally, after being encircled and wrapped in the Mystery, I seem to smell the perfume of the divine presence. And, sometimes I recognize that the thoughts and feelings that have arisen in me originate
from the incomprehensible fact that he is in me and I am in him.

Seek continuously to notice the indwelling!

JANE NOTE:

This stands out to me this morning as I ponder Ben's words. As I go through this day, I pray to keep this front and center in the mystery of being vulnerable to the Holy.

"Bowing before the mystery of God in Christ and Christ in me does not yield understanding but transformation.  Being present to the mystery, of which I am a part in an inexplicable way, makes me vulnerable to the Holy and consequently change inevitably occurs."
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