"We make the first and greatest of our mistakes in religion when we begin with ourselves, our petty feelings and needs, Ideas and capacities..." Evelyn Underhill, The School of Charity
The excerpt for today comes from Underhill's book "The School of Charity", a book that focuses on the Nicene Creed by reflecting on one phrase at a time. This particular passage comes from the beginning section of the creed "I believe", and this is exactly what we are challenged to examine.
I have been thinking recently about the kind of significance I have left on my circles of influence, probably impacted by the recent deaths of a few that I know, but also, If I am honest with myself, with the selfish thoughts of creating meaning for myself. This statement of "I believe" leaves me with some conviction, the kind of conviction that happens when one's real thoughts and attitudes are tested or confronted with the actions and words that come from one's life. This is me. But, I don't want this to be me, I want to be less of a complainer and more thankful, I want to wallow less in my own failures and spend more time adoring Jesus, Underhill suggests to reflect on the objective claims of our creed.
"Since the life of prayer consists in an ever-deepening, communion with a Reality beyond ourselves, which is
truly there, and touches, calls, attracts us, what we believe about that Reality will rule our relation to it."
(The School of Charity, Underhill)
Maybe the problem has been a need for correction within my belief. Don't get me wrong, I am a believer in Jesus and His Word, but this advent season has challenged me to take this deeper, what I believe about this relationship with Jesus is how I will relate to Him daily. According to Underhill, the first duty of the "believing soul" is to humbly adore and take delight in God. This is what I want, more of Jesus and less of a pre-occupied piousness.
Spiritual Exercise
Spend some time with Nicene Creed:
WE BELIEVE in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.