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| Storing Up Treasures That Last |
At the beginning of this month I experienced one of the highlights of my teaching career -- leading over 80 TOB Institute alumnae through our first ever TOB II course. We journeyed through the Pope's catechesis again, this time unfolding those parts of John Paul's text that TOB I had to pass over. I think the students would agree that the "hidden talks" on the Song of Songs and the marriage of Tobias and Sarah opened up the glory of God's plan for man and woman in a whole new way.
While the financial markets were spiralling downward, we were spiralling upward into "vertical wildness" -- a phrase that came out during the TOB II course to describe the total abandonment to God's love that the mystics speak of. We distinguished this from "horizontal wildness" which involves an abandonment to lust. "Horizontal wildness" is a counterfeit for the heart's desire to give itself without measure, without reserve, with total abandonment to God. Mary is the one who lived this total abandonment fully.
I think almost everyone in the class sensed it -- we were basking in God's infinite love for us and we almost all realized together: if this love is true, if this love (God's steadfast love for us) is real, there is nothing to fear, nothing to "worry about." Even if the economy goes totally south, there is nothing to worry about. Even if the mountains fall and the hills turn to dust, his love shall not depart from us. This is incredibly consoling. And to be consoled in the midst of society's turmoil is also an incredible witness. We place our security not in Wall Street, but in Christ, and the love he revealed through his body. Let us store up treasures that last!
My thanks to all the students and staff who made this first TOB II course such a success!
Blessings,
Christopher |
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