Contemplation of the Truth and the Study of Theology
One cannot do theology without rediscovering that which the
ancient Christians called contemplation.
What is contemplation? It means
to behold. For the ancient Christians,
there was not a huge distinction between reading Scriptures, meditation, study,
prayerful reflection, and contemplation. The Latin terms could be used almost synonymously
because reading without meditation or study or prayerful reflection or
contemplation was for them inconceivable. They
sought a certain kind of knowledge, studied for a particular science, a wisdom
not of this world informed their search.
Good theology remains rooted in this search today.
ancient Christians called contemplation.
What is contemplation? It means
to behold. For the ancient Christians,
there was not a huge distinction between reading Scriptures, meditation, study,
prayerful reflection, and contemplation. The Latin terms could be used almost synonymously
because reading without meditation or study or prayerful reflection or
contemplation was for them inconceivable. They
sought a certain kind of knowledge, studied for a particular science, a wisdom
not of this world informed their search.
Good theology remains rooted in this search today.
Pope Benedict’s Introduction to Christianity discusses how the ancient view of theology and contemplation was rooted in a
particular understanding of the truth which rarely informs contemporary
conversations. They envisioned the truth
to be that which frees us to be more fully human, for fully alive. A kind of light which helps us find what it means to be truly human in the darkness of our inhumanity. They sought that which would make them
thrive, that would free their potential to more fully live and more deeply love. They sought a freedom causing truth. Organizing, memorizing, regurgitating, applying pieces of information – our contemporary prejudice verum quia factum– they would have thought more of an art than actual knowledge. Knowledge, wisdom did not consist, for them,
principally in knowing how to do something.
Yet such art was not unrelated to the truth they sought to know. Possession of the truth they believed liberated the human spirit in fact could be obtained through the facts contained
in the Bible or even to a lesser degree in the teachings of a great saint was the whole reason they read, studied and commented on the Sacred Page. But study was never about limiting oneself to mastering these facts alone. Rather, the propositions of our faith and the
events of salvation history they saw as part of a greater whole through which the glory of God was peaking out of them.
particular understanding of the truth which rarely informs contemporary
conversations. They envisioned the truth
to be that which frees us to be more fully human, for fully alive. A kind of light which helps us find what it means to be truly human in the darkness of our inhumanity. They sought that which would make them
thrive, that would free their potential to more fully live and more deeply love. They sought a freedom causing truth. Organizing, memorizing, regurgitating, applying pieces of information – our contemporary prejudice verum quia factum– they would have thought more of an art than actual knowledge. Knowledge, wisdom did not consist, for them,
principally in knowing how to do something.
Yet such art was not unrelated to the truth they sought to know. Possession of the truth they believed liberated the human spirit in fact could be obtained through the facts contained
in the Bible or even to a lesser degree in the teachings of a great saint was the whole reason they read, studied and commented on the Sacred Page. But study was never about limiting oneself to mastering these facts alone. Rather, the propositions of our faith and the
events of salvation history they saw as part of a greater whole through which the glory of God was peaking out of them.
The great Christian thinkers, the contemplatives approached the sacred text as if gazing at pieces of stained
glass arranged by a master hand, exquisite shards of color which disclosed
their wonder only when illuminated by an outside light shining through them – a
great rose window. In this view of
knowledge, we seek this illuminating truth by which things are understood not
in terms of their usefulness, but more in terms of themselves. What shines through the truths of our faith,
what these truths bear is the Light that shines in the darkness. Such truth is not something one produces but searches
for and something finds only when it discloses itself to you. To know, for them, would be to see, behold, gaze
at what is with wonder. Verum
est ens – Truth is what is – truth is what exists.
glass arranged by a master hand, exquisite shards of color which disclosed
their wonder only when illuminated by an outside light shining through them – a
great rose window. In this view of
knowledge, we seek this illuminating truth by which things are understood not
in terms of their usefulness, but more in terms of themselves. What shines through the truths of our faith,
what these truths bear is the Light that shines in the darkness. Such truth is not something one produces but searches
for and something finds only when it discloses itself to you. To know, for them, would be to see, behold, gaze
at what is with wonder. Verum
est ens – Truth is what is – truth is what exists.
This is how they approached Christ in prayer. They sought Him as the Way, the Truth and the
Life. Study of the Sacred Page was the
soul of their theology because they would look for the Word which the words of
the Bible bear and communicate to us. All
of Scriptures resound with this Word who only fully expressed Himself with his
last wordless cry of abandonment and trust on the Cross. This
Word, this truth, this reason, this harmony, this glory, this mediation of God
the Father; this is the source of all life and our only salvation in the face of death. This Truth exposes the lie of sin and
establishes us in integrity when we surrender to it. To search for this saving Truth one must
read, ponder, meditate, prayerfully consider, open the heart, beg in
compunction, repent, convert, contemplate, gaze at, appreciate the connections and take in the
whole of who Christ is and what He has done for us. In the midst of this effort, He discloses his
living presence in an undeniable way. This
encounter, this event in one’s life, this eternal event which has invaded our
history is transformative. It is to be
made vulnerable by the One who was vulnerable unto death. It is to be pierced to the heart by the One
who was pierced for us. When one knows
how much he is loved by the Truth a love of the truth explodes in the
heart. Life is never the same
again. Then and only then does one know
anything the ancient Christians believed was theology. Then and only then has one contemplated like
the Christians who came before us.
Life. Study of the Sacred Page was the
soul of their theology because they would look for the Word which the words of
the Bible bear and communicate to us. All
of Scriptures resound with this Word who only fully expressed Himself with his
last wordless cry of abandonment and trust on the Cross. This
Word, this truth, this reason, this harmony, this glory, this mediation of God
the Father; this is the source of all life and our only salvation in the face of death. This Truth exposes the lie of sin and
establishes us in integrity when we surrender to it. To search for this saving Truth one must
read, ponder, meditate, prayerfully consider, open the heart, beg in
compunction, repent, convert, contemplate, gaze at, appreciate the connections and take in the
whole of who Christ is and what He has done for us. In the midst of this effort, He discloses his
living presence in an undeniable way. This
encounter, this event in one’s life, this eternal event which has invaded our
history is transformative. It is to be
made vulnerable by the One who was vulnerable unto death. It is to be pierced to the heart by the One
who was pierced for us. When one knows
how much he is loved by the Truth a love of the truth explodes in the
heart. Life is never the same
again. Then and only then does one know
anything the ancient Christians believed was theology. Then and only then has one contemplated like
the Christians who came before us.
You have outdone yourself. Thanks for this. You're very clear. As clear as can be, at least. This entry makes me wish I could communicate this to all those scientific atheists out there that I know! I mean, it's a great expression of what I'd like to communicate. And more, of course.