A periodical I regularly read has been asking fairly famous
religious people to comment on a book they read in their younger years that
were so formative. They call this piece
“Take and Read.” Maybe it is because I
am getting older, but I have found this fascinating for a couple reasons. I am fascinated by the people the periodical
has asked to share their story. And of
course, I am interested in the book the person chooses. In a recent issue I was pleased to see the
name of Gregory Baum and that his book of choice was Augustine’s Confessions.
I have never met Gregory Baum, but I have known about him
since the 1970s. I knew he was Canadian
and taught in some universities in Toronto.
He has written extensively on the church in the world. He has paid particular attention to social
issues. He has been involved in the
ecumenical movement to which I was introduced in the late 60s. I was a little surprised to see his name,
since I assumed he probably had died.
Clearly, he lived a long and productive life.
I was pleased to see that his book choice was the Confessions by the late fourth and early
fifth century churchman and theologian.
Augustine became a saint, but to me he was just an extraordinarily
gifted person of God. He was a sinner
like all of us. He became an ardent
searcher after truth. And his spiritual
autobiography, which is how I characterize the Confessions, he became a model for people who are led to keep
spiritual journals.
What I want to lift out of the comments from Baum’s
reflection that the most important learning he took from Augustine is the
saint’s teaching that all good things come as a result of divine initiative. Without trying to develop a critique around
this theological notion, I prefer to quote some of Baum’s words to see where it
took him. We can learn by going with
him. Baum’s starting point is his own
interests in a theology that is “socially concerned and action-oriented.”
He then begins his comments.
“Social
engagement is not deprived of the mystical dimension that is part of the
Christian life.” By saying this Baum is
using his starting point---social engagement---and linking that to Augustine’s
core idea---the mystical dimension of life with God. He takes it further. “According to the ancient teaching,
especially of St. Augustine, the good we do is God’s free gift to us. In this Christian perspective, action equals
passion.”
This
is the piece that intrigues me. I am not
sure most Christians think the good we do is God’s free gift to us. Normal people probably think they generate
their own goodness. And perhaps too many
of us don’t reflect on the fact that God gives us free gifts. I have often felt like my God was too
stingy! What I needed to do was learn
more about who God really is. And when I
have met the real God, I then needed better images to reflect the reality of
God as a generous Giver. Augustine
helped me do it, too.
I
appreciated the direction Baum was going.
He acknowledged, “While
we see, we are being enlightened; while we act, we are being carried forward;
while we love, we are being saved from selfishness; and while we embrace all
people in solidarity, we are being freed inwardly to cross one boundary after
another.” This is a major, bold
statement of God’s free gift impacting my doing good things in the world. I suggest we take note of each of the
subsections in that quotation. While we
see, we are being enlightened. The
others sections follow suit: while we act; while we love; while we
embrace. All of these cause something in
us, which free us and enable us to become amazing people. That is exactly what happened to Saint
Augustine and to Gregory Baum.
And
now we listen to Baum finish his thoughts.
He recognizes, “Every
step towards greater humanization is due to the expansion of a new and
gratuitous life in us. We are alive by a power that transcends us.” What an amazing idea it is that a new and
gratuitous life expands in us. I quickly
think about my heart growing bigger and bigger!
I think about spiritual people as folks with big hearts---big hearts
capable of deep love and compassion.
Finally,
Baum shouts that we are alive with a power.
We live, move and have our being in a power bigger than we are. This power transcends us. It enlivens, encourages and sends us in the
world to heal, bring justice and imitate the life and actions of Jesus. This is
none other than God.
Empowered
by God we are compelled to act and to act with passion that won’t say no and
won’t let go.
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