NOTE: The preface to these next four reflections can be found in the second half of a post from December 13, 2020 titled “The Imperative of Reverence in Sacrilegious Times” which can be found ♦HERE.

NOTE TO SELF: When you are preaching, remember who is sitting in the front pew: you. ~ Dan Miller

We must recover the sense of the majesty of creation, and the ability to be worshipful in its presence. For I do not doubt that it is only on the condition of humility and reverence before the world that our species will be able to remain in it. ~ Wendell Berry

“Reverence is the highest honor or form of praise extended to another human being without being worship,” said Brother Weeps.

“We are living in a time when there is a scarcity of reverence. As a collective, as the communion of saints who are partners with God, citizens of the world who belong to one another, we can revive reverence. In fact, we must. It is our duty, responsibility, and privilege to do so by virtue of our humanity, our common divine origin, and our shared fate. Wherever there is an absence of reverence, there is destruction of well-being and eventually, unless turned around, the extinguishing of life.”

“How do we revive reverence?” a woman asked.

“Well, first, at the risk of stating the obvious,” said Brother Weeps, “by living lives that are worthy of being revered.

When this takes place, reverence is offered not as a payment in a transactional exchange, but rather as the natural and fitting response evoked by incarnated qualities such as humility, kindness, integrity, dignity, nobility under pressure, a sense of humor, sacrifice for the greater good, and the refusal to look away or keep silent in the face of exploitation, violation, and injustice.

Second, and from the other direction, we revive reverence by retrieving a cornerstone of our faith, namely, the conviction that each and every person is a sacred image — whether they know it or not — and treating them accordingly. Every person is a bearer of inherent dignity — whether they act dignified or not. As people of faith we believe that dignity is infused by the divine in every person with no exceptions. So, theoretically, for those who believe that not only they live and move and have their being in the Holy One but everything else that exists does as well, reverence is due to each and all people, to each and every aspect of reality.

Third, reverence is revived by listening more and talking less. This builds on the previous point. By listening I mean generous listening, to use Rachel Naomi Remen’s evocative term, or listening with the ear of your heart as St. Benedict encouraged. This kind of listening asks us to be deliberately susceptible to a new insight or surprise or hidden truth revealed and a radical openness and willingness to be changed. So, while reverence is an inherent capacity in us, it does not always come naturally, let alone feel desirable or possible in all situations.”

“You mean because reverence involves the risk of being changed?” someone asked.

“Yes. I think it does, because reverence is relational and not just standing at a distance and safely staring at something beautiful or at someone we love,” said Brother Weeps. He continued.

“Fourth – is that where we are? Fourth, yeah? Ok. Fourth, when we talk less and listen more, we tend to see more as well. Funny how that works. When we listen deeply, we tend also to notice more, and when we notice more our looking becomes the beginning of beholding. There’s a great Advent/Christmas word for you. When we behold something, like the shepherds beholding the star, or Mary, Joseph, the magi and others beholding the Christ-child in the manger, we grow in our appreciation for what or whom we see. It usually involves awe as we are confronted not only by the mystery of other humans and other-than human life forms, but by the sacred mystery of our own existence from where our capacity and desire to behold come.”

“Doesn’t reverence have to do with those people or things that are great or greater than us?” asked a young man sitting to Brother’s immediate left.

“The short answer is Yes and Yes,” said Brother Weeps. “The long answer is that, in reality, there are many forms or expressions of reverence. Reverence is most naturally associated with and most appropriately expressed when we stand before something — a great piece of art, say Michelangelo’s Pieta, which is exquisite, powerful, and deeply moving. So it evokes reverence for the Renaissance artist.

Or the Grand Tetons on a bright, crisp, cold winter morning that evoke silence or an ooh or an aah with conscious appreciation of the Author of Beauty.

Or when we are thinking about, or maybe listening to or in the presence of someone like the Dalai Lama, Pope Francis, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Thich Nhat Hanh. Maybe your grandmother. These are people who have lived exemplary lives, often suffered greatly and not only survived but thrived, exhibiting a genuine nobility, benefiting others, and, as a result, are deemed worthy of being revered.”

to be continued . . .

Goodpeople, please consider passing on THE ALMOND TREE to others, then do so. I appreciate it. ~ Dan

INTERESTED IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION ONLINE? I offer spiritual direction online. If you, or someone you know, are interested in beginning or returning to spiritual direction CLICK HERE where you will find both practical information and explanations of spiritual direction. Any questions, feel free to contact me by going to CONTACT on the Menu bar above. Grace upon grace be yours.