LENT I

Transformation of Humanity by the Elixir of Imagination

The Holy Spirit is not only the prime Mover of Imagination in the Godhead; she employs that faculty exclusively for glorifying the divine Son.  As Son of Man, or ‘Human Being,’ the second Person of the Holy Trinity existed for all eternity before the world began (John 1:1-14).  This is the Mystery hidden from former ages, now revealed to the saints through the Incarnation.

The divine humanity manifested in Jesus of Nazareth is the Spirit’s doing, as a prototype of what humanity is capable of becoming.  Every aspect of Jesus’ persona is imaginally conceived, and likewise has to be imaginally, not literally perceived, including his birth, death, resurrection, and ascension, plus all the sayings attributed to him.

But that is only half of the story; the second half is equally dramatic.  The Holy Spirit’s imaginal conception of the glorified Christ continuing his mission to humanity by passing on his divinely-human beingness to his followers, and through them to the rest of humanity, is equally arresting in scope.  Knowing Jesus in the flesh is one thing; knowing him as the Cosmic Christ in the Spirit, and being united with him in spreading his Gospel throughout the world, has more far-reaching consequences for every Christian.

The goal of the Christian mission is nothing less than the transformation of humanity as a whole, and the formation of a new race of human beings capable of managing human society in justice and peace and for the benefit of all.  The realization of this objective is far from complete, yet from age to age the bounds of Christ’s reign are steadily increasing, with the company of faithful souls who have finished their earthly course, joining those above awaiting the time when, the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and forever.

The terms in which this faith and hope are set forth in Scripture all require the elixir of the Spirit’s imaginal power to interpret and comprehend, and then to communicate to each person’s consciousness, in accordance with their capacity to exercise their own Imagination for the renewal of their mind.

PG
_________________________________________________________________

Visit Christ Church Deer Park  Sundays @ 8 & 10 am  | thereslifehere.org

ASH WEDNESDAY

Transformation through Renewal of the Mind 

This Pauline idea (Romans 12:1-2 ») requires an exercise in Imagination peculiarly suited to Lent, that could have the effect of transforming a normally penitential season into a lively and lovely Springtime awakening.

Imagination – the Cinderella of the senses – often dismissed as beneath consideration in biblical studies, is making a comeback as a ‘princess-in-waiting.’  Unfortunately, the Bible tends to give Imagination a low rating, associating it with negative thoughts, as in the Magnificat: “He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.”  In spite of this, modern usage has reinstated this humble maidservant to her rightful position as Prima donna – first lady!

This transformation actually comes about in the New Testament in Paul’s own Imagination, though he doesn’t use the word itself, e.g.  his prayer for the Ephesian believers (Ephesians 2:16-23 », especially in the phrase: ....the eyes of your heart (being) enlightened... i.e. Imagination).  Even more significant is his association of this function with the agency of ...the spirit of wisdom and revelation... clearly a reference to the divine Spirit, through whom you may know the hidden mysteries of faith.  Sayings like this mark an important transition from regarding Imagination as something suspect, to the primary means via which the Spirit communicates revealed truth to believers.

Recognizing the Holy Spirit as ‘Imagination personified’ is an exciting current discovery that provides an alternative paradigm for reading Scripture, and what better time to learn more about it than Lent?

The following outline of Readings covering the five weeks of Lent, with suggestions as to how this subject might be approached, concentrates attention on how Imagination can transform consciousness of everything we hold most dear in Christian faith.

Lent I    Transformation of Humanity by Elixir of Imagination
Lent II   Imagination of Human Transformation as “Wholeness”
Lent III  Life in the Great Transition
Lent IV  Imagining Christian Hope as “Otherness”
Lent V   Deciphering the “Mystical” Imaginally

PG
_________________________________________________________________

Visit Christ Church Deer Park  Sundays @ 8 & 10 am  | thereslifehere.org