Monks' Corner for July
Diocesan Press Service. May 28, 1975 [75205]
the Rt. Rev. Robert E. Campbell, OHC
Article No. 1
The Hidden God
Well does the prophet Isaiah cry, "Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself. " In those far off days men searched and wondered where their God was hiding, why He was so silent. Was there no word of explanation, no word of comfort to the chosen people in exile in a strange land? Why doesn't the Lord Jehovah do or say something to help men in their discouragement and their misery ?
But apparently the Israelites did not appreciate God's way of dealing with their troubles. Even as it is with us today, nothing is more disconcerting than a manifestation of God. For, God is God only if He disappoints us, disconcerts us. In a word, we cannot inform the Almighty when or what He should do or say, or set the time for Him who inhabits eternity.
We Christians have the advantage over those captives in Babylon, for our Blessed Lord has spoken and opened the doors of heaven to give us a glimpse of what lies hidden from ordinary experience, to hear a message that surprises us. Perhaps this is expressed best in the acclaim we make right after the consecration in the eucharist, "Let us proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. " Which signifies of course what we know does come as instruction and enlightenment: when we see the Blessed Lord, when we hear His voice, we see and hear the Almighty Father.
Only too often, as with the Jews of old, God is misunderstood. Even the Apostles thought that our Lord would bring in an earthly kingdom, as is so evident from the Gospel accounts. We read in the first chapter of Acts that even after the resurrection they inquired, "Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" On the resurrection morning, Mary Magdalene thought our Lord must be the gardener. Those two on the way to Emmaus that same night failed to recognize Him as they walked along the road and talked. And, not least important is our Lord's own reassurance to the eleven when they were assembled in the upper room. They seemed to think that He was a ghost, but His word calmed them: "Peace. Be not afraid. It is I."
Thus God does speak and act. And, this becomes our song of triumph, "Christ has died, Christ has risen. Christ will come again. "
Article No. 2
Who said that?
Something over half a century ago there was a priest in another part of the land who was suspected of making love to a married woman in his parish. It was only a rumor, but when the husband of the lady in question heard it, he promptly loaded his gun, strode to the rectory and shot the rector dead. At the court trial afterward it became abundantly clear that the rumor was quite false.
Gossip can be harmless and a pleasant way to pass the time. Yet, cocktail parties, card parties and even the church coffee hour can be seed beds for gossip, and gossip which only too often is malicious. Ears begin to tingle when someone begins, "Did you hear about Aunt Polly last week? It was perfectly awful," and so on indefinitely. And, Aunt Polly was not there to defend herself.
This makes us recall words found in the Epistle of St. James, chapter three. It is about the tongue being such an unruly member. With the tongue we bless God, and in almost the same breath belittle our neighbor. That last of course refers to an undisciplined tongue. This makes it necessary for us to watch our speech. Charity does require us to watch our words as well as our thoughts and deeds. How many men in high office in both church and state have had their lives ruined by the repetition of baseless rumors and suspicion? President Lincoln in Civil War years is just one case, and there are many other sad happenings of the same sort.
The old saying recorded by the Roman poet Virgil is as true today as when he wrote nearly two millenia ago. Freely translated, he says that gossip and slander grow as they spread. Doubtless we all have had knowledge of some simple, relatively harmless remark blossoming out into full-blown scandal. Let us hope that this has not happened to any of us personally. Something starts like, "Tom lost his money, " and might end with Tom being in jail after a brawl in a road house, in which he dropped his wallet. The sad thing is that only too many of us want to hear and believe the scandal. We think that if a person is unpopular, there must be some good reason for it. So, here we have a bit of proof of our suspicion.
A good start will be to observe more silence; Quaker silence, Trappist silence if you will. Silence to discipline that itch to talk; silence in which to calm ourselves and abide in the loving companionship of our Lord. If we simply must talk, do that to Almighty God.