Veni, Veni Immanuel

An author I have been reading lately as part of my Lenten preparations said that the beginning of theology occurs when we take the historical event of Christ’s death on the Cross and instead ask the Christian why? While some may see the holes in this, the point is when we reflect upon why Christ died when He could have avoided the Cross; we begin the discipline and joy of theology. And while this doesn’t quite relate to the purpose of this post per se I wanted purely to say that often we can get lost in the complexities or problems of faith when what we need at most times is to simple come before the Cross and lose ourselves in the mystery of Christ’s passion.

It is with this Spirit that I have thus come to approach Lent. Often the direction of my Lenten study, and importantly the books I want to read and meditate on come well before the season. This year was different, this year I struggled. I had no idea what to read, I had no idea what to study, I had no idea what to base my meditations upon. I even had no idea what to fast from. The traditional fast seemed appealing as a means to overcome this but as I prayed about and considered it, it just did not seem right. The book from which the insight in the first paragraph comes, John Behr’s “The Mystery of Christ” was one I had long meant to read and turned to a week in to Lent out of desperation. From there came readings in the Apostolic Fathers, and now in an effort to truly get myself into the season I am reading the Lent sermons of Andrewes and St. Leo the Great. And while this is great I was reminded last weekend that I have missed the point. I have let my religion and spirituality lose its grounding and allowed it to become complicated. 

What spurred this Epiphany was simply the remembrance in my mind of the great Advent hymn, Veni, Veni Immanuel (A link to one version of the text will be at the ned of the post). The first line, O Come, O Come Immanuel, reminded me what was truly important about Lent, indeed reminded what is most important at all times of the year. What I need, what we all truly need is Christ. At all times, in all places, in all situations I and we need Christ. I didn’t need to read specific books or meditate on certain words, symbols or images. I just needed to allow myself to remember that I need Christ. I NEED CHRIST. Nothing else and most importantly nobody else. Only Christ gives me life, only Christ can guide my paths, only Christ can bring me to the Father, from whom I can adore and find peace, comfort, joy and peace by the Holy Ghost. The simple task, the simple thing I needed to do this Lent was to remind myself to be lost, to allow myself to be reminded that I need Christ, and I need Him continually.

As I have studied theology at College level, I have often found the pursuit of knowledge of God far more appealing whether recognised or not, rather than pursuing to be alone, to be vulnerable, to be stripped bare before Christ. To be humbled before Him, to come completely empty and broken as I am before Him each and every day, acknowledging Him as the fountain of life, of wisdom and of knowledge. And while God has used my study to draw me close to Him, to reveal Himself to me, too often I have felt that I will be most effective to Him if I can become a great theologian, a great Patristics scholar or a great historian. Though of course these aren't bad goals I have too often approached them first instead of turning to God first. I have approached study to find God when I should have realised all I needed to do was allow God to work in me. To stop, take the time each day to genuinely pray, not just to talk but to listen and to be silent in His presence. If it is His will, God will provide absolutely all that I need to be a great theologian, Patristics scholar etc. (I should point out I don't want this for fame, such as there is, not many would have heard of Barth, Moltmann or Rahner, but because I want to know all that I can, about the faith I love and the God I adore), but it will be all for nothing, if I don't put Him first. I must each and every day, during many times today call upon Christ and ask Him to come, to come and redeem this captive.

 

While I am continuing my reading with this renewed focus, I am singing and reciting the hymn daily, to remind myself that all I need, and all I will ever need is Christ. For Christ alone can satisfy my soul, my needs and my wants, and only Christ can lead me into the life that will not only bring out my full potential but allow me to be all that God wants me to be for others. St. Irenaeus says that “Man fully alive is the Glory of God”, that is what I want for my life, and that I can only aspire to achieve if first I allow myself to be taken over by Christ. To be filled by Him and to be completely surrendered to Him. So Come, O Come Immanuel, and renew Thy captive Israel.

May God bless you this Lenten season and may you be reminded that all you, and all that we need is for Christ to come to us, upon us, and in us. I am interested also to hear what others are doing during this Lenten season.

Here's the link for the text of the hymn:  http://www.carols.org.uk/o_come_come_emmanuel.htm

Peace and Blessings,

Brett