A bit of encouragement to see it through...

Last Sunday, the liturgy offered this text from Genesis which we usually call “Abraham’s sacrifice” and which our Jewish brothers prefer to think of as “The tying of Isaac.” Those among you who have followed our retreats in Fontanilles on the Patriarchs run by Father Roger Robert will already have heard the poignant lecture which he gave and experienced the in-depth “divine rehabilitation” it offered to  many hearts.

Today, we are offering one of his commentaries. We feel that it fits with the nagging, muted question that’s seeping into the weariness of the times we are living through this situation politely called a “health crisis” or “pandemic” which has settled in, and lingered like a thick cloud of fog, clogging our horizon and holding all of our “tomorrows” hostage.

We have not welcomed anyone on retreat since the end of October! There is not a day that goes by where we don’t hear of the “passing” of a retreat attendee, a loved one. When Delphine shared with us that Covid had taken one of her 18-year-old students and Claire learnt that a 35-year-old friend had been taken off a ventilator, it sent shivers down our spines that this wave of the pandemic spares no one.

But we are together. Your donations, your support, and the temporary suspension of our repayments to the bank have allowed us to continue and remain at the heart of the Cave. Fighting to stay within this intense trust is our role in the struggle which is taking place today. Scientists, economists, politicians and others are fighting, everyone has their part to play, but of all the things offered at the heart of the storm, this abandon, this peace in hearts, this trust for finding spaces for the soul, are just as essential to living beings as air and water.

To offer mutual encouragement during these times, together with you all we would like to hear Roger say to us, “Little Isaac is the one who feels loved unconditionally. What is a son? What is a daughter? They are not simply someone you have given life to, they are the people who reflect a whole-hearted trust on their face. Jesus would say, “If you do not become like little children once more, you will not be able to see what you call the Kingdom of God.”

Thank you, each one of you, for your support in every way you show it. Courage, spring is coming...
 

Danièle Valès

French to English translation by Debbie Garrick and Cécile Simon

The tying of Isaac: the whole-hearted trust between Abraham and Isaac, comes from heaven

I’m going to talk about this wonderful great text which, nonetheless, has done so much harm. (Genesis 22, 1-18)

I remember when I was young, having taken spirituality classes where we spoke of a God who could ask us to sacrifice things we held dear. “Look at Abraham, he took his beloved son, and set off to sacrifice him, so it could happen to you too, if God asks for what you hold most dear, give it to him without hesitation!” So I found this text from Genesis more or less normal, “because it was God who said it.” But actually, we are constantly asking ourselves: “Am I giving enough? Am I being greedy? Am I giving my time?” It’s as if our relationship with God reveals our guilt: we blame ourselves for not having done enough, for not having done more. So, this Old Testament text has caused harm, because it places God as if he were an enemy to our happiness. [Read more...]