"Repentance is no more than a passionate intention to know all things after the mode of heaven."
- Charles Williams, He Came Down From Heaven, p. 60
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The Man of Sapphire Blue. A vision of the Trinity given to Hildegarde of Bingen
The Man of Sapphire Blue. A vision of the Trinity given to Hildegarde of Bingen
About Me
- Matt Gunter
- I grew up on a farm in northern Indiana, taught high school in a city school in California, and am now an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Chicago. Mysterious ways indeed.
Whence the title?
Justin Martyr, the 2nd century theologian, wrote this in his defense of the Christian Church:
I like the whole passage and its vision of the Church. But, I am particularly fond of the expression of Christian faith and hope as "entering into the expectation". Thus, in 1 Peter 3:15, Christians are encouraged to "always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the expectation that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence." One way or another, that is what I want to do.
Enter into the expectation.
We who ourselves used to have pleasure in impure things now cling to chastity alone. We who dabbled in arts of magic now consecrate ourselves to the good and unbegotten God. We who formerly treasured money and possessions more than anything else now hand everything over to the treasury for all, and share it with everyone who needs. We who formerly cheated and murdered one another and did not even share our home with those who were different or from a different tribe, because of their customs, now, after Christ's appearance, live together and share the same table. Now we pray for our enemies and try to win who hate us unjustly so that they too may live in accordance with Christ's wonderful teachings, that they too might enter into the expectation.
I like the whole passage and its vision of the Church. But, I am particularly fond of the expression of Christian faith and hope as "entering into the expectation". Thus, in 1 Peter 3:15, Christians are encouraged to "always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the expectation that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence." One way or another, that is what I want to do.
Enter into the expectation.
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2 comments:
Lovely! Thank you, Father. I'm a big Charles Williams fan. Descent into Hell has greatly influenced my spiritual life.
I've not read Descent into Hell. I've read some of his other novels, but not that one. I prefer his essays, actually. Descent of the Dove is on my list of books that have most influenced me. His shorter essays on the Cross on the Way of Exchange and on the Way of Affirmation are also quite good.
It was reading Williams that inspired me to read the Divine Comedy. And his commentary on Dante, The Figure of Beatrice, is also a gem.
There are ways in which I prefer Williams to Lewis.
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