“Voices From the Edge”

I am in the midst of revisiting Anthony Ciorra’s 1995 book Everyday Mysticism it is one of those books that I have stared at for years at the wonderful monastery I visit, Mount Saviour Monastery in Elmira, NY.  A couple of years back, a friend gave it to me…which was good cause I could never seem to afford it when I was there.  Anyway, it is a good book to revisit periodically.

The other day, while I was trying to make sense of the recent Vatican censure (or correction, depending on where you stand) I picked it up and started perusing.  Within a couple of minutes I fell on this passage and I have lingered there since,

“Sometimes it might be helpful to move from the center and stand on the edge.  God is also to be found in the risk taking, the struggles, and the passions of daily life. In the changing world and church, it is important that at least some people move from the center and live and speak from the edge”

I would like to remind you that he wrote this in 1995 when we were far more vibrant and faith-filled.  But I would challenge that today is the day to do just that.  Today is the day when we “speak from the edge” and we reclaim the mission.  I don’t mean in any “Occupy Vatican” way, I mean in our hearts…where we have control over our choices.  Perhaps in the midst of all the chaos of society, in the midst of all of the cynicism and lackluster commitment to our faith, we can be the example of hope.  We can be the witness of Christ.  We can stand up, at the edge, speak directly with fortitude that there is injustice and that it is throwing our institution off mission and that it is not building up the kingdom but tearing it down.  We can also remain constant in our belief that the Holy Spirit is alive and working and that it will be okay, because that belief in the end is FAITH!  Standing up, speaking, demanding justice, living justly, being HOPE, is all, in the end FAITH. 

Here is a hopeful article….