Eckhart: the greatest sufferer

Saturday, November 7, 2009
    Feast of Willibrord of York, Archbishop of Utrecht, Apostle of Frisia, 739
Meditation:
    Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.
    —Hebrews 2:14-16 (NIV)
Quotation:
    There never was a pain that befell a man, no frustration or discouragement, however insignificant, that, transferred to God, did not affect God endlessly more than man, and was not infinitely more contrary to Him. So, if God puts up with it for the sake of some good He foresees for you, and if you are willing to suffer what God suffers, and to take what comes to you through Him, then whatever it is, it becomes divine in itself; shame becomes honor, bitterness becomes sweet, and gross darkness, clear light. Everything takes its flavor from God and becomes divine; everything that happens [reveals] God when a man’s mind works that way; things all have this one taste; and therefore God is the same to this man alike in life’s bitterest moments and sweetest pleasures.
    ... Meister Eckhart (1260?-1327?), Works of Meister Eckhart, Watkins, 1952; reprint, Kessinger Publishing, 1997, p. 17 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You know our suffering.CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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