It's for Everyone

Karl Rahner sj (1904-1984)

Most would associate being a mystic with Teresa of Avila or John of the Cross, or one of the other great saints of the church but not with ordinary citizens; not with the likes of you or me.  Karl Rahner, one of the great theologians of the last century disagreed.  He was not confined by such normal human constructs, plainly prophesying about us - "the Christian of the future will be a mystic or will not be a Christian anymore."  

As far as I can estimate, Rahner made this statement in the 1960s.  It is such an apt challenge for the time of a pandemic that I ask myself what made him say this?  It now reads as a perfect prophecy for Christians today, caught in unending lockdowns.   

Rahner could identify the infinite possibilities of humanity for God is part of who we are.  God is not far away.  The two, the human and divine, are one joined together in life by a God who chooses to be intimately united with his creation.  

We don't have to try and dissect this as God is mystery, being neither defined nor limited by the human.  God is part of the fabric of who we are.  That is the way it is.  So we are called to intimate union with God.  This union is open to everyone of us, deepening our humanity, sustaining it and giving it ever greater purpose.

But do we even know this precious opportunity exists for each and every one of us?  How sad, if as Christians regularly practising Church ritual, we never experience God as our intimate lover.  Christianity is not defined by institutions.  It is here to enable us to live our faith, to know and love God as one so intimately part of who we are.  We are limited by our human condition but our human potential is limitless due to the divine with us.  

The great insight of Rahner for us is that God calls us to join the essential human quest for an experience of the sacred here and now.  This fulfils our human longing.      .