January 17, 2005

st anthony of eqypt: rugged individualism (individualism is good: post one)

I mentioned a day or two ago that I know own the Northumbria prayerbook. As today is the 17th, I thought I would share a little of what they have in store.

The readings:

Psalm 17:5-7

My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words.

Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.

Isaiah 40:3-5

A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Markk 1:15-18
�The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.�

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea�for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, �Follow me and I will make you fish for people.� And immediately they left their nets and followed him.


Last night at church Jane preached a great sermon, or so I surmise from the conversation that followed. I was distracted by my own thinking about the body of Christ and how much influence an individual can have. I have missed Jane's presence at worship. GOE's etc have kept her away. Her fiedl sites will keep her busy for the next couple of months as well, so she will continue to be in and out. One person makes a huge difference. The individual matters.

Thomas (three posts) has been posting about individualism and the church lately. He is not so thrilled by the movement of some Orthodox and Catholic...and even Emergent "converts" to try and erradicate individualism from our theological vocabulary. I think I get where he is coming from. In a sense these modern conversions are all fruit of our individualism. If one were not individualist, one would have never challenged one's tradition in the first place to move from it. The church has forever and will always be guided by individuals from within the community that give voice to and aid in shaping the community.

St Anthony is a great example. What he did is remembered. He wished to be a hermit...to live alone. He taught others, established monestaries etc...what the one did is remembered by the community. There is a certain both/and in this. Anthony, by being concerned for his own salvation, was lifted up to help shape the salvation of a community. Many still hold him us as an icon to the truth of God's grace, hoping that Anthony's wisdom will guide.

This is the thing about church...we are not a collective like the borg, we are a gathering, a fellowship...heck, a royal priesthood. We are individuals who have been gathered by God to be the Body of Christ. The submission of our individuality (perhaps an impossible thing) is not what is wished for by God. It is not the same as losing one's self to Christ. The former is a denial of our createdness and salvation. The latter is the process of salvation. St Anthony may be an individual who demonstrates this. His singular journey as a member of the Body is still spoken of, prayed for and admired. His singularity is within the tradition, but it is still singularity. Both. And. (Hush, Susie.) It may actually be "un-Christian" to hold either the community or the individual above the other.

It is early and I am only touching the tip of an iceburg...and not well either. Those are some thoughts that came to mind when I read this mornings liturgy in light of some other stuff going on in the blogosphere.

It is by God's grace that our feet don't lose contact with the path we set our to follow. We say "Here I am Lord" when he calls. He calls continually to the willing and the unwilling. It is not so much our ability he has need of, but our availability. - p.315 Celtic Daily Prayer

Posted by tripp at January 17, 2005 06:20 PM