It is interesting that we live in a world, or at least a society, that demands that each person make it on their own. Personal responsibility is the usual label. It is the bane of American society that we refuse to be our brother’s keeper (sister too!). How did we get to this point, where we care only for ourselves?
The seeds were sown hundreds of years ago, I believe when the Reformation so accented the concept of the “priesthood of the believer” that people began to ignore the need for community. I firmly believe that I do not need anyone to represent me before the Sacred. I get that, it had to change so that we would not feel disconnected from the Lover of our souls. However, the temptation to go our own way is often too strong for us and ego can lead us to the conclusion that we do not need anyone but God.
This dear friend is foolish and it is not what is found in scripture. Any reading of the Psalms clearly points to being in harmony with all of creation. Genesis begins with the idea that it is not good that humankind should be alone. The Trinity is a community, it is the first community. But human nature, being what it is, leads us to believe that we don’t need anyone or anything else. That is not the meaning of “God Alone”.
Instead, that phrase points us, yes all of us, to where our loyalty lies, to God Alone. We cannot receive the fullness of God’s grace if we are not living in community with God’s creation. Without the mirror of others, living in a community, we cannot understand ourselves. We cannot see ourselves as we truly are.
And that is the fallacy, that we can somehow get through this world alone. I need you and you need me. We often hate to admit that we need someone but that is the reality. It is not a sign of weakness. It takes great courage to risk letting others into our lives. It takes great courage to ask for help. But, until we can ask for help, we cannot understand the meaning of grace. Until we understand that we need the Other, we cannot know salvation. Oneness is our calling. One with the Creator. One with all of our brothers and sisters that are humankind. One with all of creation. That is the call of the one who loves our soul. Perfect union with God.
TMM