Contemplation
The word contemplation brings up all sorts of thoughts and prejudices. As I write this reflection, we are getting ready for a six-day silent retreat titled “Following the Footprints of Contemplative Prayer”.
While the topic of contemplation has been the subject of many books, there is not universal agreement on what it means, with perhaps one exception. Contemplation occurs when there is an experience of the divine, or if you like, a palpable encounter with God. Again, even this definition may have others refine or define it differently.
Having spent a great deal of time “in” this subject from an academic, theological, and spiritual perspective over many years, I see several steps which lead up to a potential contemplative encounter or “state”.
When we experience contemplation we will have an encounter with something ineffable. Difficult to explain or describe, but something that is only in the knowing, in the experience itself. These often manifest themselves in an experience of being peace-filled or an experience of love. The more untethered that experience is, the more powerful it becomes. This reservoir of peace or love is something which sustains us in the world and is provided by the communication of love and peace. This is done through grace. We can think of grace as the means to bring us to a contemplative place, a place of loving, of peace. Grace is God’s love communicated directly.
This can be triggered by many means, prayer, in its contemplative forms, being one means that many use to invite the divine which resides within us all, to dwell most wonderfully so we may experience God directly.
To move towards this contemplative state we first need to be aware and notice what is going on around us. We are in the present. In the Now. As we do so we inevitably begin to reflect on what we are noticing, of what we are aware.
Once we are deep in reflection, the second state in the process, we can then move into contemplation. This could be triggered by prayer in a variety of forms, and frequently is facilitated by the process of discernment, where we have an open heart and mind and a willingness to involve God in whatever is on our heart. However, contemplative prayer does not require us to be asking something from God, rather is only requires us to “rest in God” as many Saints, mystics and spiritual leaders have proposed over the centuries.
Contemplation and the various routes to seeking and experiencing it have been a key element of our relationship with God in many traditions. The Christian Mystical Tradition has many paths that are well worth exploring for those looking to deepen their relationship with God.
You might argue that anyone who has experienced that feeling of inner peace, of love from within, of love from others has had a contemplative experience. An encounter with God. So even those who may not be following a particular faith path still get to feel and experience God’s love in this way.
For many, the contemplative way is the only path to true inner peace. Most of us are still finding our way.
Photograph and Reflection Copyright 2024 Michael J. Cunningham OFS