The day will come when, after mastering the ether (the upper regions beyond the clouds), the winds, the tides and even gravity, we shall finally master the energies of love for God. And then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have made fire his servant. (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)
With this profound observation, the Jesuit Theologian, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, summarizes the true meaning of human existence. At the same time, he also identifies the most significant obstacle to our progress.
Looking back over the last two thousand years, since the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, man has made astounding advances in the fields of science, medicine, architecture and the arts. We have extended the average life expectancy, improved living conditions for millions (though not all) and even explored the outer reaches of space.
Unfortunately, all these achievements have not significantly improved our ability to live peacefully with one another. Indeed, at times, we even find it difficult to live peacefully with ourselves.
Modern society is characterized by the ever-increasing speed of the metronome of activity, and by consequence – anxiety. We experience a continual drumbeat of information, opinion and often misleading or flat-out false information about what matters in life. Thankfully, we can still hear prophetic voices who speak the truth.
In 1983, the famous Russian novelist, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, was awarded the Templeton Prize. This award is given each year. It seeks to recognize significant contributions in the field of religion and how science can contribute to a deeper understanding of man’s relationship with God. Recipients of the Prize come from a broad range of Theological and Cultural persuasions, and each have left a significant impact on faith and religion across the world.
The opening lines of the Solzhenitsyn’s 1983 acceptance speech reflected on the troubled history of the author’s beloved homeland of Russia.
Over half a century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: ‘Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.’
Later, in the same presentation, Solzhenitsyn did not hesitate to criticize those in Western society for their own shortcomings in understanding the true meaning of life.
Unnoticeably, through decades of gradual erosion, the meaning of life in the West ceased to stand for anything more lofty than the pursuit of ‘happiness,’ a goal that has even been solemnly guaranteed by constitutions. (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn)
Many in our society have literally enshrined the pursuit of happiness as one of, if not the primary objective of human existence. We are here to be happy, is the modern perspective, and all of our most significant accomplishments are intended to serve this ultimate end. This view of life has led to tragic outcomes for many. And even more tragically, in pursuit of this objective, many have left God out of the equation.
Too many souls have simply forgotten our Father’s words.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13)
All of our science, our exploration and the improvements to our standard of living mean nothing in and of themselves. They only take on meaning when they are seen in the context of the real reason for our existence.
He (God) said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19: 11-12)
In order to come to the deeper understanding of the meaning of life, we need to allow the winds of change to pass by, we must endure the earthquakes that occasionally disrupt our lives, and we need to allow the raging fires to serve their purpose by consuming everything in us that is not for God.
Then, in sustained, silent prayer, we will hear the still small voice echo the words that are the essence of every answered prayer. If we stand firm in His presence, in prayer; if we listen with our heart, we will hear Master of eternity speaking to our spirit the words – I Love You.
Copyright © 2024, Deacon Mark Danis
Image credit: “Elijah, a prophet and a miracle worker,” Gračanica Monastery, Image by Gmihail at Serbian Wikipedia, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Serbia license