Glancing at a bookshelf the other day, a particular title seemed to stand out among all the others. It was a book by the well-known German philosophy professor, and prolific Christian author, Dietrich von Hildebrand. It was entitled: Transformation in Christ. The main title alone should be enough to garner anyone’s attention, but the subtitle of the text is even more interesting. It reads: Your Path to Salvation.
Even a quick look at the chapter titles will demonstrate that Hildebrand chose the word Transformation quite intentionally. The first four chapters are titled:
1. The Readiness to Change
2. Contrition
3. Self-Knowledge
4. True Consciousness
It seems clear Hildebrand understood that in order for there to be a transformation in a person’s life, there would first have to be a recognition and a commitment to allowing the transformation to happen.
He might well have set these chapters in a different order and perhaps even modified their titles this way.
1. (Consciousness) Realizing we are not yet perfect
2. (Self-Knowledge) Discovering what keeps us from being perfect
3. (Contrition) Developing a desire to change
4. (The Readiness to Change) Committing to do what needs to be done to change
A quick look at the rest of the book, which can easily be found online, will make clear that Hildebrand’s main idea seems to be drawn directly from the pages of the Gospel of Matthew – specifically Matthew Chapter 5:
And seeing the multitudes, He (Jesus) went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him: And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Some of the later chapters in the book offer titles like:
1. Striving for Perfection
2. Holy Patience
3. Holy Meekness
4. Holy Mercy
5. Holy Sorrow
6. True Surrender of Self (This is the last chapter in the book)
Hildebrand is making the point throughout this book that the Christian experience is not some static situation. To be a Christian means to make a commitment, it requires us to seek to engage in a process of change and to allow ourselves to be eternally transformed by the circumstances of this temporal and temporary life. The progress of this transformation is perhaps never so significant as when we may be facing a difficult transition in our life, a change in our current situation or circumstances, the departure of someone close to us, or maybe even finding ourselves dealing with a genuine trial.
If we had to ask ourselves, and then had to answer our own question, just how much do we believe we have been transformed in the past year? How much have we allowed the circumstances of our life to draw us closer to the Lord? Has our relationship with the Lord or with our loved ones changed in any significant way over the past many months? Have we acquired a greater degree of those Beatitudes of Patience, Meekness, Mercy? Have we come to the place of total surrender of ourselves to God? We would know it if we had, because the place of total surrender to the Lord is also the place of True Freedom.
So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)
‘True Freedom’ is another one of the chapters in Hildebrand’s book. To provide a brief summary of this chapter, and of this entire reflection, here is the first major heading in Hildebrand’s chapter on True Freedom. “True freedom is a consequence of our transformation in Christ.” The message is simple: we will not be free until we have been Transformed - completely. This is not the result of a few months or even a few years of work; it is literally the work of a lifetime.
There are two other chapters in this work by Dietrich von Hildebrand that are particularly worth noting. Though honestly, the entire book is a masterpiece in spiritual insight and wisdom.
However, Hildebrand has a chapter on prayer, both on Recollection and Contemplation. It is one of the longest chapters in the book. And in it, he provides a detailed explanation about how we can prepare ourselves and practice these methods. But what is most significant is Hildebrand’s argument that all of the spiritual journey must be nourished by prayer, or it simply will not progress.
Finally, the book includes a very powerful chapter entitled: ‘Confidence in God’ Here the author takes the time to remind us of three things that characterize God’s relationship with us. First, God is all knowing; nothing escapes His notice.
Second, He is all powerful; there is nothing beyond God’s ability to influence
And finally, He is all loving. God truly wants to best for each and every one of us, for all eternity, and not just for short segments of time within this world.
This entire chapter on Confidence in God can essentially be summed up this way: God knows what is required to transform each one of us. He has the ability to do what is required. And He loves us so much, that if we only ask Him, He will do the work of transforming us and bringing us into True Freedom. But we must grant God the freedom to do the work, because He will not do it unless we ask Him to, and unless we make clear, in prayer, that we really want Him to accomplish this work within us. We all need healing in our spirit, but if we do not make ourselves available for the great physician to do the work, He will not force this process on us.
Copyright © 2024, Deacon Mark Danis
Image credit:"Палестина. Нагорная проповедь (Palestine. Sermon on the Mount)," Vasily Polenov, Public domain, via WikiArt