Posted by april on September 10, 1999 at 19:09:08:
In Reply to: Magnificent Magnificats - True Glory (an Ortho-doxology) posted by johnboy on September 10, 1999 at 10:29:38:
:
: "there is a *passivity* in *passion*" is Henri Nouwen's final lesson to us in his book __Adam__
: Nouwen points out how Jesus was passive in His passion and this caused me to reflect on the other major Mysteries of the Gospels and Acts and how they are stories of what the Father accomplished in those whose wills were surrendered via fiat: it is not a matter of what Mary or Jesus did for God but is a story of what the Father allowed the Spirit to accomplish for those who said: let it be
Johnboy,
I read your poem about Nouwen's book.
I am having a problem with seeing passivity
as a virtue. Perhaps, I am thinking of a
different kind of passivity. When I think
of passivity, I think of the woman who stays
in an abusive marriage because "it is God's Will"
or the woman who wants to be a priest but is
refused because "it is God's Will."
I don't think this is what you are saying......
But how do we know what to let be?
Am I totally off the track here? I haven't read
Nouwen's book so I don't know exactly where you
are coming from.
Thanks.
:)
april