My sister sent me a Youtube video which reminded me of the work and writings of John Duns Scotus. I like to remind myself that all theology is theory and that no one really knows what is going on. But, first as a person and then later a person being formed in the Franciscan tradition the idea of a sin centered universe was counter intuitive to me. I have many reasons for saying that, but most of all my own experience dictates that God is love and that love surrounds me and us at all times and does not have to be earned.
Franciscan Spirituality sees the Incarnation as the guarantee of union with God. It is not something to be hoped for or to be looked forward to – it is something, which is happening NOW. God is Love and that Love is our redemption and redemption is not primarily being saved from sin, but is rather the gift of the possibility of openness to the experience of the divine Other in our life. How can it be otherwise when we posit the notion of the divine and human in Jesus? Scotus’s doctrine of the absolute centrality of Love is both timely and profoundly needed by our world. Men and women cry out for an experience of hope in a world which has lost direction – in the teaching of Duns Scotus, Franciscan Spirituality has within its hand that hope-filled experience and the end of that longing. For if God willed the Incarnation from all eternity, then it was always his intention to become part of sinful creation – sin determines the manner of that becoming, but it does not determine the fact that it was going to be….Br. Seamus Mulholland
One of my teachers liked to say, “The incarnation was not ‘plan B.'”
God’s behavior is not determined by sin, but by love.
Great stuff. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you for that quote. It definately resonates with me.
Mystic is what we all are. Personally it is the only thing I choose to do. Sin is only that which would distract us from God and as such alludes to God. The focus on that which, alludes, as opposed to that which is alluded to, is a corrupting influence. God does not expect us to rely on the experience of some other person that we might now God. God would and does know us each personally. No sin can harm that. Compassion eliminates all harm, we simply nave to choose it, accept its grace, and know God.
Truth is its own measure and certainly God is truth. If there is truth in my comment it is this; it is my opinion.