Thank you for this David - this is rich in so many ways, and I am warmed by knowing you had time in Italy, meeting Agamben, seeing fireflies...
I am very taken with this idea of the ongoing messianic now. A kind of eternity, as I see it. I find myself linking it to my own ponderings on longing. Which once were for a redeemed future of some kind. Then I located the source of my longing in a distant, idealised past. Now I believe it is only ever for the now, for a real experience of connection with the self/other/divine/allness in any given moment, aided and abetted by the practice of fidelity and the hand of grace.
I am so glad you saw the Faerie fireflies, those guides to the Otherworld, where I think you often visit. They symbolize hope, and also perhaps, the distortion of time....our historic, chronological time. Of course the fireflies came as you open Messianic time!
I am reminded of the huge impact ‘The Rebel’ by Albert Camus had on me nearly 20yrs ago and how it resonated with the messianic calling I was experiencing. Later after wading through years of theology and church politics Jack Caputo arrived at Greenbelt and utterly confused us all with the haunting ‘Event …. To come’, and once again the messianic entered my life. I thank the Gods for all those who opened up playful possibility in my past but now I sit quietly with Illich who says so much more as he challenges me to live not speak… to change my whole life. But I am still so happy to be reminded of Albert and Jack… and Derrida.
I'm curious about the messianic thread in Camus' Rebel? Also read it many years ago, so remember more the feeling of it than anything else. Illich's messianism feels wonderfully particular to me, in that it's so rooted in the encounter. In the possible meeting place found in the person before me, whoever they may. I find this very moving.
With The Rebel it was the permission to say call out ‘Repent’, stop turn round, without the need to have the solution. The church is so busy creating theologies and absolutes, right answers, when in Dostoyevsky’s words in the Grand Inquisitor ( which I also read at the time) all we are offered by Christ is freedom. I think this rebellion is what so many are feeling and no one wants another revolution. We just want to say No, Stop, Wait, Listen, don’t plan and scheme and create another program. Wait and greet your neighbour be that animal or vegetable! It was the feeling from Camus, raw and bloody and passionate I love the rebel in his terms gives their life for their call but does take lives as a revolutionary will, very messianic. Have you come across Jack Caputo?
This is very helpful and resonant, and I'm realising that I have not in fact read the Rebel, but the Outsider. Now I want to read the Rebel. I've never read Caputo either
Fireflies rock. And I love how they share the page/screen here with your Messiah reflections, such as “This uneasy connective tissue between the messianic now, the past, and the not yet…”
(Also love how fireflies fly through rain without short-circuiting, hah!)
Thank you for this David - this is rich in so many ways, and I am warmed by knowing you had time in Italy, meeting Agamben, seeing fireflies...
I am very taken with this idea of the ongoing messianic now. A kind of eternity, as I see it. I find myself linking it to my own ponderings on longing. Which once were for a redeemed future of some kind. Then I located the source of my longing in a distant, idealised past. Now I believe it is only ever for the now, for a real experience of connection with the self/other/divine/allness in any given moment, aided and abetted by the practice of fidelity and the hand of grace.
Thank you dear Jez. Blessings 🙏🏻
I am so glad you saw the Faerie fireflies, those guides to the Otherworld, where I think you often visit. They symbolize hope, and also perhaps, the distortion of time....our historic, chronological time. Of course the fireflies came as you open Messianic time!
I was completely transfixed. The way their glow switches on and off with perfect regularity. Gatekeepers to another place.
I am reminded of the huge impact ‘The Rebel’ by Albert Camus had on me nearly 20yrs ago and how it resonated with the messianic calling I was experiencing. Later after wading through years of theology and church politics Jack Caputo arrived at Greenbelt and utterly confused us all with the haunting ‘Event …. To come’, and once again the messianic entered my life. I thank the Gods for all those who opened up playful possibility in my past but now I sit quietly with Illich who says so much more as he challenges me to live not speak… to change my whole life. But I am still so happy to be reminded of Albert and Jack… and Derrida.
I'm curious about the messianic thread in Camus' Rebel? Also read it many years ago, so remember more the feeling of it than anything else. Illich's messianism feels wonderfully particular to me, in that it's so rooted in the encounter. In the possible meeting place found in the person before me, whoever they may. I find this very moving.
With The Rebel it was the permission to say call out ‘Repent’, stop turn round, without the need to have the solution. The church is so busy creating theologies and absolutes, right answers, when in Dostoyevsky’s words in the Grand Inquisitor ( which I also read at the time) all we are offered by Christ is freedom. I think this rebellion is what so many are feeling and no one wants another revolution. We just want to say No, Stop, Wait, Listen, don’t plan and scheme and create another program. Wait and greet your neighbour be that animal or vegetable! It was the feeling from Camus, raw and bloody and passionate I love the rebel in his terms gives their life for their call but does take lives as a revolutionary will, very messianic. Have you come across Jack Caputo?
This is very helpful and resonant, and I'm realising that I have not in fact read the Rebel, but the Outsider. Now I want to read the Rebel. I've never read Caputo either
I first read ‘the Weakness of God’ by Caputo it made me laugh out loud with joy. He is playful and I afraid and appears to be a very nice man!
‘Strait’ gate, surely?
You are quite right, thank you for the nudge.
Fireflies rock. And I love how they share the page/screen here with your Messiah reflections, such as “This uneasy connective tissue between the messianic now, the past, and the not yet…”
(Also love how fireflies fly through rain without short-circuiting, hah!)
I was so completely transfixed and awestruck. The small things make sacred space
Beaming.x
🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻