Brother Tony Leon's reflections during the Spirituality Day entitled 'Living with Today's Paradoxes' emphasize the profound and transformative aspects of embracing paradoxes in spiritual life. Here's a summary of the key points and quotes from the provided resource:
1. The Nature of Wisdom and Paradox: - Brother Tony discusses the deep intelligence and multifaceted nature of wisdom, highlighting its role in permeating all aspects of life. Wisdom, described as an 'untarnished mirror of God's active power,' facilitates a deeper understanding and acceptance of paradoxes, which are intrinsic to life and spirituality.
- **Quote**: 'All that is hidden, all that is plain, I have come to know, instructed by Wisdom…. She is the untarnished mirror of God’s active power.… She makes all things new' (Wisdom 7:21–24, 26, 27).
2. The Role of Paradox in Spiritual Growth: - Brother Tony emphasizes that true spiritual growth requires an engagement with paradox. This involves moving beyond dualistic thinking to embrace the complexities and contradictions inherent in spiritual truths.
- **Quote**: 'Each of us must learn to live with paradox, or we cannot live peacefully or happily even a single day of our lives.'
### Reflections on Life's Paradoxes 3. The Paschal Mystery and Life’s Contradictions: - He connects the concept of the 'paschal mystery,' as described by St. Augustine, to the everyday experiences of contradictions and the mixture of good and bad in all things.
- **Quote**: 'Reality is paradoxical. If we’re honest, everything is a clash of contradictions, and there is nothing on this created earth that is not a mixture at the same time of good and bad, helpful and unhelpful, endearing and maddening, living and dying.'
4. Paradoxical Nature of Christ and Christian Teachings: - The teachings about Jesus Christ encapsulate major paradoxes—His being human and divine, killed yet alive—which challenge and enrich Christian understanding.
- **Quote**: 'Jesus reveals the great cosmic mystery and calls us to see the same truth in ourselves and all of creation.'
Practical Applications and Broader Perspectives
5. Engagement with Opposites and Synodal Approach: - A practical application of embracing paradoxes is seen in the synodal approach to church discussions, where embracing both/and rather than either/or can lead to more inclusive and holistic understanding.
- **Quote**: 'So when we listen to each other during the coming weeks and disagree, I pray we shall often say, ‘Yes, and…..’ Rather than ‘No’!'
6. The Finite and Infinite Mind: - The contrast between finite and infinite mindsets further explores the idea of paradox, presenting a dynamic between embracing the predictable and confronting the new possibilities that life presents.
- **Quote**: 'The Past is the past, and the present will play towards the future which will redefine the past.'
These reflections and quotes from Brother Tony Leon illustrate a deep engagement with the concept of paradox in spirituality, encouraging a more contemplative and inclusive approach to understanding and living out one's faith. These insights can profoundly influence how individuals perceive challenges and integrate seemingly contradictory truths into a cohesive spiritual outlook.
