Psalm 37: 1-18; 37:19-42; Amos 9:1-10; Matt. 23:13-26; Rev. 2:8-17
I have always been struck by the pervasive message of transformation throughout the Bible. Again and again Jesus urges his followers to undertake an inner process that leads to a complete reorientation to life. When combined with the paradigm of the spiritual journey, the insights of modern psychology impart new understandings into the complexity of the human condition and offer sophisticated means for reconciling the disparate parts of ourselves to the transforming power of God’s love.
Divine mercy and grace patiently invite us into the awareness of the internal incongruences that contradict our deepest convictions. Perhaps like the Pharisees, we maintain the illusion of self-sufficiency to avoid what this mercy demands from us. Complying only with a set of externally imposed rules and regulations might spare us from a confrontation with the discrepancies within ourselves that belie our Christian identity, but perpetuate a life lived under false pretenses. The central arc of Jesus’ teaching is intended to awaken our perception of an inner reality and convey its inestimable value to us. Willing participation in this transformational process lessens the burden of our unconsciousness on others and actively contributes to the redeeming work of God in the world.
Almighty God, so draw our hearts to you that we may be wholly thine and utterly dedicated to the transformative work of love.
Hadley Morris
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Class of 2019
SEMINARY OF THE SOUTHWEST
Hadley is currently enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health program at the Seminary of the Southwest. Her primary interests include the integration of modern depth psychology with the paradigm of the spiritual journey.
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