Hungry for holiness

Put on the whole armor of God

The waters closed in over me; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped around my head at the roots of the mountains.I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the Pit,O Lord my God.As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. (From Jonah 2, in today’s Morning Prayer)

The Rise of the Monastic Church Movement: “As cities become more chaotic and culture grows increasingly disoriented, we will see the rise of a new kind of monasticism — not retreating to the desert but reclaiming spiritual rhythm within the heart of the city.” This urban monastic movement will emphasize simplicity, spiritual disciplines, intentional community, and mission to the margins. Young leaders — burned out on hype, hungry for holiness — will create “rule of life” communities rooted in prayer, hospitality, fasting, and service. “They will not escape from society but seek to redeem it through rhythms of daily obedience.” (From The Blogs: 2026 Synopsis: The State of Religion in America | Steven Windmueller | The Times of Israel)

The longing of a segment of the church for holiness has always been part of the story. The church is a mixed bag of humanity that ranges from the most faithful and proficient to the uncertain and immature. (See Shape of the Parish) The apostolic and progressing may have a somewhat firmer sense of direction while still in need of Charles Williams insight, “The Church (it was early decided) was not an organization of sinless men but of sinful, not a union of adepts but of less than neophytes, not illuminati but of those that sat in darkness. Nevertheless, it carried within it an energy not its own, and it knew what it believed about that energy.” (In He Came Down from Heaven)

The report on American religion offered a summary —

“Stable volatility” may best define the American religious landscape. While the long-term decline in traditional religious affiliation has slowed, the ways Americans engage with faith are shifting toward personalization, mental health, and political identity.

There’s no surprise there either. The majority of people in any parish church are, at least in part, using their religion to serve some other purpose. In fact, it may be more accurate to say that we all do it to some degree. We’ve all seen people select passages of scripture to serve their political ideology. (See earlier article such as “People are picking their religion based on their politics” and “The American Church Conflict”). It’s a way of confirming our moral virtue.

Of course, the faith tradition sees it differently. Martin Thornton wrote, “We do not embrace religion primarily to improve our morals, but rather undertake the moral struggle in order to improve our Prayer. However interdependent the two may become, the end of man is not purity of heart but the vision of God. The best way to attain the former is by aiming purposefully at the latter.” Aim at holiness and allow that journey to shape all of life, including your politics.

Moral action only flows from doctrinal truth by grace and faith, that is through prayer. Martin Thornton

This abides,

Brother Robert, OA

The Twelfth Day of Christmas