Life’s Trauma as Personal Salvation
By
Patrick J. McAteer, S.J.
Introduction
The Easter mysteries of Christ’s death and resurrection gave me pause to reflect on the passing of time and space, and of interiority and eternity. Today’s psycho/spiritual world has revealed similarities in the descriptions of God’s and mankind’s existence. God’s Trinitarian indwelling will always remain the perfect mystery. The same does not hold true for creature man who is mysterious but imperfect, and subject to serious personal wounding. Overwhelmed by accounts of war, violence, starvation, abortion, natural and social disasters, and too often victims and participants in such events, members of society despair of any future recovery.
In our traumatized world with "Many Voices" crying out for healing from interior wounds, dare we suggest that our Trinitarian God is a "Multiple God?" Is the heavenly world of God, angels, and saints, a world of multiples and alters? Are the three persons in the Trinity three alters of the Godhead. Many Christian churches call such states "Indwelling." The secular world of Human Psychology calls such "splitting" of the person "Multiple Personality Disorder," MPD or DID "Dissociative Identity Disorder." The goal of many therapists, their clients approving, is to reintegrate the person. Jesus founded a community of apostles and disciples on earth which became known as his Church. After his death and resurrection he returned to his followers alive and in a glorified condition. He called them to be spiritually integrated with him and all to become one in union with the Father. Jesus seeks unity with his apostles as an ordered return to God, "May they all be one, just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you, so that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me" (John 17:21). Jesus an alter of God suffered great trauma through his human condition. He took up his earthly cross by accepting the Father’s plan to enter life as the Word made Flesh. To experience human life in the world was the way to most completely reintegrate men with God. A similar cross of pain, risking trauma and abuse, awaits the human person born into life.
New Testament
St. John’s Gospel describes God’s pre-creational existence and defines the role of the Word. "In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came into being, not one thing came into being except through him. What has come into being in him was life, life that was the light of men" (John 1:1-4).
When Jesus came to earth, he confirmed the Trinity of Persons and identified them as, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Until then God’s existence is as divine persons who are pure spirits. Only Jesus the God-Man experiences life through a sensual human body! Does this make Jesus an Alter God? Alter is defined as something which has changed slightly but remains essentially the same. For Jesus this "change" is another manifestation of the Divine Word. God does not die or shatter because of evil; He "splits" willingly from his own loving goodness and is another manifestation of his uncreated Self. His creation is another, similar, but lesser, manifestation of himself. He chooses to join his creatures through Mary, Mother of all the Living, and God’s willed maternal alter. Through her the family of alters come together for divine integration. Desolate or consoled, broken or whole, integrated or not, we are still images of God. There is no fracture in him; he cannot be traumatized, but the Man-God can feel pain and its accompanying trauma to death. In terms of alters, all baptized Christians become Alteri Christi, other Christs, and are meant to live out their lives becoming more and more like Christ. Actually, they are meant to live in Jesus as he lives in the Trinity.
Jesus’ Trauma
From living in sinless glory to existing on sinful earth had to be traumatic for Jesus. "The Light came into the world and mankind preferred darkness. He was in the world that had come into being through him, and the world did not recognize him" (John 1:9-10)
Animal sacrifices did not please God: "You wanted no sacrifice or cereal offering, but you gave me a body: "then I said, `Here I am, I am coming to do your will, God’" (Hebrews 10:4-7). The earthly suffering of Jesus gives the painful traumas of life meaning. "And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed. `My Father,' he said, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it'" (Matthew 26:39 ).
Is God a sadistic Father demanding his "pound of flesh" from sinful man through his Son? No. The man who redeems sinful man will suffer at the hands of sinful men. Jesus came to save; the Father allows it as man will have it. Jesus emptied himself of his Godhead: "Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped" (Philippians 2:6-9).
Man’s inhumanity to man is our own doing — even when the man who suffers is God. Life’s abuse has a meaning meant to be discovered. Jesus became man to consciously experience this life and to return all humanity to the Father. As Alter Chtristi we are to become conscious of who we are as we return to God. "Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light" (Matthew 11:28-30). This yoke is the cross of human life. Jesus was nailed to it by life’s trials and traumas at the hands of sinful man. Carried in Jesus the cross is light, and with him we discover who we are.
Pre-creational Existence
We are God’s children whether we follow Jesus as Alteri Christi or as atheists. We have our own pre-creational existence. God does not change, so we must be in his plan from the beginning:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I appointed you as prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). God knows each of us individually and we are consecrated to him in our respective roles in life.
"You created my inmost self, knit me together in my mother's womb. For so many marvels I thank you; a wonder am I, and all your works are wonders. You knew me through and through" (Psalms 139:13). We are all wonders; as creatures we can be injured by life’s abuse, but we are meant to recover our integrity as God’s person. Jesus cannot recover his natural goodness since he has not lost it; his natural goodness is to be divine. His going back, recovery, if one will, is to return to God and bring all mankind with him. God is not, cannot be, lessened or wounded, but his begotten Son of Man can die, so his abuse and human suffering will end with his bodily death. Jesus consoles his apostles as his departure nears, yet he will be with them till the end. "On that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you" (John 14:20).
Healing, integration, indwelling take place in time and space in his Cosmic creation and prepare us for what lies beyond. We are meant to complete this journey consciously by growing in awareness of our own personal identity. In this scenario multiplicity, alters, trauma, integration, indwelling become One in all and all in One.
A Christian Spirituality to Personal Renewal
Retreat Held at Marytown Retreat and Conference Center
1600 West Park Avenue
Libertyville, IL 60048
Weekend, March 26-28, 2010
Phone 847-367-7800 x225 * retreats@marytown.com
Where Jesus and his Holy Spirit is there also will be Mary.
She and her Spouse, the Holy Spirit were evident conforting andconsolint the women and encouraging myself. Her lovingpresence made a holy family of the group in its own little Cenacle
.
Fr. McAteer is in ministry at St. Ignatius parish where he is engaged in spiritual counseling and retreat work. He is most grateful to those who supported this retreat by voluntary work, by financial help, and by prayerful intercession. All were remembered in masses and prayers during the retreat.
The retreat, A Christian Spirituality to Heal from Abuse, took place at Marytown, Libertyville, IL as scheduled on April 26-28, Palm Sunday weekend. Sixteen wonderful and courageous women attended and were delighted and helped by what they received (their sentiments). The atmosphere was cordial and relaxed. In the small groups retreatants were asked to be comfortable with what they shared and ought not be too personal. Most were at ease and shared as the Spirit move them. A broad definition of trauma in our abusive world allowed all to speak in general of their lives. Presentations on the traumatic effects of abuse, their meaning, and the recovery process were complimented with Scripture texts on trauma. This atmosphere, and the ending of the Lenten season, helped participants understand the passion and resurrection of the man Jesus. It also helped them reflect on their own pain. All were concerned and supportive of one another and free to seek out anyone eager for more personal sharing in private. This weekend confirmed
again for me that trauma is/can be a genuine entry into the spiritual life for those willing to explore.
The quiet atmosphere at Marytown is ideal for persons seeking time away to meditate and reflect. The Friars are excellent hosts and their table of fine wholesome food added to the joy of the weekend.
&nbs
He is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia.
This is the day the Lord has made. let us rejoice and be glad!