“This friendly conversation will not be much thinking but much loving, not many words but rather a relaxed conversation with moments of silence as there must be between friends.” (Saint Terese of Avila).
When I was expecting my first baby, the doctor who was to deliver the baby asked me to complete some paperwork prior to the birth. When he handed me the paperwork, he made a comment and that comment has remained with me ever since… He said, the paperwork is only for the lawyers. And I really hate lawyers.
I remember thinking at the time that this doctor must have had a bad experience with a lawyer to make such a sweeping statement, because both then – and now – I know some very lovely lawyers who are wonderful people and do a lot of good both in their personal lives and in their professional lives as well…
But that doctor was not the only person who expressed dissatisfaction with lawyers – Christ did at one point too…
Now, before I go any further, let me be clear – that previous statement was provocative to get attention. You see, Christ was not dissatisfied with lawyers who do the work of lawyers – he was dissatisfied with the Law-Makers (like the Pharisees) who were very quick to CREATE laws and very slow to actually FOLLOW them…
“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” (Luke 11:47-54).
Those lawyers who Christ was referring to were not to be confused with modern-day solicitors and barristers, He was referring to those who were responsible for teaching the “Law of Moses”.
They were not holy men. They were men who wished to project holiness by creating a standard that was so difficult to follow that everyone was destined to fall short. And THAT was the issue that Christ had with those men…
Saint Teresa of Avila was a Medieval Spanish nun. She lived in her Monastery for more than twenty years, and during that time her life was not very holy. She appeared to be praying, but in reality she had no deep and intimate connection with God. One day – quite by chance, Saint Teresa saw a painting of Christ being scourged and immediately experienced a conversion of faith and a profound regret for her previously frivolous life.
She began to pray to God with great intimacy and in doing so, she wrote her prayers – or dialogues down. Those “Dialogues” are still considered great treasures of the Church today… “For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.” And “This friendly conversation will not be much thinking but much loving, not many words but rather a relaxed conversation with moments of silence as there must be between friends.” (Saint Terese of Avila).
And there is nothing “lawyer-like” in that!
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.