In this homily, Father Richard describes the pain we cause ourselves when we choose to live from a sense of separateness:
We go through our lives, our years on this Earth, thinking of ourselves as separate. That sense of separateness basically causes every stupid, sinful, silly thing we ever do. The little, separate self takes offense when people don’t show us proper respect. The separate self lies, steals, and does unkind things to other people. When we’re separate, everything becomes about protecting and defending ourselves. It can consume our lives.
One word for overcoming that false sense of separateness, that illusory self, is heaven; quite frankly, that is what death offers us. It is simply returning to the Source from which we came, where all things are one. The whole gospel message is radical union with God, with neighbor, and even with ourselves. I think that’s why so many people are drawn to church each week—to receive communion and eventually, hopefully, realize that we are in communion.
Probably no gospel story says this more clearly and forthrightly than the parable of the vine and the branches (John 15:1–10). Jesus says, “I am the vine, God is the vine grower, and you are the branches.” As long as we remain in that relationship, we are in love and in union. Whenever we do anything unloving, at that moment, we’re out of union. Even if it’s just a negative, angry, or judgmental thought, we’re doing that out of a sense of disunion—always! And Jesus is very clear. He says that state is useless. Once the branch is cut off from the vine, we might as well throw it into the fire because it will not bear any fruit. He’s not making a threat; he’s just talking practically as if he were the vineyard owner.
That’s a pretty strong statement about us and the choices we make from that unnecessary state of separateness. We have never been separate from God except in our thoughts, but our thoughts don’t make it true! Nor are we separate from anyone else. Whatever separates us from one another—nationality, religion, ethnicity, economics, language—are all just accidentals that will all pass away. We are one in God, with Christ, and with one another. “I am the vine and you are the branches” (John 15:5). If only we could live that way every hour!
We all pull back into ourselves. We pout and complain and resent and fear. That’s what the little self does. The little self, the branch cut off from the vine, can do nothing according to this gospel. So Jesus says, “Remain in me as I remain in you” (John 15:4). The promise is constant from God’s side. The only question is from our side. Do we choose to live in that union? Every time we do something with respect, with love, with sympathy, with compassion, with caring, with service, we are operating in union.
Reference:
Adapted from Richard Rohr, “The Illusion of a Separate Self,” homily, May 6, 2012.
Image credit and inspiration: Georg Arthur Pflueger, Untitled (detail), 2022, photo, Germany, Unsplash. Click here to enlarge image. We are individual pieces in an intricately interconnected weave of reality; together we make a whole.
Story from Our Community:
Ever since I was introduced to Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations, I’ve been moved toward a spirituality that I had been seeking all my life. After attending a CAC conference in Albuquerque, I began attending workshops and book study groups at a church nearby. I find it funny that after all these years, a wonderful support group was always there—right in my backyard. Next month, we will begin reading “Falling Upward” by Fr. Rohr, and I can’t wait. I’ve already read it, but this time I’m really looking forward to the deeper meaning that emerges from discussion with others.
—Kelly B.
