When I was teaching Scripture it was always a joke among the students when they figured out what it meant in the Bible when two people would "know" each other. For the rest of the year everyone would have to clarify when they meant whenever they would say that they "knew" someone.
Knowledge means knowledge of a few different things. Let's clarify:
1. Knowledge of ourselves and our state in life. This is usually pretty easy to define. If you are not married, don't pretend you are. If you are a celibate, don't pretend you aren't. If you are married, don't pretend you aren't. Pretty simple stuff. (If you don't know if you are a celibate, married, or discerning the two, ask around. Usually your spouse or lack of spouse is a key indicator.)
2. Knowledge of what is appropriate for your state in life. Again, we may think that this is all pretty obvious, except that given the amount of people who have no idea how to behave according to their state in life, we might need a lesson on this. That, or we need to practice the other Fruits of the day.
3. Knowledge of your spouse. For married couples, this knowledge includes the intimacy of the "marital act" as it is the moment of the most vulnerability and the one thing that you share with your spouse and no one else. There has been a lot of talk recently about "emotional affairs" where you become involved with someone on an emotional level that becomes an attachment or an affair without the physicality. I would suggest this: your conversations with your spouse should be the most intimate conversations you have. If you find that you are sharing things with someone else that you would not share with your spouse, then there is a problem. If you are a celibate, then your spouse is the Body of Christ, the "marital act" is the Eucharist, and the same rules apply.
How intimately do you know God?
Biblically, when someone "knew" another person, it was a phrase that was used to depict the "marital act". An action that two people share that is creative, life giving, and a complete giving of one to the other.
Now we know that God gives himself completely to us. He did so on the Cross. We know that God knows us more intimately than anyone else because He made us. We know that God loves us simply by looking at the creation around us. His massive hug of us, surrounding us in the universe.
This isn't a "book" knowledge that we can just sit and read and come to a greater knowledge of God. This is a gift that is freely given from God. Kind of like a wedding present that he is offering to us.
This is because we can do nothing without the gift of the Lord. We can do nothing without the Lord giving us the power to be able to do so. This is why knowledge of God is so incredible. God longs for us, looks for us, seeks us. We respond to the call of God in Faith, making an active decision to follow God and when we do, God confirms our response by giving us the gifts needed to follow him.
Knowledge is one of those gifts. If this knowledge is an intimate knowledge of the person of God, then we are able to act in the way that God would want us to act. If God is love, then the knowledge of God is a knowledge of love. It is a knowledge of what it is that God wants from us. it is a knowledge of a love that is borne of sacrifice. It is a knowledge of a love that goes beyond a simple feeling. It is the knowledge of how and when to love and the ability to do so when it seems impossible.
It is this knowledge of God that allowed Damien to love the lepers on Molokai.
It is this knowledge of God that allowed Peter to return to Rome to be an example of love and sacrifice to the early Church.
It is this knowledge of God that allowed Maria Goretti to face death rather than sin.
It is this knowledge of God that allowed Maximilian Kolbe to choose death rather than watch another man die.
it is this knowledge that allows us to love when we think we have hit the end of our rope. It is this knowledge that has the ability to get us through those moments when love seems like the least likely thing to do. When loving means turning the other cheek. When loving means that we face possible failure in the eyes of the world.
This knowledge of God allows us to see people for what they are, a soul rather than just an object. It allows us to see heaven rather than just the problems of tomorrow. It allows us to be so pure of heart that our worship reflects an intimate longing for the beloved.
To be able to really know God. To know God in the way that a spouse knows the other.
That might lead to sainthood.
Questions for Reflection:
- Why is it so difficult for us in our society to seek this type of knowledge of God? Why do we try to avoid this intimacy?
- Do we have this type of knowledge in our own relationships? Granted we should have our most intimate knowledge with the subject of our vocation, but do we seek this knowledge through the dignity of the other person?
- How can prayer be beneficial in leading to knowledge, not only of God, but of the person that we are praying with? Does this possibility for that type of intimacy keep us from praying with others?
- How can knowledge of God and knowledge of others keep us from the sin of lust?
- How might book knowledge help us achieve the type of knowledge that we are discussing here? Is book knowledge always a certitude that we will "know" God?
- Allow yourself to seek intimacy with God through praying for knowledge of Him.
- You know someone when you allow them to know you. Allow God to know you by confessing your sins, allowing yourself to be vulnerable.
- Make the phrase "WWJD" something that allows you to seek out intimacy with God this week. Take concrete actions to do what Christ would want you to do. Pray for the intimacy to be able to do this.
- Knowledge of God helps us to love. Choose a way to love in the model of Damien, Kolbe, or Mother Teresa. What can you do that no one else can do?
- Spend time in adoration of God. Just allow yourself to sit in His presence so that your simple knowledge can grow.
Simply worship God throughout the day. Allow your soul to connect with God. If you don't know what to say, simply say the name of Jesus. Or repeat the word Alleluia. Allow the Holy Spirit to work.
Psalm 38:21-22 In times of lust:
Do not forsake me O Lord, O my God be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation!
A Prayer for the Gift of Prudence (to be said in the morning)
Jesus, artful Master of Parables, your prudence eluded the hypocrites. Your actions were known before creation, displaying all the wisdom of Your prudence. Eternity must have attened to minutia. Being prudent in Your best interest, You considered all potential consequences, securing the outcome of Your earthly life. Grant me the prudence to always be cautious and sensitive to the basic needs of others. Jesus, You have shown great foresight, prudence truly originates from Your Being. Amen.
Augustine's Prayer for Purity of Heart: (to be said at noon)
Almighty God, in whom we live and move and have our being, you have made us for yourself so our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Grant us purity of heart and strength of purpose, that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will or no weakness in doing it; but that in your light we may see light and in your service find perfect freedom, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
A Prayer for the Gift of Knowledge: (to be said in the evening)
Absolute and all knowing God, nothing is hidden from Your sight. In the prescience since the beginning, all knowledge existed within You. Kindly share Your knowledge with me. making me aware of what is meant to be, permitting my soul to understand it, and wisdom to agree with its outcome. Provide me with the gift of discretion, to prudently apply received knowledge, to ensure the fulfillment of Your Will, Your knowledge shines forth forever. Amen.
