Formed, Known, and Consecrated – Br. James Koester
Br. James Koester,
Superior
I find this passage from the prophet Jeremiah to be deeply consoling. We live in an age, and a culture where what goes in front of, or after your name is crucial. It matters hugely if you can add Dr., The Reverend, or Brother, in front of your name. It is equally import if you can add PhD, M.Div., or SSJE after your name. Success and happiness hang on titles and initials. People spend their lives, and enormous amounts of capital, chasing after a sense of self-worth believed to be found in them. And into this culture Jeremiah speaks a word of truth, and a promise of hope.
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you…[1]
Clearly Jeremiah here was reflecting on his own sense of vocation and call. What is significant is that he roots the seeds of that vocation, not in titles or initials gained after years of training, but in a relationship. Jeremiah roots his vocation not in what he has done, but simply who he is, someone formed, known, and consecrated by God while still in his mother’s womb.
Jeremiah reminds us that God doesn’t look at us and love us for what we have done, or achieved, but that we simply are. It is enough for God that I am. Shed of all titles, initials, and achievements; shed even of all talents, skills, and accomplishments, I have still been formed, known, and consecrated by God to be something no one else can be.
Shed of everything, except his existence, Jeremiah was formed, known, and consecrated to be a prophet to the nations, equipped by God to do God’s work. And that is good news.
The great temptation, even sin, of our age, is to find our worth only through what we have accomplished. The great gift, even grace we find in Jeremiah, is that our real worth lies in having been made in the image and likeness of God. It is in that image and likeness of God, clothed with Christ in baptism, that lies our true worth.
One of the great graces of retreat, indeed one of the wonderful gifts of prayer, is to discover that our true worth lies not in titles, initials, or achievements. In times of retreat, and occasions of prayer we discover for ourselves that we have been formed, known, and consecrated by God. In the womb of retreat and prayer, shed of everything except our existence, and knowing ourselves to be made in God’s image, and clothed in Christ’s likeness, we discover again God reaching out and touching our mouths saying, now I have put my words in your mouth.[2] This is truly good news, full of hope and promise for a life fully lived, in this credential mad world.
[1] Jeremiah 1: 4, 5
[2] Jeremiah 1: 9b
Dear Brother,thank you for your comforting words.Like Abba(Abbot Michael-John) they are filled with love and compassion.My whole life I have chased after acceptance from the Church and never seemed to make the grade. Too young too old too gay too dumb not a fit.But in the end after asking forever in my retirement I was excepted just the way I was in love by the House of Initia Nova and am a postulant in the order of St Benedict.It was in Gods time and what He wanted.It just took me 67 years to see it It was never the titles it was always the love in everyones heart that I finally got,and now will share in a deeper way with all I meet forever……. Respectfully Superior with love and prayers,Bro AnselmOSB House of Initia Nova
Thank you, Br. James for yet more words of wisdom, as usual. Here, however, is a little twist on them, and a sort of follow-up to your reflections. What I see in our ‘credential-mad’ world is opportunity: those of us who DO have initials around our names, being assured that our worth in God’s sight is completely independent of those things, have the chance to channel the world’s appreciation of them into the power to influence the world. If ‘the reverend’ speaks, it does give a little edge to the message coming out of the reverend’s mouth; and that means that the reverend can speak for the poor, the weak, the oppressed, all the NON- initialed, with a little more clout than they can usually command to speak for themselves. These ‘attributes’, which mean nothing to God (and should mean little to us who have them) have one good use in the world: getting it to pay a little more attention to things it should be paying attention to without the initials – but probably won’t. When you’re forced to play Mammon’s game, I say play it for all it’s worth, on behalf of the little ones.. It’s a sort of judo maneuver: I believe that God smiles to see the world’s corrupt judgments used against themselves
Thank you, James. I have a title and degrees, but as best I can tell, they aren’t what I look to for validation of my value. However, that doesn’t mean I’m free of that “great temptation, even sin, of our age, to find [my] worth only through what [I] have accomplished.” For me, that is more about performance than labels, but it is very real nonetheless. Thank you for the reminder that the Divine love knows and values me at a level deeper and beyond anything I might do.
Amen 🙏
Dear Br. James,
Yet again, I find myself turning to the sermons of both yourself and your fellow Brothers in admiration and thanksgiving. These words of yours about pulling ourselves back to the fundamental truths of living with God and our neighbours in simplicity and love are so right – and beautiful really. We ALL try to “big ourselves up”; I guess it’s just human. But, as you say, we must draw back and consider ALWAYS our connection to our Lord and to each other in a giving, sincere and loving way. Thank you for this reminder and “pull back” to the reality of what is so important.
Brother Koester – this was beautiful – thank you.
Descartes said, “I think, therefore I am.”
And yeah, nowadays we think, “I accomplished, therefore I am.”
What wonderful insight into Old Testament . I have always found it difficult to get a grasp on some of the Prophets especially Jerimiah and Malachi.
Thank you so very much .
Randy LaRosa
I believe we have value because God loves us and while we are created in the image of God, the way we chose to live our lives determines our likeness to God.
Thank you Superior Br. James for reminding us via Jeremiah of our intrinsic value. As Dr. Br. Curtis said: “We are loved not ‘because and if’ but ‘Anyway, in spite of and even though’
A dose of spiritual tonic for those of us with initials! Thank you, Br. James!