Spiritual Formation (2)
What is your favourite scriptural passage that best represents your idea of spiritual formation?
My favourite passage is John 1:35-39. These two men were disciples of John the Baptist and were present with him one morning when Jesus passed by. John recognises him as the one sent by God to be the Saviour and says, "Look, the Lamb of God". John's insight led these disciples to leave him and follow this person so wholly acknowledged by their trusted master as more than just a prophet enlightened by God.
At that point, Jesus noticed these two at a distance, hesitating in wonder at the thought of approaching someone so significantly acknowledged by their master. The Lord turns and presents them with a leading question, which was also an implicit invitation for them to draw closer and engage with him directly. "What are you looking for?", he asks. His reassuring disposition helps them to express their interest in getting to know him. "Rabbi, where are you staying?", they inquired. "Come and see", Jesus said in return. They then accompanied the Lord to his dwelling and spent the rest of the day with him. That encounter changed their lives.
In this passage, John the Baptist is the spiritual formator who points the attention of his followers to Jesus and paves the way for them to follow the Christ. It is the role of the spiritual formator to create opportunities for people to follow Jesus and to “spend the day” with him, so that these successive encounters might change their lives.
The spiritual formator creates an environment that cultivates an awareness of the heart, so that when Christ “passes by”, he and his companions notice that passing by. Thereafter, he releases his companions to follow this Christ as the formator witnesses to his significance as the one worthy of being followed.
An even more sacramental approach to this would be for the spiritual formator to see himself as “being Christ” to those who sit at his feet. He is the mysterious representation of Christ to those who journey with him, dispensing the grace of Christ in real time to the lives of these spiritual companions.
Comments (4)
is there such a word as 'spritual formator'? :)
Posted by Alex Tang | July 31, 2007 8:24 PM
Hi Dr Tang,
Yes, there is! It's quite commonly used in the Catholic tradition. Exciting isn't it?
Posted by sk | July 31, 2007 8:33 PM
I have read a number of books by Catholic and Orthodox writers but have not come across that word. Is that the same as spiritual director?
Posted by Alex Tang | August 1, 2007 12:19 AM
As far as I've observed, the terms seem to be used interchangeably.
In some contexts, the term "formator" is used as a more general term describing the vocation of the person, whilst the term "spiritual director" seems to describe what exactly the person does. So in such contexts, one formator may be in charge of intellectual formation whilst another formator may be in charge of spiritual formation.
Posted by sk | August 1, 2007 12:52 AM