The Living Icon

Rev. Jeffrey Symynkywicz, December 5, 2004

We may sit in silence before a holy statue,
as we would in the presence of a dearest friend;
wishing eagerly to be immersed in its goodness,
transformed by the warmth of its glowing heart.

We want at time to be immersed that way in the things of holiness,
spending all our hours in prayer;
simply listening to stories of saints;
transformed by their presence; living in their light.

But if we sit silently all the hours of our days,
passively listening to the preaching of the Word,
then what good does it do us? Where is the transformation?

True transcendence comes not at the hour of prayer,
but in the moment when the prayer ends;
it comes not at the feet of holy ones,
but when we rise to follow them,
and take up our work in the real world.

We carry the truest icon within us always: a heart
now made anew of flesh and blood, and of the love of peace,
not merely of stone or wood and thin veneer.
Just as that holy statue we sit before, beautiful as it may be,
does not come to life, in truth, unless it lives in us,
so the saints of God follow us every step of the journey
we go forth, with joy in our hearts, a holy song upon our lips,
glorifying the precious gift—the sacred shrine—
which each one of us truly is.

jbs
9/16/04 - 12/5/04

| Home | Sermons and Meditations | Archived Meditations |