The Path of Descent is
the theme of themes, the metanarrative of the Bible. It is so obvious and so
consistent and so constant that it’s hidden in plain sight. Yet we’ve
overlooked this overwhelmingly obvious message by focusing on other things. Why
did that happen? How were we that capable of missing what appears to be the
major point?
I think it has to do with
the Spirit working in history and growing us up historically; I think it has to
do with maturity and readiness; and I think it has to do with ego. Once
Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire (around the year 313), and
the clergy and the nobility banded together to protect the top, it became all
about ascent, not descent. That suits the ego just fine; it much prefers
winning to losing.
God isn’t really the
great theme of the Bible. God isn’t really taught in the Bible; God is assumed.
There’s never any question that there is a Transcendent Other. The problem is how
to remain in contact with this Transcendence. That becomes what I call the
Way of Descent.
Just think: Exodus and
Exile. There’s the entire Hebrew Scripture in two words. It’s all about a
people in exodus; and then, when they get over exodus and try to settle down,
God leads them into exile. Because those are the two places where you are
taught, not in being settled.
Richard Rohr
