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Authenticity as Dying, Rising and Conversion

In Benedictine values identified by the St. John’s Benedictine Community of Collegeville, MN,  the concept of truthful living is summarized in this way:

We foster an environment for deep transformation of the whole person (conversatio).

This environment for authenticity in the Christian life is brought forth in the practice of daily confession and absolution.  It is the Word of God that shows what needs to die and it is the Word of God that brings life.  The dying and rising of confession and absolution is transformative, as the Holy Spirit empowers the new person to come forth.  This is a daily practice, or as Luther says in the Small Catechism:

“the old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new person should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.”

(Luthers Small Catechism, Concordia Publishing House, p. 210, 1986)

One might prepare for this by praying (not reciting) the Ten Commandments as the Word of God.  Meditate and pray, letting the Word of God wash over you in such a way as to become transformative.  Let the Word of God speak to those areas of life in which God calls us forth to die and then shows us what the new life is about.  As you do this, if you become deeply troubled by sin, go to a spiritual companion to confess this sin and seek absolution.

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