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Deus interior intimo meo

One of the most fascinating quotes from Augustine (354-430) is the following: 'Deus
interior intimo meo' or God is nearer to me than I am near to myself.
This quote provokes two questions.
1. What does it means or how to understand it?
2. What is the impact?
First of all, if we search for our Lord, we dont need to go far away. He is nearer to
me than I am. But this could be difficult to imagine it. Nevertheless this is an
important point for Augustine. In fact it means that when we look deep in our heart,
we know what our way to God is. In this way people, who are not familiar with the
Christian tradition, can find their way to God.
Because it could be difficult to understand what my heart says, God sent Jesus to
show how we can reach God: by following the way of Jesus like brother Francis did.
But for many people God sounds far away and they cant imagine, Who God is. It is
even not clear why we have to search for God. I think that here is a problem
nowadays that God has been presented as an authority far away, which people reject.
This could be an important cause for the crisis in different religions. People feel that
God has been used as legitimation for the authority of religious leaders.
To overcome this problem, we can put authority aside and concentrate on bringing
people closer to themselves. The result is that people come closer to God.
On one side we can do it by our lifestyle, which inspire people. We reach closer their
heart, the longings in their heart.
What this can mean, we see how Pope Francis inspire people across the borders of
different religions. For them Pope Francis shows how religious leaders have to live in
order to be recognized as really religious leaders.
Also in another way we can support people by the way we talk with them, while
authority doesnt play a role. I remember that once I spoke with a transgender during
the time that I was working in a living room for addicted street prostitutes. It was
outside the opening hours and in our own living room as Miriam community, working for
them. At the end she said that it was a world talk. I dont remember about what we
talk neither why I agreed with this talk. But for sure, it was not a discussion, not
arguing, but just listening and reflecting on what she said. It meant there was no
reason to defend herself for anything.
The effect of such an approach is that she could listen to what was going on in
herself. This way of talking created relief for her by being understood. This is often
the case. If someone is listening to me, I can hear what is really going in myself. I am
talking without fear, without a need to defend myself. In this way I acquaintance
myself better and can move forwards, feeling supported by the understanding by the
other. I come closer to myself.
Sometimes this understanding has to be active. Once I spoke with a father and his
teenage daughter, after their wife and mother passed away. I knew the problem that
she wanted to visit her aunt and her cousin, whenever she wanted. I could it make
clear to the father that it was for his teenage daughter important to talk with other

women about female affairs. The father understood this and gave her permission to
do so. Also he told his son about his decision.
In this way we can bring salvation for people closer to them by understanding them.
This approach opens the possibility that the other start to talk about God, wondering
about what He wants from him or her. Then we can search together for an answer in
line with his or her life. It offers the possibility to give meaning to experiences in
life.
A great example is how Jesus dealt with the young rich man, who was searching for
eternal life. He detailed for him what commandments he should keep: not to kill, not
to commit adultery, not to steal, not to bear false witness, honour your father and
mother and love your neighbour as yourself. And when he asked what else is lacking,
He said that he could be perfect by giving all he possess to the poor.
The young man did already everything according to the commandments, written in his
heart. Just one thing was lacking. The young man was already very close to Jesus and
had opened his heart for Him. Being close to Jesus he was close to God.
According to the Gospel of Marc (13, 21) Jesus started to love him, showing respect
and tenderness. By this the young man could open his heart and tell Jesus what was
going on in him.
This is another way to express that God is closer to me than I am. Without fear we
can go on with our life, loving our neighbour. That is enough.

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