Reflection #2 - PHPC 107: Metaphysics
September 28, 2020
For the past meetings, we have been talking about William Desmond’s ideas with regards to Metaphysics. We were discussing on what it means to be, i.e. the question of Being. It is said that in order to accomplish the study of Being as much as it is, the human spirit has the pure desire to know as he confronts the presence of Being. This reminds me of the relationship between God and a demonically possessed, infested, or oppressed individual. From the book that I read entitled Exorcism by Fr. Jose Francisco ‘Jocis’ Syquia, he accounts there some cases of possession/oppression and how a demoniac becomes liberated from such spiritual attack. There, he states that the deliverance/exorcism only becomes successful if the victim is willing to be healed, i.e. has the pure desire to love God, to know Him more, and renounce his/her own sinful ways. It could be likened to that of accomplishing the study of Being, to have the pure desire to know to have an effective outcome.
This reminds me of my reason for entering the seminary. I want to become a priest so I entered here. But I am constantly asked why I want to become a priest. I could not give them any answer, since I myself do not even know why I want to become a priest. However, I know that this desire is pure – without malice or some hidden agenda. This pure desire I have is what I am holding on as I am journeying here in the seminary before the presence of this Divine Caller.
On the issue of presence, we talked on the act of being present of Being and of Being. We inquired if we can talk about Being without presence. But, Being connotes presence, and I do not personally think that we could never separate this act of being present of Being. However, if we apply this to our day-to-day lives, I think that there are some instances when we can say that we could separate the two.
An example of this is that when we are having our Holy Mass and we are there physically – singing, reciting, responding, kneeling, etc. But, most of the time (especially in this past months) I have observed that I could not really focus on the Mass. My mind is somewhere else – worrying about my family, academics, the pandemic, etc. I am present, but I am absent as well.
Aside from that, another instance where this issue on presence is evident is in the online classes. I have logged in to Schoology, joined in the conference, muted my microphone, and started listening to the lecture. But, I ask if this presence, this ‘virtual presence’, could still be equated to a ‘genuine’ presence. A factor like internet connection could make this presence possible but this factor could also make this presence an absence. A slow internet connection could hinder my participation. A slow internet connection could also make the teacher ‘choppy’, thereby losing my interest. I wonder if this presence is still like ‘being there’ since I am ‘here’ while the teacher ‘is there’ on the other side of the screen.
We also discussed about the connaturality between Being and Spirit. The unfolding of the mystery of Being pre-supposes a dialectic in the originary relationship of Being and Spirit. We also described this relationship of Being and Spirit as a relationship that is pure. No prior relationship has existed before this relationship. This unfolding is not for itself but for the other. This could be compared with Christian Revelation. God revealed Himself to us not for Himself but for us. There is this God who reveals Himself and His plan of salvation to all humanity.
Another discussion was done on metaphysical thinking. We talked about original astonishment as the beginning of mindfulness. It has something childlike and virgin about this. It was mentioned that metaphysical inquiry ceases once this childlike and virgin elemental astonishment is gone. This reminds me again of a priest’s vocation. For me, a priest is automatically considered a metaphysician. It is because he deals with Being in like his entire life. He must keep his elemental astonishment in order to continue in his ministry. This elemental astonishment comes in the form of the very first time he experienced the ‘call’. There is something very pure about this call. It is this call that he holds on to as he serves God and His people.
Furthermore, it was mentioned that there is something indeterminate about this original astonishment. The goal here is not to determine/define but just to acknowledge the beautiful thing before us. With this statement, I think that it is really in our nature to just become in awe of something beautiful and become judgmental of something unpleasant. When we are presented with something that is very pleasing, our tendency is just to enter into astonishment, become perplexed, and then become curious until we ask or even express into words how curious and amazed we are. However, if we are presented with something ugly, the tendency is to just become perplexed and then formulate our judgments immediately.
We do not only remain in astonishment as we also become perplexed and then curious. This movement is a movement from the indefinite to the definite. This movement is often seen as a progressive conquering of the indeterminate. This act is an act of leaving behind the original astonishment. In our class, it was also mentioned that pain is also experienced with this leaving behind. In my opinion however, pain may be a part but it is necessary and only temporary. I am reminded by my experience last May 20, 2019 – the day when I entered the OLPH Seminary. This act of entering the seminary to “answer God’s call” is just like conquering as well of the indeterminate, since this call is a mystery. I left my home, my parents, my family, and most of the things I have. It was painful at first, but as the time goes by, the pain was gone and only the astonishment before God’s act lingered on.