Christocentrism of Charism – Buggert - CarmelStream

sharing of goods and life, an egalitarian style of life, communal-dialogical discernment and a respect
for the individual. Hermits within the Rule itself quickly come to be called "brothers," who are to
undertake a participative form of living together. This communitarian life is itself a counter-
cultural, prophetic protest against the commodity form with its objectifying of the person through
dominative and dehumanizing relationships, its lack of care and respect, its enslavement of freedom,
and its idolizing of competition, achievement and control. cxcii In turn such a communitarian life
witnesses to the values of the personal form: the intrinsic worth of persons, freedom, detachment,
generosity, justice, peace, forgiveness, healing, compassion, the empowering of those who are least.
The land of Christ has yet to be reconquered; all things have yet to be subject to him so that
his Father may fully reign and be all in all. As in the days of Albert and the first hermits of Carmel,
the land will be reconquered not by arms and might but by walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
This obsequium Jesu Christi involves a spiritual battle which, as with Jesus himself, inserts one into
history in combat with the roaring lion. To walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ today is a call to a
communal life of counter-cultural resistance, rooted in silence, solitude and prayer, by re-enacting
Jesus' prophetic praxis of the Reign of God in solidarity with all, but especially with those who are
the sinners, the outcasts and the rabble of our day.
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Donald Wm. Buggert O. Carm.
Washington Theological Union