Unfathomable "Within"

M

y first point comes from the Jesuit priest and paleontologist Fr Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955). Teilhard was a visionary ahead of his time who sought to reconcile science and faith, seeing them not as enemies but as companions in the search for truth. His ideas stirred both controversy and fascination, yet many of his insights have proven remarkably prophetic.

At present, I am giving a Laudato Si’ Retreat to a group from Ateneo de Manila, many of whom belong to the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability. For the first time, I chose to frame the retreat using some of Fr Teilhard de Chardin’s teachings. One of the principles that captured my attention is this: Everything has a “within” as well as a “without.”

We easily recognize the “without” or the outside of things—their color, shape, size, and other physical characteristics. That is the more obvious part.

But what is new in Teilhard’s insight is that every outside also has an inside. Everything that exists has an inner dimension, a “within.”

Why does this matter? Because the spiritual life begins by recognizing that we are more than what can be seen or measured. We all have a “within”—an inner life where God meets us, beyond all the roles we play and the labels we carry. This insight echoes God’s words to Samuel when choosing David: “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam 16:7).

God looks into the heart, the place of desires, hopes, fears, and dreams—that cannot be reduced to physical measurements.

If God sees the “within” of every person, Teilhard invites us to recognize that creation also has a “within.” Every tree, flower, river, and mountain possesses a unique identity given by God. In fact, every cell of the trillions of cells in your body today could trace the ancestry of each of its elements back to the first moment of creation.

Secondly, Teilhard goes even deeper—not only into the cell, nor merely outward into the stars. Using Teilhard’s expression, one could say that St Ignatius of Loyola teaches us to enter the “within” of the Gospel, the interior life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and through them, the loving heart of the Creator. Our gospel today bears the heart of all Sacred Scriptures. It is recited by every faithful Jew three times a day: ‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength.’ But using Teilhard’s principle: Everything that exists has an inner dimension, a “within.” Indeed, Deus semper major, there is always more for a God who is always more and God has a within that is unfathomable (Is 55:8–9).

This bring us to our third and last point where Jesus reveals the “within” of the Greatest Commandment.

The Pharisee lawyer was trying to trick Jesus; he was just asking this teacher a typical Jewish question, and everyone was already expecting Jesus to answer, “Love the Lord your God.”

But Jesus surprises His listeners. He joins it to another commandment from Leviticus: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Neither commandment is new. What is new is that Jesus places them side by side. And through their union the heart or the “Within” of the greatest commandment is revealed, which is love. The greatest commandment is a marriage of two great loves. Love of God and love of neighbor. And they are joined in love.

Jesus's new teaching is that love of God cannot remain locked-in either within the heart of God or within our heart. That is the meaning of St Ignatius’ line: Love ought to manifest itself more in deeds than in words. Love cannot remain an inward sentiment.

If Teilhard taught us to look for the “within” of things, Jesus is the deepest “within” of all. To find God in everything is to look "within" He is never far away. The challenge is how to let Him emerge from the depths of our hearts.

Let me end using the Address of Pope Francis:

“Today the Lord often knocks from the inside because he wants us, as Christians, to let him out. Too often we keep the Lord to ourselves. We must let the Lord out—he is knocking at the door to be let out—and not keep him somewhat ‘enslaved’ for own purposes. … Go forward with courage and the joy that comes from evangelizing.” (Jubilee of the World Communications address of the Holy Father, Audience Hall, Saturday, 25 January 2025)

Amen. Fr JM Manzano SJ