When I was five years old, I began to learn some basic arithmetic.  Simple addition and subtraction problems along with some very basic fractions became the standard fare of my earliest education in the science of mathematics.  I remember that my friends and I found addition much easier to comprehend and execute than subtraction.  I’m not sure what it was, but the whole idea of “taking away” didn’t sit well with me.  It seems that what is true of learning arithmetic may also be true in other areas of our lives.  

Generally, many of us imagine spiritual maturity as the accumulation or addition of more spiritual ‘goods’, that is, general knowledge of Scripture, number of Bible verses memorized, extent of time spent in prayer or fasting, our performance in terms of spiritual disciplines, etc..  Yet, according to a number of great spiritual masters such as Meister Eckhart, real spiritual maturity has much more to do with what we are ready to leave behind than with what we acquire. In the words of Eckhart, ‘the spiritual life has much more to do with subtraction than with addition’.

Certainly, this insight into our spiritual lives echoes the life of Jesus.  In the second chapter of Philippians, the apostle Paul exhorts all disciples, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:5-8)  In other words, if we want to become more like Jesus, we need to learn how to subtract.

This next week, we begin the season of Lent. Traditionally, it is a time set apart for penitence, fasting, self-examination, and faithful reading of Holy Scripture. All of these things are important and helpful disciplines in our lives as followers of Jesus. Certainly, you may consider adding one or more of these spiritual practices to your daily regimine. But maybe this Lent you might want to practice some spiritual subtraction instead.  Perhaps, for a season, we might learn to “empty ourselves” and submit to God in humble obedience, thereby releasing ourselves from whatever hinders us from truly siding with our Lord.  

Spiritual subtraction is about surrender, liberation, making room in our hearts for real freedom. It is essential soul work, and through his life and death, Jesus shows us the way.  Quite frankly, however, this work of subtraction is much more difficult than just adding a new spiritual practice to our lives.  Through much practice as a child, I developed my mathematical skills of subtraction.  It was a lot of hard work.  Lent may be just the time for us to do the same with our spiritual skills of subtraction.  

~Father Art