Jesus of Nazareth' is the life's work of Benedict XVIJesus of Nazareth and historyWhy do philosophers have a patron and not a patron?I want to tell you a story. The story of a journey in search of light, that light that calms the restless heart and that for centuries has guided mystics and sages. A journey that began with a spark of curiosity and ended with a discovery that changed everything. A path of spiritual transformation, in which Sufism revealed to me its deep connection with Christianity.
Since my childhood, Sufism has been part of my life. This mystical stream of Islam, based on love and the search for union with God, always seemed to me different from orthodox Islam. Its spirit of surrender, its constant yearning for truth and its insistence on the annulment of the ego reminded me deeply of the life of Christ and his teachings.
It is no accident that many historians trace the roots of Sufism back to the earliest Christian communities in Syria and Egypt, and even to the Essenes. The word "Sufi" shares the same root as "sophia," wisdom, a term that resonates with the early Christian tradition. And it is not only in the etymology that we find this relationship, but also in the way Sufis seek truth: through love, detachment and contemplation of divinity.
The Sufism teaches that the way to God is absolute love and the annihilation of self in order to be reborn in Him. This concept finds its parallel in the Christian idea of "dying to self" in order to live in Christ. Sufi poets such as Rumi and Attar described this process as a journey through different stages of purification, similar to the experiences of Christian mystics such as St. John of the Cross or St. Teresa of Avila.
The great Sufi poet Farid al-Din Attar spoke of the "Seven Cities of Love," a spiritual path that begins with seeking and culminates in the annihilation of the self. Each stage, from desire for God to poverty and renunciation, resonates with the spiritual journey of Christian saints.
The stages
- "Talab" - Desire, Seek: The beginning of the path, where the seeker transcends worldly desires and begins his search for truth.
- "Eshgh" - Love: The greatest and most fearsome stage, where love for God consumes the seeker and transforms him.
- "Ma'arefat" - Knowledge: The knowledge of God and truth, which drives the seeker away from immorality and brings him closer to divine contemplation.
- "Bi Niazi" - Not Needing: The renunciation of worldly desires without expectation of reward, seeking only the nearness of God.
- "Tawhid" - Oneness: The deep understanding of God's oneness and total surrender to Him.
- "Heirat" - Surprise: A state of awe and contemplation in which the seeker is confronted with divine grandeur.
- "Faghr and Fana" - Necessity and Annihilation: The culmination of the journey, where the seeker completely renounces self and merges into the love of God.
In my own search, there was a moment when I felt that something was missing. I knew that Sufism brought me closer to the truth, but a question remained latent: where to find the ultimate source of that Love that transforms everything? As if by fate, my studies led me to Jesus of Nazareth, and there I found the answer. Sufism had prepared my heart, but in Christ I found the fullness of that love I had been searching for.
Benedict XVI's resignation was the expression of an act of profound humility, demonstrating that, despite his immense authority over millions of people, his greatest commitment was to the example of Jesus. In a world where few are willing to cede power, he, clothed with the highest spiritual authority as Pope, decided to step aside. This gesture led me to a profound reflection: I understood that my love for him had to be translated into action and commitment. It was then that I had absolute clarity: I had to be baptized in his name and become a child of God, accepting the gift of his sacrifice with gratitude and faith.
Sufism, with its tireless search for God through love, is the expression of Islam that comes closest to the heart of Christianity. And in my case, it was the bridge that led me to Him.
