Creatively Advancing into Novelty
It is what John of the cross called “luminous darkness,” and it explains the simultaneous coexistence of deep suffering and intense joy in the saints, which would be impossible for most of us to even imagine. Eastern Orthodoxy believed that if something was authentic religious art, it would always have a bright sadness. I think…
If there is such a thing as human perfection, it seems to emerge precisely from how we handle the imperfection that is everywhere, especially our own. What a clever place for God to hide holiness, so that only the humble and earnest will find it! A “perfect” person ends up being one who can consciously…
It has been acceptable for some time in America to remain “wound identified” (that is, using one’s victimhood as one’s identity, one’s ticket to sympathy, and one’s excuse for not serving), instead of using the wound to “redeem the world,” as we see in Jesus and many people who turn their wounds into sacred wounds…
“We invariably prefer the universal synthesis, the answer that settles all the dust and resolves every question – even when it is not entirely true – over the mercy and grace of God.” The above quote comes from the always sagacious Richard Rohr via his new book Falling Upward. In this quote he is discussing…
“The Odyssey, from Greek mythology, is the classic Western saga, so much so that now we use the word “odyssey” to describe all significant human journeys. A religious myth is not something that is not true. Although it may not be true in particular, it is overwhelmingly true in general. Even the ancients knew…
When the Scriptures are used maturely, and they become a precursor to meeting the Christ, they proceed in this order: They confront us with a bigger picture than we are used to, “God’s kingdom” that has the potential to “deconstruct” our false worldviews. They then have the power to convert us to an alternative worldview…
We thought that we overcame racism in the 60’s; we thought the church overcame triumphalism at Vatican II, and now forty years later we are right back into this regressive and dualistic thinking all over again. This is the nature of the ego if we have not formed a contemplative mind, a big mind, that…
Richard Rohr writes: Our usual definitions of God depict him as omnipotent, infinite, perfect in every way. Yet if the suffering Jesus is the image and revelation of the invisible God (Col. 1:15), this is totally at odds with all the other philosophical and theological definitions of a supreme being. Jesus doesn’t fit. Even after…
The Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ 2010 by Stephen B Whatley I have seen tons of paintings of Jesus and the Saints where the flaming Sacred Heart is depicted but I never really thought about what exactly it was supposed to represent. I just got done reading Father Rohr’s latest email meditation (the Tuesday of…
When you regarded me Your eyes imprinted your grace in me, In this, you loved me again, And thus my eyes merited To also love what you see in me… Let us go forth together to see ourselves in Your beauty. ~St. John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle, 32, 33 Our book group is currently…