Monthly Archives: June 2021
Samuel: Bowing to a King
Great Themes of Scripture: Hebrew Bible Samuel: Bowing to a King Wednesday, June 30, 2021 Beginning with the books of Samuel, we can see a tension starting to develop between charism and institution, between the freedom of the Spirit and the inertia of society. Israel started out as a people on the move, following God’s… Continue Reading Samuel: Bowing to a King
Exodus: The Journey of Faith
Great Themes of Scripture: Hebrew Bible Exodus: The Journey of Faith Tuesday, June 29, 2021 The journey of Exodus, the journey that Israel walked, is an image of the journey made by every person who sets out to seek the Divine Presence. Israel is, as it were, humanity personified, and so what happened to Israel… Continue Reading Exodus: The Journey of Faith
Genesis: Everything Is Gift
Great Themes of Scripture: Hebrew Bible Genesis: Everything Is Gift Monday, June 28, 2021 The first recordings of “The Great Themes of Scripture” began in October, 1973. There were about 1,200 young people attending Friday night services through the newly formed New Jerusalem Community in Cincinnati. Richard would often preach for an hour, mostly on… Continue Reading Genesis: Everything Is Gift
You Are Loved
Great Themes of Scripture: Hebrew Bible You Are Loved Sunday, June 27, 2021 When I first gave the “Great Themes of Scripture” talks as a young priest in 1973, I couldn’t begin to imagine how they would change my life, and apparently the lives of many others. They changed mine because they were put on… Continue Reading You Are Loved
Trusting Our Inner Authority
Spiritual Direction Trusting Our Inner Authority Friday, June 25, 2021 The two wheels of Scripture and Tradition can be seen as sources of outer authority, while our personal experience leads to our inner authority. I am convinced we need and can have both. Only when inner and outer authority come together do we have true spiritual wisdom. Christianity… Continue Reading Trusting Our Inner Authority
The Mystics as Directors
Spiritual Direction The Mystics as Directors Thursday, June 24, 2021 In addition to his work as a therapist, my friend James Finley has served as a spiritual director for decades. While spiritual direction most often involves one-on-one conversations between two living persons, Jim shows us how reading the words of the mystics can be a… Continue Reading The Mystics as Directors
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Spiritual Direction Who Do You Say That I Am? Wednesday, June 23, 2021 We all have a yearning to be known by each other and by God. Professor and spiritual director Ruth Takiko West uses Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” as a model for our deepest spiritual questioning. “Who do you… Continue Reading Who Do You Say That I Am?
Jesus as Spiritual Director
Spiritual Direction Jesus as Spiritual Director Tuesday, June 22, 2021 Every culture and religious tradition have some method of passing on spiritual wisdom and for helping individuals to discover their own. The Christian tradition of spiritual direction can find its origin in Jesus’ own way of relating to his disciples and the many who sought… Continue Reading Jesus as Spiritual Director
A Midwife for the Soul
Spiritual Direction A Midwife for the Soul Monday, June 21, 2021 Summer Solstice Tend only to the birth in you and you will find all goodness and all consolation, all delight, all being and all truth. Reject it and you reject all goodness and blessing. What comes to you in this birth brings with it… Continue Reading A Midwife for the Soul