Tag Archives: cross
The Saving Power of the Cross
Scapegoating and the Cross The Saving Power of the Cross Friday, April 2, 2021 Good Friday Today the primary human problem is both revealed and resolved. It is indeed a “good” Friday. What is revealed is our human inclination to kill others, in any multitude of ways, instead of dying to ourselves—to our own illusions,… Continue Reading The Saving Power of the Cross
The Wisdom of the Passion
Scapegoating and the Cross The Wisdom of the Passion Thursday, April 1, 2021 Holy Thursday CAC teacher Cynthia Bourgeault invites us to consider the meaning of the passion from a wisdom perspective, not as a spectator watching what Jesus did, but understanding what each of us is called to do: The passion is really the… Continue Reading The Wisdom of the Passion
A Temporary Solution
Scapegoating and the Cross A Temporary Solution Monday, March 29, 2021 The word “scapegoating” originated from an ingenious ritual described in Leviticus 16. According to Jewish law, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest laid hands on an “escaping” goat, placing all the sins of the Jewish people from the previous year onto the… Continue Reading A Temporary Solution
Corporate Evil and Corporate Good
What Do We Do with Evil? Corporate Evil and Corporate Good Friday, October 16, 2020 Both Jesus and Paul radically reframe the human situation and invite us to live a vulnerable human life in communal solidarity with both sin and salvation. Neither sin nor salvation could ever be exclusively mine, but both of them are… Continue Reading Corporate Evil and Corporate Good
Transforming our Pain
Wounded Healers Transforming our Pain Friday, September 18, 2020 If I were to name the Christian religion, I would probably call it “The Way of the Wound.” Jesus agrees to be the Wounded One, and we Christians are these strange believers in a wounded healer. We come to God not through our strength but through our… Continue Reading Transforming our Pain
God Uses Everything
Wounded Healers God Uses Everything Monday, September 14, 2020 Feast of the Triumph of the Cross The genius of Jesus’ ministry is that he embraces tragedy, suffering, pain, betrayal, and death itself to bring us to God. There are no dead ends. Everything can be transmuted, and everything can be used. Everything. It seems that everybody… Continue Reading God Uses Everything
A Mystic for Our Times
Julian of Norwich A Mystic for Our Times Sunday, May 10, 2020 Recently I have again been reading Lady Julian of Norwich (1342-1416), one of my all-time favorite mystics. Each time I return to her writings, I always find something new. Julian experienced her sixteen visions, or “showings” as she called them, all on one… Continue Reading A Mystic for Our Times
Lesson Five: Nothing Can Come Between Us
Reality Initiating Us: Part Two Lesson Five: Nothing Can Come Between Us Friday, April 10, 2020 Good Friday It is true that you are going to die, and yet “I am certain of this, neither death nor life, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, not any height nor depth, nor any… Continue Reading Lesson Five: Nothing Can Come Between Us
Lesson One: Life Is Hard
Reality Initiating Us: Part One Lesson One: Life Is Hard Monday, March 30, 2020 You have to be sick and tired of being sick and tired before recovery can begin. —Twelve Step Wisdom All great spirituality is about what we do with our pain. Creation has a pattern of wisdom; and we dare not shield… Continue Reading Lesson One: Life Is Hard
Suffering in Solidarity
The Path of Descent Suffering in Solidarity Sunday, March 22, 2020 I am not alone in my tiredness or sickness or fears, but at one with millions of others from many centuries, and it is all part of life. —Etty Hillesum [1] The “cross,” rightly understood, always reveals various kinds of resurrection. It’s as if God were holding… Continue Reading Suffering in Solidarity