Tag Archives: cross
How Do We “Save” the World?
Choosing Love in a Time of Evil How Do We “Save” the World? Sunday, May 16, 2021 The Divine Mind transforms all human suffering by identifying completely with the human predicament and standing in full solidarity with it from beginning to end. This is the real meaning of the crucifixion. The cross is not just… Continue Reading How Do We “Save” the World?
Gazing on the Crucified Jesus
Trauma and Healing Gazing on the Crucified Jesus Friday, May 7, 2021 Those who “gaze upon” the crucified Jesus (John 19:37) long enough—with contemplative eyes—are always healed at deep levels of pain, unforgiveness, aggression, and victimhood. It demands no theological education at all, just an “inner exchange” by receiving the image within and offering one’s… Continue Reading Gazing on the Crucified Jesus
Trauma and Silence
Trauma and Healing Trauma and Silence Thursday, May 6, 2021 Today I share a contemplative poem from CAC friend and writer Felicia Murrell. Felicia’s words combine a deep awareness of God’s presence while clearly naming the collective trauma of police brutality and lynchings. It is worth remembering, as Black liberation theologian James Cone (1938–2018) points… Continue Reading Trauma and Silence
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