Tag Archives: en Cristo
In Christ
Christ in Paul’s Eyes In Christ Wednesday, February 27, 2019 Paul summarizes his corporate understanding of salvation with his shorthand phrase “en Cristo,” using it more than any single phrase in all of his letters (over 100 times). En Cristo seems to be Paul’s code phrase for the gracious, participatory experience of salvation “from the… Continue Reading In Christ
Prayer as Surrender
Spirituality of Letting Go: Week 2 Prayer as Surrender Tuesday, September 6, 2016 One must fully recognize that mystics like Francis and Clare lived from a place of conscious, chosen, and loving union with God; such union was realized by surrendering to it, not by achieving it. Surrender to Another, participation with Another, and divine… Continue Reading Prayer as Surrender
Dying and Living in Christ
Participation: Week 1 Dying and Living in Christ Thursday, April 7, 2016 Paul uses the phrase en Christo, in Christ, around seventy times. He’s trying to describe this larger life in which we are participating. He speaks of belonging to Christ, of being possessed by Christ, captured by Christ, apprehended by Christ. He says, “I… Continue Reading Dying and Living in Christ
Dying to Self
Participation: Week 1 Dying to Self Wednesday, April 6, 2016 In truth, we must change our very self-image rather than just be told some new things to see or do. To be a Christian is to objectively know that we share the same identity that Jesus enjoyed as both human and divine, which is what… Continue Reading Dying to Self
The Four Loves
Paul: Week 2 The Four Loves Tuesday, March 15, 2016 There are many different kinds of love. Ancient Greeks had multiple distinct words for what we try to cover with our single word “love”; these include philia (friendship), eros (passion), storge (familial love), and agape (infinite or divine love). I sometimes fear that our paucity… Continue Reading The Four Loves
What Is Conversion?
Paul: Week 1 What Is Conversion? Monday, March 7, 2016 “Suddenly, while he was traveling to Damascus and just before he reached the city, there came a light from heaven all around him. He fell to the ground and then he heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ‘Who are you,… Continue Reading What Is Conversion?
Divinization
Scripture: Week 2 Divinization Friday, March 4, 2016 If we could glimpse the panoramic view of the biblical revelation and the Big Picture that we’re a part of, we’d see how God is forever evolving human consciousness, making us ever more ready for God. The Jewish prophets and many Catholic and Sufi mystics used words… Continue Reading Divinization
A Vital Spiritual Experience
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Week 1 A Vital Spiritual Experience Tuesday, November 17, 2015 The Twelve Step program helps people see that addiction is an illness which requires understanding and spiritual healing—much more than a moral failure which deserves condemnation. This is a gigantic breakthrough. Pope Francis gets this when he says that the church should be… Continue Reading A Vital Spiritual Experience