Tag Archives: freedom
Sacred Silence
Action and Contemplation: Part One Sacred Silence Thursday, January 9, 2020 Most of us who live in a capitalist culture, where everything is about competing and comparing, will find contemplation extremely counterintuitive. How do we grasp something as empty, as harmless, as seemingly fruitless as the practice of silence? Only when we know that it… Continue Reading Sacred Silence
The Twelve Steps as Shadow Work
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Part One The Twelve Steps as Shadow Work Thursday, December 12, 2019 Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. [1] Jesus said, “The truth will set you free,” (John 8:32) and I always feel compelled to add, “But first it will make you miserable.” There is no other way… Continue Reading The Twelve Steps as Shadow Work
The Gift of Sufficiency
Economy: Old and New The Gift of Sufficiency Thursday, November 28, 2019 Thanksgiving in the United States As long as we operate inside any scarcity model, there will never be enough God or grace to go around. Jesus came to undo our notions of scarcity and tip us over into a worldview of absolute abundance.… Continue Reading The Gift of Sufficiency
Politics: Old and New: Weekly Summary
Politics: Old and New Summary: Sunday, November 17—November 22, 2019 There is no such thing as being non-political. (Sunday) We are called to be “in Christ,” which means we share—always imperfectly, and always in community with others—the call to be the embodiment of God’s love in the world. —Wes Granberg-Michaelson (Monday) Twice a year we… Continue Reading Politics: Old and New: Weekly Summary
A Transcultural Teaching
Church: Old and New A Transcultural Teaching Wednesday, October 30, 2019 Every disciple of the kingdom is like a householder who draws out from his storage room, things both old and new. —Matthew 13:52 This text inspired this year’s Daily Meditations theme of “Old and New: An Evolving Faith.” Christianity isn’t done growing and changing.… Continue Reading A Transcultural Teaching
Inner and Outer Freedom
Franciscan Way: Part Two Inner and Outer Freedom Tuesday, October 8, 2019 Francis and Clare of Assisi were not so much prophets by what they said as by the radical, system-critiquing way that they lived their lives. They found both their inner and outer freedom by structurally living on the edge of the inside of… Continue Reading Inner and Outer Freedom
Imagination
Prophets: Part Two Imagination Thursday, July 11, 2019 In his classic book, The Prophetic Imagination, theologian Walter Brueggemann gives voice to the role of the prophet in honoring the ministry of imagination. Brueggemann writes: The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception… Continue Reading Imagination
Liberation
Prophets: Part Two Liberation Monday July 8, 2019 A prophet is one who keeps God free for people and who keeps people free for God. Both of these are much needed and vital tasks. Without the educated gift of prophecy, God almost always becomes imprisoned and made inaccessible, and far too many people have been shamed and… Continue Reading Liberation
Civil Rights and Obligations
Prophets: Part One Civil Rights and Obligations Thursday, July 4, 2019 Sister Simone Campbell, SSS—known as “the nun on the bus”—is someone I consider a modern prophet. She is the Executive Director of NETWORK, an organization that lobbies for socially just federal policies. On this “Independence Day” (in the United States), reflect on Sr. Simone’s… Continue Reading Civil Rights and Obligations
