Tag Archives: freedom
Envisioning a New World
Prophetic Imagination Envisioning a New World Thursday, March 25, 2021 One of the most prominent prophets in recent American history is Martin Luther King Jr. Like the prophets of Israel, he saw not just what was wrong with his nation, but how it might be restored to the promise upon which it was founded. The… Continue Reading Envisioning a New World
The Path of the Fall
Prophetic Imagination The Path of the Fall Monday, March 22, 2021 In spirituality, there are basically two paths, what I’ve called the path of the fall and the path of the return. The path of return has been the message of the priestly class. True priests talk of religion, communion, love, transcendence, connecting this world… Continue Reading The Path of the Fall
On the Edge of the Inside
Prophetic Imagination On the Edge of the Inside Sunday, March 21, 2021 In the fall of 2020, I began sending out occasional letters that I called “Letters from Outside the Camp,” a reference to the many usages of “outside the camp” in the Hebrew Bible. It is a prophetic position “on the edge of the… Continue Reading On the Edge of the Inside
I’m On My Way
African American Spirituality and Song I’m On My Way Wednesday, February 10, 2021 In prayer we trust / By hope we live / On truth we stand / From our heart we give / Love. —Sweet Honey in the Rock Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon founded the iconic African American a cappella group, Sweet Honey in… Continue Reading I’m On My Way
A Liberating Spirit
Liberation A Liberating Spirit Thursday, January 21, 2021 The Holy Spirit is a liberating Spirit. Even when we experience lack of freedom in our daily lives, time in prayer can be an experience of full freedom in God’s presence. I sometimes miss the exuberance of the charismatic movement of which I was a part in… Continue Reading A Liberating Spirit
Authentic Freedom
Liberation Authentic Freedom Tuesday, January 19, 2021 In his newest book, Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future, Pope Francis points out that we need both personal liberation and liberation from unjust and harmful systems. Unfortunately, many people have been taught that salvation is merely an individual escape plan for the next world,… Continue Reading Authentic Freedom
A Journey to Freedom
Liberation A Journey to Freedom Sunday, January 17, 2021 In the Book of Exodus, Egypt is the place of slavery and the promised land is the place of freedom. The journey from Egypt to the promised land is a standing paradigm for the universal struggle from slavery to freedom—and thus for the spiritual journey as… Continue Reading A Journey to Freedom
Contemplative Responsibility
Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action Contemplative Responsibility Monday, November 23, 2020 Thomas Merton has been a primary teacher and inspiration to me ever since I read his book The Sign of Jonas as a teenager. He was one of the most influential American Catholics of the twentieth century. It was Merton who reintroduced the Christian… Continue Reading Contemplative Responsibility