Tag Archives: Gospel
A Franciscan Revolution
Franciscan Spirituality: Week 3 A Franciscan Revolution Friday, June 23, 2017 “. . . A man like St. Francis of Assisi, for instance. What does he really mean? . . . A complete break with the pattern of history. . . . A man born out of due time. A sudden, unexplained revival of the Read More »
Franciscan Spirituality: Week 2 Summary
Franciscan Spirituality: Week 2 Summary: Sunday, June 11-Friday, June 16, 2017 Francis of Assisi was known as a man of deep and abiding joy. He told the friars that it was their vocation “to move people’s hearts and lift them up to spiritual joy.” (Sunday) We can only give away who we are. We can Read More »
Rule of the Gospel
Franciscan Spirituality: Week 1 Rule of the Gospel Tuesday, June 6, 2017 In the beginning of the Franciscan Rule, Saint Francis says, “The Rule and the life of the Friars Minor is to simply live the Gospel.” [1] In fact, the first Rule that he started writing around 1209 is simply a collection of quotes Read More »
An Economy of Grace
Law and Grace An Economy of Grace Tuesday, May 23, 2017 God’s freely given grace is a humiliation to the ego because free gifts say nothing about being strong, superior, or moral. Thus only the soul can understand grace, never the mind or the ego. The ego does not know how to receive things freely Read More »
The Paschal Mystery
Path of Descent The Paschal Mystery Sunday, October 16, 2016 The path of descent, or the pattern of falling upward, is found throughout the Bible. Jacob’s son, Joseph, is thrown into the well by his own brothers and then rescued (Genesis 37:20-28). The prophet Jeremiah is thrown into a cistern by the civil leaders after Read More »
Love Is Who You Are
True Self/False Self: Week 2 Love Is Who You Are Thursday, August 11, 2016 Love is not really an action that you do. Love is what and who you are, in your deepest essence. Love is a place that already exists inside of you, but is also greater than you. That’s the paradox. It’s within Read More »
Good News
Spirituality of Imperfection: Week 2 Good News Monday, July 25, 2016 The word “Gospel” means “Good News.” The reason it’s called the Good News is because—surprise of surprises—mistake, failure, and sin are part of the salvation equation. I want to share again these words from Julian of Norwich, because they are so powerful: “First there Read More »
Rediscovering the Gospel Message
Spirituality of Imperfection: Week 1 Rediscovering the Gospel Message Monday, July 18, 2016 The spirituality of imperfection is, quite simply, the Gospel. However, in the fourth century, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. From that time on, the spirituality of imperfection—Jesus’ liberating message—became a subtext, a minority position. Once you align with imperial Read More »
Love in Action
Action and Contemplation: Week 2 Love in Action Thursday, May 18, 2016 The way to arrive and remain within “the force field of the Holy Spirit,” which is one way of describing consciousness—is both very simple and very hard: you’ve got to remain in love, with a foundational yes to every moment. You can’t risk Read More »
Diversity in Community
Community Diversity in Community Friday, April 22, 2016 Most of our churches are rather homogeneous. Yet church, of all places, should be inclusive and reflective of our diverse and complex world. Shane Claiborne describes the all too familiar scene: We are always most comfortable around people who are like us. I think that’s true of Read More »
