Tag Archives: Holy Spirit
The Gift of Confidence
Father Richard describes the gift of confidence, which arises not from our ego or efforts, but from the foundational goodness of God. When we are confident, we believe in a deep way that life is good, God is good, and humanity is good. We become safe and salutary people for others. We do exciting and… Continue Reading The Gift of Confidence
Good Power
Good and Bad Power Good Power Sunday, August 8, 2021 Despite the many abuses of power documented throughout history, power itself cannot be inherently bad. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is described as dynamis, which means power (Acts 10:38; 1 Corinthians 2:5). Jesus tells his disciples before his Ascension that “You will receive… Continue Reading Good Power
Acts: Knowledge on Fire
Great Themes of Scripture: New Testament Acts: Knowledge on Fire Wednesday, July 7, 2021 In Luke’s Gospel, the Holy Spirit is fully bestowed on Jesus, the beloved Son who acts with God’s power, speaks with God’s authority, and loves with God’s love. Through the gift of the Spirit given to Jesus, God’s justice is announced… Continue Reading Acts: Knowledge on Fire
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Spiritual Direction Who Do You Say That I Am? Wednesday, June 23, 2021 We all have a yearning to be known by each other and by God. Professor and spiritual director Ruth Takiko West uses Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” as a model for our deepest spiritual questioning. “Who do you… Continue Reading Who Do You Say That I Am?
Unity with the Spirit
Oneness Unity with the Spirit Wednesday, May 26, 2021 While we have the language of philosophy, psychology, modern science, and sociology to describe the truth of universal interconnectedness, the mystics first described it based on their own experience. In this meditation, African American mystic and scholar Howard Thurman (1899‒1981) reminds us of how our love… Continue Reading Unity with the Spirit
Our Faith Is in Community
Oneness Our Faith Is in Community Monday, May 24, 2021 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:16–17) We’re… Continue Reading Our Faith Is in Community
We Turn Around One Thing
Oneness We Turn Around One Thing Sunday, May 23, 2021 Pentecost Sunday Unity is not the same as uniformity. Unity, in fact, is the reconciliation of differences, and those differences must be maintained. We must actually distinguish things and separate them, usually at a cost to ourselves, before we can spiritually unite them (Ephesians 2:14‒16).… Continue Reading We Turn Around One Thing
Joining the Prophetic Chorus
Prophetic Imagination Joining the Prophetic Chorus Friday, March 26, 2021 While the most well-known Hebrew prophets are presumably male, such as Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, the Bible also contains little-known women prophets such as Deborah (Judges 4:4–5), Huldah (2 Kings 22) and Anna (mentioned in Luke 2:36). Rabbi Tikva Frymer-Kensky shares one example of this… Continue Reading Joining the Prophetic Chorus