Tag Archives: Job
The Devastation of Grief
Everybody Grieves The Devastation of Grief Monday, August 2, 2021 In the Hebrew Scriptures, we find Job moving through Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s well-known stages of grief and dying: denial, anger, bargaining, resignation, and acceptance. The first seven days of Job’s time on the “dung heap” of pain are spent in silence, the immediate response matching the… Continue Reading The Devastation of Grief
Job: Hoping Against Hope
Great Themes of Scripture: Hebrew Bible Job: Hoping Against Hope Thursday, July 1, 2021 The author of the biblical book of Job wrestled with the mystery of evil. If we look at this book as a drama or play, we can easily see Job as the protagonist, God as the hero, and Satan as the… Continue Reading Job: Hoping Against Hope
The Wisdom of Job
Wisdom in Times of Crisis The Wisdom of Job Tuesday, July 7, 2020 Theology does not by itself provide wisdom in crisis. All theology must become a living spirituality to really change us or the world. It’s disappointing that we Christians have emphasized theology, catechism, and religious education much more than prayer and practice. The… Continue Reading The Wisdom of Job
Why Suffering?
The Universal Pattern Why Suffering? Tuesday, April 14, 2020 Sooner or later, the heart of everybody’s spiritual problem is “What do we do with our pain? Why is there evil? Why is there suffering?” Job begs God for an answer to this mystery, and he can’t get one. He only begins to trust when he… Continue Reading Why Suffering?
The Invitation of Grace
Bias from the Bottom: Week 1 The Invitation of Grace Monday, March 21, 2016 As I shared earlier this year, the Bible is “a text in travail.” Sometimes the biblical writers catch a glimpse of God’s true character—love, mercy, and justice—and sometimes they lose sight of it. Old Testament scholar and theologian Walter Brueggemann traces… Continue Reading The Invitation of Grace
Transforming Our Pain
Scripture: Week 1 Transforming Our Pain Friday, February 26, 2016 One of the enlightened themes that develops in the Judeo-Christian scriptures and reaches its fullness in the crucified Jesus is the recognition of the transformative significance of human pain and suffering. We see this most especially in the four “Servant Songs” of Isaiah (chapters 42-53),… Continue Reading Transforming Our Pain
Order, Disorder, Reorder
Scripture: Week 1 Order, Disorder, Reorder Tuesday, February 23, 2016 The Bible reveals the development of human consciousness and human readiness for a Divine Love Affair. The differences between earlier and later Scriptures clearly show an evolution of human capacity, comprehension, and depth of experience. Jesus, for me, represents the mature image of what God… Continue Reading Order, Disorder, Reorder
God’s Solidarity with Suffering
Incarnation: Week 2 God’s Solidarity with Suffering Friday, January 22, 2016 While resurrection is where incarnation leads, there is one caveat, and it’s a big one: transformation and “crucifixion” must intervene between life and Life. Some form of loss, metamorphosis, or transformation always precedes any rejuvenation. We see this throughout the entire physical and biological universe.… Continue Reading God’s Solidarity with Suffering