Tag Archives: Simplicity
To Live Lightly
Franciscan Way: Part One To Live Lightly Wednesday, October 2, 2019 Today, we will continue with my Franciscan brother and long-time friend John Quigley’s summary of Franciscanism. I’ve added my thoughts in italics within brackets. [Francis] knew that we share this earth, our loves and work with all of God’s creatures, our brothers and sisters.… Continue Reading To Live Lightly
Oneness: Weekly Summary
Oneness Summary: Sunday, September 22—Friday, September 27, 2019 When we carry our small suffering in solidarity with humanity’s one universal longing for deep union, it helps keep us from self-pity or self-preoccupation. We know that we are all in this together. (Sunday) God is the force that is binding, moving, sustaining, and transforming all of… Continue Reading Oneness: Weekly Summary
My Own Journey
Growing in Christ: Week 2 My Own Journey Monday, March 25, 2019 One always learns one’s mystery at the price of one’s innocence. —Robertson Davies [1] We all came into this world gifted with innocence, but gradually, as we became more intelligent, we lost our innocence. We were born with silence, and as we grew… Continue Reading My Own Journey
Economy: Week 2 Summary
Economy: Week 2 Summary: Sunday, July 1-Friday, July 6, 2018 St. Augustine said, “If you comprehend it, it is not God.” And yet, very often we want a God who reflects and even confirms our culture, our biases, our economic, political, and security systems. (Sunday) Money is an invention . . . a fabrication. .… Continue Reading Economy: Week 2 Summary
Be Peace and Justice
Justice: Week 2 Be Peace and Justice Monday, June 18, 2018 Yesterday I shared how far Christianity has strayed from Jesus’ vision of justice, even though his teaching was crystal clear. Francis (1182-1226) and Clare (1194-1253) of Assisi understood his message and modeled a similar agenda: a simple lifestyle outside the system of production and… Continue Reading Be Peace and Justice
Justice with Peace
Justice: Week 1 Justice with Peace Wednesday, June 13, 2018 If you want peace, work for justice. —Pope Paul VI [1] Jack Jezreel, the founder of JustFaith Ministries, writes about six crucial ingredients for Christianity to be an effective force for peace and justice, “peace with justice, justice with peace.” Today we’ll explore the first… Continue Reading Justice with Peace
Growing into Belonging
Growing in Love’s Likeness Growing into Belonging Thursday, March 29, 2018 As we grow spiritually, we discover that we are not as separate as we thought we were. Separation from God, self, and others is a deep and tragic illusion. As we grow into deeper connection and union, the things that once brought meaning and… Continue Reading Growing into Belonging
The Path of Descent
Franciscan Spirituality: Week 3 The Path of Descent Wednesday, June 21, 2017 Jesus himself taught and exemplified the path of descent, which Christians have often called “the way of the cross.” The path downward is much more trustworthy than any path upward, which tends to feed the ego. Like few other Christians, it was Francis… Continue Reading The Path of Descent
The Primacy of Love
Franciscan Spirituality: Week 2 The Primacy of Love Tuesday, June 13, 2017 I like how my long-time friend and fellow Franciscan, John Quigley, summarizes Franciscan spirituality. He writes: It is not easy to put into a capsule the spirit and gifts of Franciscan thinking. Its hallmarks are simplicity, reverence, fraternity, ecumenism, ecology, interdependence, and dialogue.… Continue Reading The Primacy of Love
Simplicity
Alternative Orthodoxy Simplicity Tuesday, May 30, 2017 Most of us have grown up with a capitalist worldview which makes a virtue and goal out of accumulation, consumption, and collecting. It’s hard for us to see this as an unsustainable and unhappy trap because all of our rooms are decorated in this same color. It is… Continue Reading Simplicity
