Tag Archives: union
Living in Heaven Now
Communion of Saints Living in Heaven Now Friday, March 12, 2021 Jesus spoke these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father . . . I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in me through their word; that they may all be one; even… Continue Reading Living in Heaven Now
Doubt: A Necessary Tool for Growth
Unknowing Doubt: A Necessary Tool for Growth Monday, February 1, 2021 My good friend and colleague Brian McLaren’s recently published book, Faith After Doubt, shows how doubt and periods of unknowing are necessary for spiritual growth. Brian proposes a four-stage growth process of Simplicity, Complexity, Perplexity, and Harmony. He writes: Doubt, it turns out, is… Continue Reading Doubt: A Necessary Tool for Growth
Christ Born in Us
Incarnation Christ Born in Us Friday, December 25, 2020 Christmas Day What I have seen is the totality recapitulated as one, received not in essence but by participation. Just as if you lit a flame from a flame, it is the whole flame you receive. —Symeon the New Theologian Symeon the New Theologian (949‒1022) was… Continue Reading Christ Born in Us
Falling Away from I AM
Thomas Keating: The Secret Embrace, Part Two Falling Away from I AM Tuesday, October 27, 2020 To be nothing Is to consent to being a simple creature. This is the place of encounter with “I AM that I Am.” When there is no more “me, myself, or mine,” Only “I AM” remains. Then the “I”… Continue Reading Falling Away from I AM
A Silent Love
Thomas Keating: The Secret Embrace, Part Two A Silent Love Monday, October 26, 2020 Nowhere is my destination. And no one is my identity. My daily bread is powerlessness. Temptations can be overwhelming. Gone is every hope of help. An abyss opens up within me. I am falling, falling, Plunging into non-existence. Is this annihilation?… Continue Reading A Silent Love
Separateness Is Suffering
True Self/Separate Self Separateness Is Suffering Thursday, September 3, 2020 The idea of the two “selves” within every individual—the True Self and the separate self—is a part of the perennial wisdom and a pathway for transformation in most faith traditions. I share the thoughts of two writers, a rabbi and a Sufi Shaikh (elder), on… Continue Reading Separateness Is Suffering
God Is Our True Mother
Julian of Norwich God Is Our True Mother Wednesday, May 13, 2020 In Chapter 54 of Julian’s Showings, we find what I consider the best description I have read of the union of the soul inside of the Trinity. Julian writes, “[God] makes no distinction in love between the blessed soul of Christ and the least… Continue Reading God Is Our True Mother
Oneing
Julian of Norwich Oneing Tuesday, May 12, 2020 The place which Jesus takes in our soul he will nevermore vacate, for in us is his home of homes, and it is the greatest delight for him to dwell there. . . . And the soul who contemplates this is made like [the one] who is… Continue Reading Oneing
Made for Infinite Love
Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross Made for Infinite Love Thursday, April 23, 2020 Jim Finley, my friend and fellow teacher at the CAC, began studying the mystics at the Abbey of Gethsemani at age eighteen, with Thomas Merton as his novice master. He remembers when he first read this excerpt from the… Continue Reading Made for Infinite Love
Hope and Suffering
The Universal Pattern Hope and Suffering Friday, April 17, 2020 When we try to live in solidarity with the pain of the world—and do not spend our lives running from it—we will encounter various forms of “crucifixion.” Pain is physical or emotional discomfort, but suffering often comes from our resistance to that pain. The soul… Continue Reading Hope and Suffering