Tag Archives: union
At the Heart
Cosmology: Part Two At the Heart Thursday, September 5, 2019 In a recent episode of our podcast Another Name for Every Thing, Brie Stoner, Paul Swanson, and I reflected on why people are so uncomfortable when we say things like “Christ is in all things.” I’ve been accused of being a pantheist, but that’s lazy… Continue Reading At the Heart
The Mystical Heartbeat
Introduction to Christian Mysticism The Mystical Heartbeat Friday, July 19, 2019 Today I share again from Carl McColman’s book Christian Mystics: The first Christian mystics appear in the Bible, figures like John the Evangelist and Paul of Tarsus. But mysticism didn’t end when the Bible was written. Great mystics appear in every century of Christian… Continue Reading The Mystical Heartbeat
Incarnational Mysticism
Introduction to Christian Mysticism Incarnational Mysticism Sunday, July 14, 2019 Years ago, someone asked if I could sum up all my teachings in two words. My response was “incarnational mysticism.” The first word, “incarnational,” is Christianity’s specialty and should always be our essential theme. We believe God became embodied. The early Fathers of the Church… Continue Reading Incarnational Mysticism
Laying Down Our Life
Conscious Love Laying Down Our Life Tuesday, June 18, 2019 Cynthia Bourgeault continues reflecting on authentic love, distinguishing it from infatuation or romance. She begins by sharing insights from Scottish psychiatrist Maurice Nicoll (1884–1953), offering a basis for understanding union within the Gospel framework. Nicoll suggests that laying down one’s soul for our neighbor “is… Continue Reading Laying Down Our Life
Loving Relationship
Indwelling Spirit Loving Relationship Tuesday, May 21, 2019 The highest expression of the spirit is the one that opens us to the Great Other, in love and trust. It establishes a dialogue with God, listens from the conscience to God’s call, and delivers us trustingly into the palm of God’s hand. This communion can be… Continue Reading Loving Relationship
The Gate of Heaven
Heaven Now The Gate of Heaven Thursday, May 2, 2019 James Finley, one of the Center for Action and Contemplation’s core faculty members, was a spiritual directee of Thomas Merton (1915–1968) at the Abbey of Gethsemani. Drawing from this experience and his own insights as a student of the mystics and a clinical psychologist, Finley… Continue Reading The Gate of Heaven
Finding Our Life
Heaven Now Finding Our Life Wednesday, May 1, 2019 Anyone who wants to save his life must lose it. Anyone who loses her life will find it. —Matthew 16:25 This passage from Matthew is a very strong, almost brutal statement from Jesus. It has perhaps been discussed, dismissed, misunderstood, and conveniently forgotten more than almost… Continue Reading Finding Our Life
Divinization
Heaven Now Divinization Monday, April 29, 2019 If we could glimpse the panoramic view of the biblical revelation and the Big Picture of which we’re a part, we’d see how God is forever evolving human consciousness, making us collectively ever more ready for God. The Hebrew prophets and many Catholic and Sufi mystics used words… Continue Reading Divinization
At Home in God
Growing in Christ: Week 2 At Home in God Thursday, March 28, 2019 If I am not doing my Father’s work, there is no need to believe in me, but at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in me and I am in the… Continue Reading At Home in God
An Incarnational Worldview
Christ Since the Beginning An Incarnational Worldview Friday, February 22, 2019 What I am calling an incarnational worldview is the profound recognition of the presence of the divine in literally “every thing” and “every one.” It is the key to mental and spiritual health, as well as to a kind of basic contentment and happiness.… Continue Reading An Incarnational Worldview
