Jesus does some necessary house cleaning in this Sunday’s Gospel. “Jesus found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins … Continue reading “Physical Exercise”
Category: Spirituality
Intellectual Exercise
In today’s readings, the Bible tells us how it is good that God told Abraham, “Take your only son Isaac, whom you love, and… offer him up as a holocaust.” But it also tells us it is good when God tells Abraham to then spare Isaac. The Bible then again reverts to having Paul tell … Continue reading “Intellectual Exercise”
Spiritual Exercise
“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “Now is the time of fulfillment. The Community of God … Continue reading “Spiritual Exercise”
Christ Is Among Us
John the Baptist is portrayed as devoted in his mission – to make Christ known. Yet the Gospel also portrays John as not being entirely sure who Christ Jesus is, saying twice, “I did not know him.” John is willing to let the Spirit open him to Christ’s Presence. To be both devoted in our … Continue reading “Christ Is Among Us”
Spirit of Truth
In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus promises the Spirit as a guide to truth. He tells disciples: “The Spirit of Truth will guide you to all truth.” The Spirit of Truth can be distinguished from the Law. Law can consist of doctrine or dogma meaning a set of rules or beliefs held as incontestable. Incontestable as … Continue reading “Spirit of Truth”
Holy Energy: Worship or Inspiration
Christ’s Spirit, emphasized on Pentecost, celebrates an ongoing energy shift. It’s the energy shift away from worship – extracted energy, and toward inspiration – enlivening energy. Worship extracts energy by directing our energy outward. We direct our energy to an external unchanging deity and his earthly representatives. We seek in return a reward or an … Continue reading “Holy Energy: Worship or Inspiration”
Relationships
Belief in God as Trinity is an old tradition in institutional christianity. For some it express their threefold experience of and relationship with Divinity as Creator, Incarnate, and Spirit – meaning a God Created us into being, shares our human condition in Christ’s Incarnation, and abides with us as a Holy Spirit. The Trinity as … Continue reading “Relationships”
Eternal Life
Does eternal life refer only to the hereafter or can it also refer to the herebefore and to all that is in between? Has life always been and will it always be? How can we conceive of the mystery of life? It is a miracle, revealing all that is delicate and yet so very enduring. … Continue reading “Eternal Life”
Mystery
What is the leap of faith we make to believe in God? We need to consider our image of God. A genuine belief moves us into the realm of mystery. We take no leap, we experience no mystery when we believe God is a judge or is punitive. Such descriptors are but observations of people … Continue reading “Mystery”
Vital Spirit
The Spirit of God was experienced by disciples as a vital energy. It was as the breath of Christ and came in the physical expressions of a strong wind and tongues of fire. The presence of God in Christ was both contained in physical form, and yet, free flowing as from breath, wind, and fire. … Continue reading “Vital Spirit”