We live in very fearful times. In an interview with Bob Woodward and Robert Costa in 2016, Donald Trump said, “Real power is — I don’t even want to use the word — fear.” Obviously his trust in the power of fear was well founded as he went on to win the presidency. Yet the … Continue reading Do not fear the world
God’s presence in nature
Catholic theologian, Father Edward Leen, expresses in his book, The Holy Spirit, just how intimate God’s presence is in nature: “God’s power is put forth in every pulse of organic and inorganic being, in repose and movement, in every slightest change. Since every being and every aspect of being is the effect of God’s creative … Continue reading God’s presence in nature
Christ and Christian Experience
Christ is the beginning and end of Christian experience. In the closing chapter of the Bible, from the lips of Jesus we hear: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13)
The Delights of the World
Delightful would it be to me to be in Uchd Ailiun (an Irish headland over the sea) On the pinnacle of a rock, That I might often see the face of the ocean; That I might see its heaving waves over the wide ocean, When they chant music to their Father upon the world’s course; … Continue reading The Delights of the World
Surprised by God
The scriptures record that a frequent response to the actions and announcements of God, through the Messiah and others, was surprise, wonder, and amazement. The Gospel of Matthew records that the crowds listening to Jesus, “were astonished at his teaching.” Sometimes witnesses were left without words. The Gospel of Luke records that, "astonished by his … Continue reading Surprised by God
Incommunicable experience
As it is impossible to verbally describe the sweetness of honey to one who has never tasted honey, so the goodness of God cannot be clearly communicated by way of teaching if we ourselves are not able to penetrate into the goodness of the Lord by our own experience. (St. Basil the Great, Conversations on … Continue reading Incommunicable experience
Is something essential being overlooked?
A man who has never had that experience, be it only very briefly, who has never felt that he is exiled from God and from real life, will never understand what Christianity is about. And the one who is perfectly “at home” in this world and its life, who has never been wounded by the … Continue reading Is something essential being overlooked?
Expanded Horizons
Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra once wrote: This new experience – this opening of the heavens and the expansion of the horizon – is one of the most beautiful experiences that a person can have. From then on, the character of our life is changed. From then on, we soar through the sky on wings. Provided … Continue reading Expanded Horizons
Alexei Ospipov on the limits of experience and the knowledge of God
Is it really possible to deny God only because everyday experience does not give Him to us? But we know that “everyday experience” is in no way absolute, that it encompasses only some superficial sides of events and phenomena, that plain common sense is limited, and that there are many irrefutable facts which do not … Continue reading Alexei Ospipov on the limits of experience and the knowledge of God
At the turning of the tides
With the turning of the seasonal tides I find myself reflecting on fresh starts and new possibilities. Jesus once said, “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.” New … Continue reading At the turning of the tides
The Unconscious Mind in the Sacred Scriptures
Was the unconscious mind unknown to the prophets and poets of ancient Israel? Or were they aware our awareness had limits? No doubt it would be anachronistic to attribute a modern understanding of the mind to the ancient authors, but I think there's evidence enough that they knew of dark recesses within themselves. Consider for instance … Continue reading The Unconscious Mind in the Sacred Scriptures
Listening to God through the land
Did the prophets think God could only speak through them? Did they think the God was mute without them? On the contrary, the prophets recognised it was the Spirit of prophecy who enabled them to speak, and that God could speak through anyone or anything. Job was emphatic on this point: But ask the animals, and … Continue reading Listening to God through the land
