St. Francis of Assisi painting by Sr. Nancy Earle

Painting by Sr. Nancy Earle

Richard’s Daily Meditations

Seven Underlying Themes
of Richard Rohr’s Teachings

Third Theme: There is only one Reality. Any distinction between natural and supernatural, sacred and profane, is a bogus one (Frame).

Not a Competitive Religion

Meditation 44 of 49

Paul, a good Jew, quotes Deuteronomy, “The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:8), and begins with a challenge that we still need today: “Do not tell yourself that you have to bring Christ down!” (Romans 10:6). He knew that God had overcome the human-divine gap in the Christ Mystery once and for all. God is henceforth here, and not just there.

This is Christianity’s only completely unique message. Full incarnation is what distinguishes us from all other religions. This is our only real trump card, and for the most part, we have not yet played it. History, the planet—and other religions—have only suffered as a result. Incarnationalism does not put you in competition with any other religions but, in fact, allows you to see God in all things, including them! It mandates that you love and respect all others.

The mystery of the Incarnation is precisely the repositioning of God in the human and material world and not just part of that world. Common variety top-down religion often creates very passive, and even passive-dependent and passive-aggressive Christians. Certainly that is very common in my own Roman Church. Bottom-up, or incarnational, religion offers a God we can experience for ourselves and a God we can see—and must see—in everyone else. Any God on a throne does not achieve that purpose, but merely makes you fight other “thrones.”

Adapted from Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality, p. 121

 

 

Falling Upward book + companion journal

Back by popular demand:

Breathing Under Water

a self-paced, online course
June 19 – August 14, 2013

Join fellow freedom-seekers in an eight-week exploration of spirituality and the Twelve Steps.

Space is limited. Register today!

Did you get this message forwarded from someone else? Wish to sign up for CAC's email lists yourself? Subscribe to CAC email lists here.

You are receiving this message because you subscribed to the CAC's "Daily Meditations" email list. You can unsubscribe or change your preferences or email address at any time.

Please do not reply to this email. For more info about: