By reclaiming the many divergent roots of our faith tradition, we come closer to experiencing the wholeness and union that God surely desires for us and offers to us.
Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation
6th c. mosaic (detail), Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, Tabgha, Israel.
6th c. mosaic (detail), Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, Tabgha, Israel.     
The Early Christian Church
The Early Eastern Church
Friday, May 1, 2015  
In addition to the Desert Fathers and Mothers, I particularly value the wisdom of the Greek-speaking theologians in early Christianity, the "Fathers" of the Eastern Church. These names would be known in a Western seminary and some church calendars, but they would not be familiar names for most lay Catholics or Protestants: Origen, Athanasius, Basil, the two Gregorys (of Nazianzen and Nyssa), Evagrius Ponticus, John Chrysostom, Pseudo-Dionysius, the two Cyrils (of Alexandria and Jerusalem), and others. Their writings were formative in the early development of Christian theology--some of which we've retained, and unfortunately, much of which we've forgotten or labeled heretical. (Following next week's meditations on the Desert Fathers and Mothers, we'll learn from a few of these Eastern Christian teachers.)

Early Eastern Christianity set the foundation and ground for what we would now call contemplation. The term hesychasm ("resting" in God) applies to this primary concern in the Eastern Church. They are, as it were, the "Buddhists" of Christianity. The Western Church was always more missionary-oriented, more practical, and also focused on academic learning. That made a big difference in our two approaches, and obviously there are strengths and weaknesses to both. Our biggest loss was that we did not balance one another out.

Among many of the early Fathers there is also a common belief in apokatastasis (universal restoration) that has largely escaped the Western Church. Most Catholics and Protestants would be shocked at their early belief that salvation is cosmic and universal, and that this is the precise and perfect meaning of Christ's victory. While this early belief is validated by Scripture and by the very Trinitarian nature of God, the Western church went down the road of a very limited victory for God, a reward/punishment understanding of salvation at which almost no one won, including God. (I'll say more about this later in the meditations and you might also wish to listen to my talk, Hell, No!)

Both Desert Christianity and the Eastern Fathers of the Church are essential, yet almost lost pieces of the great Perennial Tradition. They are foundational to retrieving true orthodoxy (or "rightness," a word not used by Jesus). The Early Church in its simplicity, non-liturgical emphasis, and non-hierarchy was itself an alternative to what was later called Orthodoxy! It focused on very different things than the Church did after both East and West aligned with power, money, and war. All streams of the Great Tradition have something to teach us; we exclude or neglect them to our own detriment. By reclaiming the many divergent roots of our faith tradition, we come closer to experiencing the wholeness and union that God surely desires for us and offers to us.
Adapted from the Mendicant, Vol. 5, No. 2
Gateway to Silence
Teach me Your way.

  Join Richard Rohr & Gareth Higgins at the Movies & Meaning Festival
Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 28-31, 2015

 

This unique event aims to inspire with stories that reduce violence and heal the world. Movies and Meaning hosts big screen presentations of iconic films including THE TREE OF LIFE and 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. The festival also hosts the U.S. premiere of LIFE MAY BE, a collaboration between northern Irish and Iranian directors. Enjoy conversations with Richard and Gareth, a performance by acclaimed poet Jessica Helen Lopez, and much more.  

Tickets are limited, so click here to register at a 10% discount
by using the code CAC2015.

 

More information at moviesandmeaning.com/festival/  

 

This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Action and Contemplation.
Please contact Movies and Meaning for further information.

2015 Daily Meditation Theme

Richard Rohr's meditations this year explore his "Wisdom Lineage," the teachers, texts, and traditions that have most influenced his spirituality. Read an introduction to the year's theme and view a list of the elements of Fr. Richard's lineage in CAC's January newsletter, the Mendicant.  

Did someone forward this message to you?

 

You are receiving this message because you subscribed to the CAC's email list. You can unsubscribe or update your preferences using the links at the bottom of this message. If you would like to change your email address, please visit our Email Subscription FAQ page for more information.
   

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

CAC Bookstore, visit store.cac.org.

CAC Conferences and Webcasts, visit cac.org/events.

Online Courses, visit cac.org/rohr-institute-online-education.

Making a donation, visit cac.org/support-cac.

Living School, visit cac.org/rohr-inst.

Help with Daily Meditations, email techassist@cac.org.


 Copyright © 2015 Center for Action and Contemplation

cac.org