For Ryken, as for Ruusbroec, the heart of the spiritual life is the recognition that the life of each of us, when we are living from our proper and true place, is “the same ordinary ground” as that from which the brightness of the Divine “immeasurably shines forth.” This ordinary ground, this true place, is who were are in God, before we begin [. . .]…[read more]
Look therefore to how you hear! Whoever has will receive. Whoever does not have will be deprived even of what one thinks one has. Luke 8: 18 I led a worldly life from the age of fourteen or fifteen until the age of nineteen when, after powerfully being put in my place, I turned toward…[read more]
The twelve were with him, and certain women who had been healed from evil spirits and sicknesses. Mary, who was called Magdalene, had seven demons depart from her. There were also Joanna the wife of Chusa–an administrator for Herod–and Susanna, and many others. These women were supporting them from their own possessions. Luke 8: 1-3…[read more]
For I am the least of the Apostles, not fit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. 1 Cor 15: 9-10 Turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do…[read more]
To whom shall I compare the people of this age? Who are they like? they are like children in the market place. They sit and yell at each other. They say, “We piped for you and you didn’t dance! We wailed in lament, and you didn’t weep.! John the Baptist has come neither eating bread…[read more]
Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to…[read more]
But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from…[read more]
Why do you spot the splinter in your brother’s eye, but not notice the log in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, allow me to extract the splinter from your eye,” when you yourself don’t see the log in your own eye! Then you can see clearly enough to extract…[read more]
Love your enemies! Do good and lend without expecting a return! Your reward will be great. You will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to those who are without kindness and are evil. Become compassionate as your father is compassionate. Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do…[read more]
Blessed are you who are weeping now, for you will laugh. . . Woe to you who are now laughing, for you will mourn and weep. Luke 6: 21, 25 This particular contrast of beatitude and woe can be, at first, particularly troubling for us. Is the gospel “joyless”? Why is laughing and weeping included…[read more]
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