A recurring theme here lately has been the contrasts between the kingdoms of this world and their theologies of glory on the one hand, and the kingdom of God with its theology of the cross on the other. Nowhere does Christianity’s theology of the cross come to the fore more than in the Western Christian … Continue reading A Kingdom of Dust and Ashes: A Reflection for Ash Wednesday 2026
Today is Ash Wednesday, whose ceremonies mark the start of Lent in Western Christianity. Most years my focus in these posts is on the rite itself, which carries a wealth of symbolism. So if you’d like a reflection on the imposition of ashes, please see here, here, and here. But this year, I’m going to … Continue reading Servants of God: A Reflection of Ash Wednesday 2025
A quick look at the problem of 'human troubles' and how they can get in our way.
Yesterday, we saw how Julian came to understand that God turns everything intended for evil to the good of the faithful. This idea turns the idea of sin and its relative importance on its head. And, versed as she was in a medieval monastic spirituality that emphasized the the dangers of sin, this probably came … Continue reading Sin is Nothing
The theme of sin and temptation to sin runs all through today’s Sunday readings. There’s the story of the temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden from Genesis, Paul’s reflections on the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin, and the Gospel reading features the temptation of Jesus in the desert. As one might expect … Continue reading Strength against All Devils: A Reflection on Matthew 4.1-11
Matthew Root 