I have to admit that I groaned a little when I saw that today's Gospel reading was from John 17. It's actually a beautiful passage in its own way, recording Jesus' impassioned prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane in the hours before he was arrested. But, with its stream-of-consciousness style, which loops back on itself … Continue reading A Prayer for the People of God: A Reflection on John 17.6-19
Today is Ascension Day, which commemorates the end of the forty days of Jesus' earthly appearances after his resurrection, and his ascent into heaven. The story itself, as related in the Acts of the Apostles, is as simple as it is odd: As they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him … Continue reading A Glorious Inheritance: A Reflection on the Feast of the Ascension
There's a famous Indian parable about a group of blind men trying to make sense of an elephant. To one, touching the trunk, it's a snake. To another, touching the ear, it's a fan. To another, holding the leg, it's a tree. To still another, grasping the tail, it's a rope. And to the last … Continue reading Integral Basics, Part 2: Multiple Perspectives
Life is not for the faint of heart. This is true for every single human who has ever lived. But it's perhaps most true for those of us who engage with the spiritual life. As cliché as the metaphor of the "spiritual journey" may be, it remains true: Life is a long and winding road, … Continue reading Integral Basics, Part 1: The Search for What Comes Next
Throughout this Easter season, I've often found myself writing some version of the phrase "our lives are caught up in Christ's." This is usually followed by some explanation, like "because we are anointed with the same Spirit he was." It's a similar idea to the ancient Christian theological precept, "We become by grace all that … Continue reading Vine and Branches: A Reflection on John 15.1-8
Matthew Root 