The lectionary this time of year can often feel a bit all over the place. This is because there are two calendars that overlay each other: the ‘normal’ seasonal calendar, in which we’re in the fourth Sunday after Epiphany, and the festal calendar based on the timing of events in Jesus’ life. And so while … Continue reading A Sword to the Soul: A Reflection on Luke 2.22-40
The first half of this series has attempted to show how traditional Christian practices have the power to act as shadow work, but also can, if we’re not careful, exacerbate the connected problems of a strong dark shadow and a bright but fragile persona. Today I’m going to turn the series to aspects of Christian … Continue reading The Shadow of God
It hasn’t been a good week for the ‘better angels’ of human nature. At pretty much every turn, it seems cruelty and unfeeling self-concern has become king. As a follower of Jesus, it’s a tough pill to swallow — especially when people who claim to also follow Jesus are either leading the war against mercy … Continue reading Vocation and the Way of Christ: A Reflection on Luke 4.14-21
This section in the series The Christian Shadow has been about the ways, contrary to Jung’s accusations, Christian teaching and practice helps the faithful engage with the shadow, the dark parts of ourselves we’d rather not exist, and certainly not come into the light of day. Over the next two posts, I’m going to end … Continue reading Shadow and the Sacraments, Part 1: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist
In Thursday’s post, we saw how the general Christian call to repentance, which is embodied not only in conversion, but also in the rituals of baptism and confession, is a call to address the shadow — those parts of ourselves we reject or deny as being ‘us’. Today I’d like to explore how other sacred … Continue reading Shadow and Sacred Practices
Matthew Root 