Wisdom IN Literature: The Lost Gospel of Lazarus on Wonder and Mystery

Last Summer, I did a short series that I called “Wisdom in Literature,” about how some of my favourite novels intersect with issues of faith. I thought it would be fun to pick that up again, with some of my favourite recent reads. Today I’m going to talk about a recent Jewish retelling of the … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: The Lost Gospel of Lazarus on Wonder and Mystery

Why I am … Mystical

In my post earlier this week talking about how and why I can identify as an evangelical, one of the themes I brought up was this tradition’s insistence on radical transformation. But as much as I loved that aspect of evangelical thought, I was ultimately frustrated in my evangelical days by the lack of transformation … Continue reading Why I am … Mystical

Our Daily Light

One of the things that strikes me so much about Julian of Norwich is how she seems to have avoided the trap of spiritual consumerism that so many of us fall into when we have peak religious experiences, of wanting to repeat the excitement and the highs rather than being grateful for what God has … Continue reading Our Daily Light

Nature and Grace Are of One Accord

Yesterday we saw how, in the midst of her first vision (of the blood streaming from Jesus’ head under the crown of thorns), Julian saw the image of all of creation as a sphere no bigger than a hazelnut, from which she concluded that all things are created by God, loved by God, and sustained … Continue reading Nature and Grace Are of One Accord

Everything that is Good (Reprise)

Yesterday, we looked at how Julian of Norwich oriented herself towards her faith and desires. The things she knew were a little weird — wanting to witness Christ’s Passion and a near-fatal illness — she asked for on the condition that God not give them to her if they weren’t good for her; and the … Continue reading Everything that is Good (Reprise)