Over the past few weeks, the Sunday Gospel readings have taken a turn. The late Summer's general theme of opening up our hearts and minds to others has transitioned to the challenging specifics of what that looks like in practice. So far we've had warnings not to trip other people up and to take responsibility … Continue reading Money Problems: A Reflection on Mark 10.17-31
I once worked with a woman who was, let's say, 'challenging' to be around. She was brusque and impatient, and never had a kind word to say about anyone. Every day at lunch, she told us stories of an estranged relative, an unreasonable neighbour, or a friend with whom she was on the outs. The … Continue reading On Normalizing Sin (Without Minimizing it)
In last week's Gospel reading, Jesus taught his disciples about scandals, or tripping points, and how we're responsible for how we react when we get tripped up. It's a variation on a common, and important, theme: that so much in life is not about what we experience but how we respond to it. I'd like … Continue reading How’s Your Heart? A Reflection on Mark 10.2-16
We've all been there, from the clumsiest of us (like me!) to professional athletes: Just walking or running along minding our own business, when suddenly something trips us up and we stumble. It's an apt metaphor for life itself, and specifically the life of faith. Months and years can pass by without incident — we … Continue reading Tripping Points: A Reflection on Mark 9.38-59
As this series, Growing with Intention, wraps up, I thought it would be helpful to take a step back and look at the practices as a whole, from a specifically Christian theological lens. As someone who comes to these practices in a desire to be more faithful and to be a better disciple of Jesus, … Continue reading Integral Growth & Christian Spirituality
Matthew Root 