It’s easy to think of the Saints as people from the distant past, their stories more legend than reality. And yet, as Christians, we believe that the same Holy Spirit that inspired the prophets and apostles of old continues to be at work in the world — yes, in the days of the Roman Empire … Continue reading St. Olga of Kwethluk and the Way of Showing Up
One of the better known concepts of Christian spirituality today is the idea of the ‘Dark Night of the Soul.’ But juts because It’s well-known doesn't mean it's well understood. It refers to an extended period of spiritual dryness in which no consolation can be found, but which, in hindsight, is paradoxically experienced as a … Continue reading St. John of the Cross and the Way of the Dark Night
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
Longtime readers will know that I love the story of the Transfiguration. I come by it honestly, since I studied the theology of light for my Master’s thesis back in the day, a tradition in which this story which seems strange to many becomes a blueprint for Christian spirituality. But the thing about peak religious … Continue reading Up the Mountain and Down Again: A Reflection on Luke 9.28-43
Today this series on the intersections of Christianity and the Jungian idea of the shadow comes to an end. It’s been a bit disorganized and all over the place, but I do hope it’s been interesting and beneficial. The main idea is simply this: that the stories we tell, including and especially our religious stories, … Continue reading The Christian Shadow: Concluding Thoughts
Matthew Root 