I believe the gospel itself… is primarily communicated by
richly symbolic human lives that operate as prime attractors and exemplars:
through actions visibly done in love; by a nonviolent, humble, simple,
liberated lifestyle; by a happy identification with poor and excluded people; by
obvious happiness itself; and by concrete and visible people who “give others
reasons for spiritual joy”... When such people then speak or act, their words
burn, and their actions convict!
Richard Rohr
(Daily Medications 1/12/2025
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I believe the gospel
do I?
I believe in Jesus
Lover, disturber, martyr
The one who said “Live like this”
But do I believe in the Christ
The ever-present presence
In me
Hope
There is so much that is anti-Christ
There are so many people, we can name them
Who lie and divide, and promote hate and chaos
But there are systems too.
Oppressive, foul, dishonest, cruel, greedy
Without empathy
They pull us back
These anti-Christs
Back into the darkness,
Back into fear, and hate, into obscene consumption
Into hoarding
Until we pile power and wealth around us
So that we do not implode into our own emptiness
They pull us away from Christ.
Who draws all to himself
All to compassion and service
To truth
And love
They have power!!!
But
Are we powerless?
Do we not contain all that is holy and good
Does it not roar through our souls like wind and fire
Like flame driven by a Santa Ana wind?
Changing us forever
Can we not so live
Like the saints and the mystics
and draw people forward
Into the light?
People are drawn to the light.
There may be people who are anti-Christ
But we are Christ’s presence
We are the light of the world
And now more than ever
We have to shine
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