Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation for Monday, 29 May 2017: "Spirituality of Change" The Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States "The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better."

Richard Rohr Meditation: Spirituality of Change Important mainly because of the people in the conversation.Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important. Inbox x Updates x Center for Action and Contemplation <Meditations@cac.org> Unsubscribe 11:00 PM (15 hours ago) to me The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better. No Images? Click here         Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation Image credit: Umbria, Italy. Alternative Orthodoxy   Spirituality of ChangeMonday, May 29, 2017   Metanoia, Jesus’ first message upon beginning his ministry (Mark 1:15, Matthew 4:17), is unfortunately translated with the moralistic word repent. Metanoia literally means change or even more precisely “Change your mind!” So it is strange that the religion founded in Jesus’ name has been resistant to change and has tended to love and protect the past and the status quo much more than the positive and hopeful futures that could be brought about by people open to change. Maybe that is why our earth is so depleted and our politics are so pathetic. We have not taught a spirituality of actual change or growth, which is what an alternative orthodoxy always asks of us. CAC faculty member Cynthia Bourgeault describes this process of transformation: [It is] the full emergence of the glory of the mind of Christ. The alternative orthodoxy begins in a view that God is not opposed to us; God is for us. How is God served by people who fail to germinate? God is rapturously delighted in every human being whose heart breaks open and blooms. Then, as human beings come to their glory, the world comes to its glory. It’s a view which is inclusive, recognizing that human beings on all paths are called to glorification, to the full emergence of the human being. It’s evolutionary in that we are a work in progress, both individually and collectively. Creation itself is not static but dynamic. [1] One of the CAC’s Core Principles is: “We do not think ourselves into a new way of living, but we live ourselves into a new way of thinking.” [2] However, much of religion doesn’t demand changes to our lifestyle or habits. The best way to avoid actually changing is to go into one’s head and endlessly argue about what “changing” means. Human minds love to argue, oppose, critique, judge, evaluate, and adjust—it gives our little minds a job. Academics, politicians, and seminary professors love to stay right where they are and rarely hit the streets of the incarnate or suffering world as Jesus clearly did. Franciscan alternative orthodoxy doesn’t bother fighting popes, bishops, Scriptures, or dogmas. As stated in another of CAC’s core principles, “The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better. Oppositional energy only creates more of the same.” This alternative orthodoxy quietly but firmly pays attention to different things—like simplicity, humility, non-violence, contemplation, solitude and silence, earth care, nature and other creatures, and the “least of the brothers and sisters.” These are our true teachers. The Rule of Saint Francis—which Rome demanded Francis develop—was often thought of as “Tips for the Road” and hardly a rule at all. Like Jesus, Francis taught his disciples while walking from place to place and finding ways to serve, to observe, and to love in the world that was right in front of them.   Gateway to Silence: Everything belongs. References: [1] Cynthia Bourgeault, Returning to Essentials: Teaching an Alternative Orthodoxy, disc 1 (Center for Action and Contemplation: 2015), CD, MP3 download. [2] “The Eight Core Principles of the Center for Action and Contemplation,” https://cac.org/about-cac/missionvision/. Adapted from Richard Rohr, The Art of Letting Go: Living the Wisdom of Saint Francis (Sounds True: 2010), CD. -- ----- For Francis, Jesus was someone to imitate, not just worship.         Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation for Monday, 29 May 2017: "Spirituality of Change" The Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States "The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better." Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation Image credit: Umbria, Italy. "Alternative Orthodoxy" "Spirituality of Change" Monday, May 29, 2017 Metanoia, Jesus’ first message upon beginning his ministry (Mark 1:15, Matthew 4:17), is unfortunately translated with the moralistic word repent. Metanoia literally means change or even more precisely “Change your mind!” So it is strange that the religion founded in Jesus’ name has been resistant to change and has tended to love and protect the past and the status quo much more than the positive and hopeful futures that could be brought about by people open to change. Maybe that is why our earth is so depleted and our politics are so pathetic. We have not taught a spirituality of actual change or growth, which is what an alternative orthodoxy always asks of us. CAC faculty member Cynthia Bourgeault describes this process of transformation: [It is] the full emergence of the glory of the mind of Christ. The alternative orthodoxy begins in a view that God is not opposed to us; God is for us. How is God served by people who fail to germinate? God is rapturously delighted in every human being whose heart breaks open and blooms. Then, as human beings come to their glory, the world comes to its glory. It’s a view which is inclusive, recognizing that human beings on all paths are called to glorification, to the full emergence of the human being. It’s evolutionary in that we are a work in progress, both individually and collectively. Creation itself is not static but dynamic. [1] One of the CAC’s Core Principles is: “We do not think ourselves into a new way of living, but we live ourselves into a new way of thinking.” [2] However, much of religion doesn’t demand changes to our lifestyle or habits. The best way to avoid actually changing is to go into one’s head and endlessly argue about what “changing” means. Human minds love to argue, oppose, critique, judge, evaluate, and adjust—it gives our little minds a job. Academics, politicians, and seminary professors love to stay right where they are and rarely hit the streets of the incarnate or suffering world as Jesus clearly did. Franciscan alternative orthodoxy doesn’t bother fighting popes, bishops, Scriptures, or dogmas. As stated in another of CAC’s core principles, “The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better. Oppositional energy only creates more of the same.” This alternative orthodoxy quietly but firmly pays attention to different things—like simplicity, humility, non-violence, contemplation, solitude and silence, earth care, nature and other creatures, and the “least of the brothers and sisters.” These are our true teachers. The Rule of Saint Francis—which Rome demanded Francis develop—was often thought of as “Tips for the Road” and hardly a rule at all. Like Jesus, Francis taught his disciples while walking from place to place and finding ways to serve, to observe, and to love in the world that was right in front of them. Gateway to Silence: Everything belongs. References: [1] Cynthia Bourgeault, Returning to Essentials: Teaching an Alternative Orthodoxy, disc 1 (Center for Action and Contemplation: 2015), CD, MP3 download. [2] “The Eight Core Principles of the Center for Action and Contemplation,” https://cac.org/about-cac/missionvision/. Adapted from Richard Rohr, The Art of Letting Go: Living the Wisdom of Saint Francis (Sounds True: 2010), CD. ------- Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation for Sunday, 28 May 2017: "A Third Way" The Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation Image credit: Umbria, Italy. "Alternative Orthodoxy" "A Third Way" Sunday, May 28, 2017 The Franciscan Tradition in which I’ve been formed is an “alternative orthodoxy” or heterodoxy. While we are part of the Roman Catholic faith and embrace the great Christian Tradition, we are not mainstream. Francis (c. 1181-1226) and Clare (1194-1253) of Assisi paid attention to and emphasized different things than the Church’s leaders and theologians of their time. Franciscans don’t throw out the mainline tradition; we simply place our effort and our energy on overlooked or misunderstood aspects of the tradition. We all do that in our own ways. There’s something honest about the Franciscan experience in naming it. Francis didn’t bother questioning doctrines and dogmas of the Church. He just took the imitation of Christ seriously and tried to live the way that Jesus lived! One of the earliest accounts of Francis, the “Legend of Perugia,” quotes Francis as telling the first friars, “You only know as much as you do.” [1] His emphasis on action, practice, and lifestyle was foundational and revolutionary for its time and is at the root of Franciscan alternative orthodoxy. Francis and Clare fell in love with the humanity and humility of Jesus. For them Jesus was someone to actually imitate and not just to worship as divine. You may be wondering, “How can Franciscanism be an alternative and still be called orthodox (right and true)?” Heterodoxy is precisely a third something in between orthodoxy and heresy! I sincerely think Francis found a Third Way, which is the creative and courageous role of a prophet and a mystic. He repeated the foundational message of all prophets: the message and the medium for the message have to be the same thing. Francis emphasized the medium itself, instead of continuing to clarify the mere verbal message (which tends to be the “priestly” job). The early Franciscan friars and Poor Clares wanted to be Gospel practitioners instead of merely “word police,” “inspectors,” or “museum curators” as Pope Francis calls some clergy. Both Francis and Clare offered their rules as a forma vitae, or form of life. They saw orthopraxy (correct practice) as a necessary parallel, and maybe even precedent, to verbal orthodoxy (correct teaching). History has shown that many Christians never get to the practical implications of their beliefs! “Why aren’t you doing what you say you believe?” the prophet invariably asks. As the popular paraphrase of Francis’ Rule goes, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” Gateway to Silence: Everything belongs. References: [1] “The Legend of Perugia,” Saint Francis of Assisi: Omnibus of Sources (Franciscan Press: 1991), 74. Adapted from Richard Rohr, Returning to Essentials: Teaching an Alternative Orthodoxy, disc 1 (CAC: 2015), CD, MP3 download; andEager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi (Franciscan Media: 2014), 81, 86-87. The Universal Christ: An Archetype for Everything a webcast with Richard Rohr LIVE: Tuesday, June 20, 2017 4:30-6:00 p.m. U.S. MDT Or watch online any time through July 22, 2017! Father Richard draws insights from his recent hermitage and a forthcoming book to explore the foundational pattern of death and resurrection. This archetype holds hope and wisdom for each of us. The cosmic Christ is simply another word for everything, for what’s happening everywhere and all the time! Register for as little as $1 at cac.org. Copyright © 2017Center for Action and Contemplation Center for Action and Contemplation 1823 Five Points Road SouthWest (physical) PO Box 12464 (mailing) Albuquerque, New Mexico 87195, United States The Franciscan Tradition in which I’ve been formed is an “alternative orthodoxy” or heterodoxy. While we are part of the Roman Catholic faith and embrace the great Christian Tradition, we are not mainstream. Francis (c. 1181-1226) and Clare (1194-1253) of Assisi paid attention to and emphasized different things than the Church’s leaders and theologians of their time. Franciscans don’t throw out the mainline tradition; we simply place our effort and our energy on overlooked or misunderstood aspects of the tradition. We all do that in our own ways. There’s something honest about the Franciscan experience in naming it. Francis didn’t bother questioning doctrines and dogmas of the Church. He just took the imitation of Christ seriously and tried to live the way that Jesus lived! One of the earliest accounts of Francis, the “Legend of Perugia,” quotes Francis as telling the first friars, “You only know as much as you do.” [1] His emphasis on action, practice, and lifestyle was foundational and revolutionary for its time and is at the root of Franciscan alternative orthodoxy. Francis and Clare fell in love with the humanity and humility of Jesus. For them Jesus was someone to actually imitate and not just to worship as divine. You may be wondering, “How can Franciscanism be an alternative and still be called orthodox (right and true)?” Heterodoxy is precisely a third something in between orthodoxy and heresy! I sincerely think Francis found a Third Way, which is the creative and courageous role of a prophet and a mystic. He repeated the foundational message of all prophets: the message and the medium for the message have to be the same thing. Francis emphasized the medium itself, instead of continuing to clarify the mere verbal message (which tends to be the “priestly” job). The early Franciscan friars and Poor Clares wanted to be Gospel practitioners instead of merely “word police,” “inspectors,” or “museum curators” as Pope Francis calls some clergy. Both Francis and Clare offered their rules as a forma vitae, or form of life. They saw orthopraxy (correct practice) as a necessary parallel, and maybe even precedent, to verbal orthodoxy (correct teaching). History has shown that many Christians never get to the practical implications of their beliefs! “Why aren’t you doing what you say you believe?” the prophet invariably asks. As the popular paraphrase of Francis’ Rule goes, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” Gateway to Silence: Everything belongs. References: [1] “The Legend of Perugia,” Saint Francis of Assisi: Omnibus of Sources (Franciscan Press: 1991), 74. Adapted from Richard Rohr, Returning to Essentials: Teaching an Alternative Orthodoxy, disc 1 (CAC: 2015), CD, MP3 download; andEager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi (Franciscan Media: 2014), 81, 86-87. The Universal Christ: An Archetype for Everything a webcast with Richard Rohr LIVE: Tuesday, June 20, 2017 4:30-6:00 p.m. U.S. MDT Or watch online any time through July 22, 2017! Father Richard draws insights from his recent hermitage and a forthcoming book to explore the foundational pattern of death and resurrection. This archetype holds hope and wisdom for each of us. The cosmic Christ is simply another word for everything, for what’s happening everywhere and all the time! Register for as little as $1 at cac.org. Copyright © 2017Center for Action and Contemplation   Center for Action and Contemplation 1823 Five Points Road SouthWest (physical) PO Box 12464 (mailing) Albuquerque, New Mexico 87195, United States

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