Richard Rohr's Meditation: "Following Jesus" Center for Action and Contemplation from Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States for Wednesday, 27 July 2016

Richard Rohr's Meditation: "Following Jesus" Center for Action and Contemplation from Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States for Wednesday, 27 July 2016

Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation

"Spirituality of Imperfection: Week 2"
"Following Jesus"
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
We should not be surprised or scandalized by the sinful and the tragic. Do what you can to be peace and to do justice, but never expect or demand perfection on this earth. It usually leads to a false moral outrage, a negative identity, intolerance, paranoia, and self-serving crusades against "the contaminating element," instead of "becoming a new creation" ourselves (Galatians 6:15).
We must resist all utopian ideologies and heroic idealisms that are not tempered by patience and taught by all that is broken, flawed, sinful, and poor. Jesus is an utter realist and does not exclude the problem from the solution. Work for win/win situations. Mistrust all win/lose dichotomies.
The following of Jesus is not a "salvation scheme" or a means of creating social order (which appears to be what most folks want religion for), as much as it is a vocation to share the fate of God for the life of the world. Some people are overly invested in religious ceremonies, rituals, and rules that are all about who's in and who's out. Jesus did not come to create a spiritual elite or an exclusionary system. He invited people to "follow" him by personally bearing the mystery of human death and resurrection. Of itself, this task does not feel "religious," which is why it demands such faith to trust it.
Those who agree to carry and love what God loves, both the good and the bad of human history, and to pay the price for its reconciliation within themselves--these are the followers of Jesus. They are the leaven, the salt, the remnant, the mustard seed that God can use to transform the world. The cross is the dramatic image of what it takes to be such a usable one for God.
Gateway to Silence: When I am weak I am strong.
Reference:
Adapted from Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer (The Crossroad Publishing Company: 1999), 179-180.
The Center for Action and Contemplation is delighted to co-sponsor two special events for men:
Soularize 2016--MEN Talks: Show Up and Act!
Thursday, November 3-Friday, November 4, 2016

&

Drawing from a Deep Well: A Men's Retreat
with Fr. Richard Rohr
Friday, November 4-Sunday, November 6, 2016
Hyatt Regency Tamaya, Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico
All men are welcome, regardless of ethnicity, class, education, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation.
To learn more about this exciting opportunity and to register for one or both events, visit illuman.org.
Please note that the Center for Action and Contemplation is unable to assist you with questions about these events. Visit illuman.org or emailadministrator@illuman.org for more details.
Center for Action and Contemplation
Center for Action and Contemplation

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PO Box 12464 (mailing)

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87195, United States
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