Author: ppadmin

The Talmud tells the story of an old man who was planting a carob tree when a king rode by. “Old man,” the king called out, “how old are you?” “Seventy years, your majesty,” the man replied. “How many years will it take before that tree will bear fruit?” the king asked. “Perhaps seventy years,” the man answered. Mockingly, the king went on, “Do you really expect to eat of the fruit of that tree?” “Of course not,” the man said, “but just as I found fruit trees when I was born, so do I plant trees that future generations may eat from them." — The Talmud

The difference between an admirer and a follower still remains, no matter where you are. The admirer never makes any true sacrifices. He always plays it safe. Though in words, phrases, and songs he is inexhaustible about how highly he prizes Christ, he renounces nothing, gives up nothing, will not reconstruct his life, will not be what he admires, and will not let his life express what it is he supposedly admires. Not so for the follower. No, no. The follower aspires with all his strength, with all his will to be what he admires. And then, remarkably enough, even though he is living amongst a “Christian people,” the same danger results for him as was once the case when it was dangerous to openly confess Christ. And because of the follower’s life, it will become evident who the admirers are, for the admirers will become agitated with him. Even that these words are presented as they are here will disturb many – but then they must likewise belong to the admirers. — Søren Kierkegaard

There are tormenting times in creation, even as the earth heaves fire to produce its richest soil. — Abigail Hastings

By globalization we totally lose contact with the poor that we know personally. We work in the abstract toward the liberation of a social category that we never meet. We know the political leaders of this class, who are no longer poor themselves. And this globalization, this de-personalization of the poor, surely means that a person who is poor simply because he is sick or is mourning the loss of a loved one or has been humiliated by a failure in life arouses no interest. — Jacques Ellul

The best that most of us can do is to take hold of the near edge of some great problem and act at cost to ourselves. — Colin Morris

I am not saying that suffering exists in order for God to reveal himself. I am only saying that where suffering exists and is consciously accepted, there divine love shines forth brightly. . . . I have often suspected that the most profound product of this world is tears. I don’t mean that to be morbid. Rather, I mean that tears express that vulnerability in which we can endure having our heart broken and go right on loving. — Cynthia Bourgeault

The modern reader searching for new techniques of spiritual “self-discovery” will largely be disappointed in the desert tradition of the apophatic way. Classical writers in this habitus could not be more indifferent to the modern search for “experiences of the sacred” that enhance self-realization. They would never, in the private, psychologizing way so familiar to contemporary spirituality, be anxious to add an encounter-with-God-through-contemplative-prayer to their collection of previous meditative accomplishments. As if one could then say, “Been there, done that!” to yet another personal success achieved through Zen attentiveness, transcendental meditation, or even centering prayer. — Belden Lane

Jesus is brought into being through Community and participates in the co-creation of it. . . . Hence what is truly Christological, that is truly revealing of divine incarnation and salvific power in human life, must reside in connectedness and not in single individuals. — Rita Nakashima Brock