That sin is not primarily moral failure but the illusion of separation. That single reframing could heal so much of the damage done by theologies of merit and fear.
This homily made me think of my reading of St. Julian of Norwich last night. She said “Just as the blessed Trinity made all things from nothing, so the same blessed Trinity will make all well that is not well.”
For context this comes after Julian’s earlier reflections on sin as privation and “all shall be well” and extend them into her mature doctrine of redemption and divine courtesy. Here she’s articulating one of the most radical and tender theologies of sin ever written.
That last line "the same blessed Trinity will make all well that is not well". She is doing three things. First reinforcing creatio ex nihilo (creation from nothing), second God will bring wholeness out of disorder (ex malo bonum), lastly God’s creative love can turn even that nothingness—our sin, our wounds—into the raw material for greater glory.
What a marvelous thought. God can create from the nothingness that is sin precisely because God creates ex nihilo!
I knew there was a reason I love being Lutheran: born, baptized, confirmed, and now once again awakened to faith. Our little village church makes my heart ache with love for God, Christ, and all my delightful fellow parishioners. Thank you!
IF we truly embrace Christianity, then the light within us from our conception flows from us into the world of darkness, making life a bit brighter for other humans.
That is my understanding of my ancestors' simple belief system (Quakers)...which aligns with some Buddhist precepts that we are inherently "good."
Sometimes, theology gets in the way of being ethical (an oblique reference to what is happening in Washington DC the past month among a set of Congress persons who claim to be Christian...). Christ said you will know them by their fruits - reminds me of a famous Billy Holiday song.
Oops!
https://youtu.be/SDLutK_XOXk?si=KOIaGVnacHumhgJh
Reforming the reformer!!!
That sin is not primarily moral failure but the illusion of separation. That single reframing could heal so much of the damage done by theologies of merit and fear.
This homily made me think of my reading of St. Julian of Norwich last night. She said “Just as the blessed Trinity made all things from nothing, so the same blessed Trinity will make all well that is not well.”
For context this comes after Julian’s earlier reflections on sin as privation and “all shall be well” and extend them into her mature doctrine of redemption and divine courtesy. Here she’s articulating one of the most radical and tender theologies of sin ever written.
That last line "the same blessed Trinity will make all well that is not well". She is doing three things. First reinforcing creatio ex nihilo (creation from nothing), second God will bring wholeness out of disorder (ex malo bonum), lastly God’s creative love can turn even that nothingness—our sin, our wounds—into the raw material for greater glory.
What a marvelous thought. God can create from the nothingness that is sin precisely because God creates ex nihilo!
I knew there was a reason I love being Lutheran: born, baptized, confirmed, and now once again awakened to faith. Our little village church makes my heart ache with love for God, Christ, and all my delightful fellow parishioners. Thank you!
Loved this homily. Thanks for the reminder.
IF we truly embrace Christianity, then the light within us from our conception flows from us into the world of darkness, making life a bit brighter for other humans.
That is my understanding of my ancestors' simple belief system (Quakers)...which aligns with some Buddhist precepts that we are inherently "good."
Sometimes, theology gets in the way of being ethical (an oblique reference to what is happening in Washington DC the past month among a set of Congress persons who claim to be Christian...). Christ said you will know them by their fruits - reminds me of a famous Billy Holiday song.