What is prayer? The past few days, I've been chewing on this--or it has been chewing on me. I spent time writing this morning, to share a few thoughts, for what it's worth, after reading a bit of Abhishiktananda's work on Prayer, a gift from my friend Jason Voyles. Before we talk about poverty and hunger,... Continue Reading →
Intensity and Resistance: A Transfiguration Sermon
The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham Exodus 34:29-35; St. Luke 9:28-36 August 6, 2017 Intensity and Resistance The birth of Dionysus in the Greek myths is intriguing to me. One of Zeus’s many trysts was with a mortal woman, Semele, who became pregnant. During her pregnancy, Zeus appeared to her, albeit in a guarded state... Continue Reading →
The Kingdom of Heaven is like…
Proper 12, Year A I Kings 3:5-12; St. Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 The Kingdom of Heaven is like… I love parables, the deceptively simple sayings or descriptions that Jesus uses to help open the hearts of those who want to catch a glimpse of the Kingdom of Heaven. The word parable literally means, in Greek,... Continue Reading →
Our Lady, the Untier of Knots, pray for us…again.
Looking Again to Our Lady the Untier of Knots The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham This reflection is, in my own way, a further step on the conversation we have been having: how to lean more fully into honoring the contemplative dimension of embodying the call of the Gospel of Christ on our lives. So... Continue Reading →
“Why do I feel like a failure when it comes to social justice?” or “On Ministry and Chocolate Frogs.”
Why do I Feel Like I am a Failure When it Comes to Social Justice? Or On Ministry and Chocolate Frogs The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham The other day, I was invited to attend a meeting with several social justice leaders and legal advocates. I wasn’t sure what the meeting would be about, specifically,... Continue Reading →
The Sower: Perspective from a Contemplative Posture
What follows is a sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19, Year A), reflecting on St. Matthew's Gospel, 13:1-9, 18-23: The Sower: Perspective from a Contemplative Posture There were 49 of the kids. I counted each and every one, after they swarmed down the stairs onto the beach, followed by a few... Continue Reading →
A Contemplative Posture in a Bicentennial Campaign
I was watching a video of Fr. Thomas Keating a while back, soaking up his images of prayer and contemplative awareness. You can find a lot of videos such as this on You Tube, and it's amazing what resources are at our fingertips. Fr. Thomas was describing the grounding of silence that is essential in... Continue Reading →
Uncommon Conversations: Thich Nhat Hanh and Br. David Steindl-Rast
This is one of the most beautiful videos I have ever seen. Deeply affected me and makes my heart swell with so many hopes and desires for spiritual community. https://youtu.be/AZKsOfYURtI
The Circle: A Gathering for Contemplative Prayer and Conversation
A teaser: Come explore a space for silence and conversation, of accountability and sacred space. We'll meet for four weeks, and then we'll see what the Spirit has in store. To begin, we'll use Fr. Thomas Keating's small book, The Heart of the World: An Introduction to Contemplative Christianity. More info will be forthcoming, but... Continue Reading →
New Contemplatives Exchange–Founders Introductory Video
The four Founders, Laurence Freeman, OSB (the World Community for Christian Meditation), Thomas Keating, OCSO, (Contemplative Outreach), Richard Rohr, OFM, (The Center for Action and Contemplation), and Tilden Edwards, (The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation). Listen as Fr. Thomas, Fr. Richard, and Fr. Laurence introduce our work, as we continue to prepare for our gathering... Continue Reading →
Thoughts on a Contemplative Reformation 