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Book Review: The Universal Christ

The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe by Richard Rohr, OFM | Convergent Press, 2019 | pp 260

“I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food.” – 1 Corinthians 3:2

To sit down to read Richard Rohr’s The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe is like sitting down to a twenty-course meal (i.e., there are 17 chapters, two appendices, and an afterword). And like a huge banquet, there are some courses that are scrumptious, some that are less tasty, some that will have to grow on you, and some that maybe should be off the menu. But there is no milk here, only solid food. To belabor the metaphor: after finishing this banquet, it will take you some time to digest it all.

What is Rohr trying to accomplish in this book? I think there are quite a few things:

to argue that the Christian message is fundamentally a spiritual one and not necessarily a religious one (especially to the “spiritual but not religious” generation),
Jesus came to love us into goodness more than to redeem us from sin (an old Franciscan debate for sure),
the term ‘Christ’ refers to the divine core of all people and of all creation (as the title of the book says: ‘Universal’),
a sin-based approach to spirituality leads to exclusion, scapegoating, and Pharisee’ism; whereas, a grace-based approach is more congruent with the Gospels and with Saint Paul.

I would go so far as to say that he is trying to reorient the Church and the faith away from philosophy-based theology to mysticism-based theology, and from a sin-based need for redemption to a fulfillment-based need. That’s quite an undertaking, and The Universal Christ reads like a systematic theology for this undertaking, interpreting all aspects of the faith through the Christian mystics (and occasionally through non-Christian mystics).

Does Rohr succeed? I sure hope so. Firstly, in this secular age and rationalistic age, a sin-based starting point (the Fall of Adam and Eve) no longer works. As Rohr points out, a Father sending his Son and then demanding the death of the Son to redeem the sin of Adam and Eve (either to the devil or to Himself) is no longer workable and no longer believable. I knew I was in for a wild ride when Rohr opens the book saying that the first Incarnation is in Genesis, “Then God spoke” (Genesis 1:3). The coming of Jesus is the second Incarnation. Yes, food for thought. Secondly, in this global age and information age, the world needs a global religion and an informative religion. Rohr is telling us that Mystical Christianity can offer that vision.

Do I recommend this book? Like the huge banquet that it is, I heartily recommend some of the courses (i.e., chapters), I need to chew further on other chapters, and there are a couple of chapters that I might recommend be off the menu. Overall, if you feel that you’re ready for solid food, go for it.

Book Review: Evangelization and Contemplation: the Gifts of Pope Francis and Saint Teresa

Evangelization and Contemplation: the Gifts of Pope Francis and Saint Teresa by Rev. Tracy O’Sullivan, O.Carm. | Dorrance Publishing Co., 2019

Seeing a world in desperate need for evangelization, especially in his work as a long-time inner city pastor, Father Tracy begins with the call for a new evangelization seen in Pope Francis’ 2013 encyclical, Evangelii gaudium (the Joy of the Gospel) and similar-themed documents from Pope Paul VI (Evangelii nuntiandi) and Pope John Paul II (Redemptoris missio). All these documents call the Church to not only proclaim the Good News (old evangelization) but through the Gospel to transform the world (new evangelization). But how do we get there? Father Tracy says that the answer is prayer.

Using Saint Teresa of Avila’s book on prayer, The Interior Castle, Tracy sees that the journey of personal interior transformation proceeds from simple prayer (Interior Mansions 1 thru 3) to contemplation (Interior Mansions 4 thru 7) which leads us to more God-centered and less ego-centered ministry. Our ego-driven needs can easily thwart the lofty call for world transformation (new evangelization) and so these documents are, in fact, a call to contemplation. Teresa herself says, “This is the reason for prayer, my daughters, the purpose of this spiritual marriage: the birth always of good works, good works” (Interior Castle, 7.4.6). This contemplative-based ministry is the transformative evangelization that Pope Francis (and his predecessors) calls us to in the new evangelization. Let me try to schematize this:

Then using the writings of Thomas Merton (Trappist spiritual writer) and Rowan Williams (Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, emeritus) Tracy illustrates how contemplative evangelization (new evangelization) is lived and proclaimed. Archbishop Williams, in a Vatican address, says,
Evangelization, old and new, must be rooted in a profound confidence that we have a distinctive human destiny to show and share with the world…The humanity of Christ’s redeeming work is a contemplative humanity.”

This call of Rowan Williams is the call of Father Tracy in Evangelization and Contemplation, and by artfully using Saint Teresa of Avila Tracy adds a Carmelite roadmap. I think the subtitle of Father Tracy’s book should be amended to read the Gifts of Pope Francis and Saint Teresa and Father Tracy.

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Evangelization-Contemplation-Gifts-Francis-Teresa/dp/1645302636/

Make Us Bearers of the Word

Carmelite homily for Wednesday, March 25, 2020 – Lectionary 454 (Luke 1:26-38)

Saint Mary Magdalene D’Pazzi is a Carmelite saint about the same time as Teresa of Avila, but in Italy, in Florence. She has a famous prayer called ‘Come, Holy Spirit.’ “

Come, Holy Spirit, let the precious pearl of the Father and the Word’s delight come. Come, Spirit of Truth, you are the reward of the saints, the comforter of souls, light in the darkness, riches to the poor, treasure to lovers, food to the hungry, comfort to those who are wandering; to sum up, you are the one in whom all treasures are contained. Come, as you descended upon Mary that the Word might become Flesh, work in us through grace as you worked in her through nature and grace.”

It’s quite the cheeky prayer – that the Annunciation to Mary is the annunciation to us. We are to be bearers of the Word ourself. So it’s quite the meditation point as we celebrate this feast of the Annunciation.

Elijah and Elisha and Anyone Who Follows Jesus

Carmelite homily for Monday, March 16, 2020 – Lectionary 237 (Luke 4:24-30)

In today’s Gospel Jesus references both Elijah and Elisha, prophets of the First Book of Kings which Carmelites say are our spiritual founders. Elijah comes from the east bank of the Jordan, from a town called Tishbe, and Elisha comes from the west bank – very different backgrounds and situations. I think that’s why Jesus mentions them, because he says, ‘Elijah was sent to a widow of Zarephath’ – that’s up in Phoenicia, a foreign land. And to Elisha, Naaman the Syrian came to be healed of leprosy, again a foreign land. I think that’s what Jesus is getting at. His message and our message shouldn’t be limited to just this group or these people or just this. But should be, could be, and with grace, IS for everyone, envelopes everyone, embraces everyone. That’s the call of today’s Gospel – to open our hearts like Elisha, like Elijah, like anyone who wears the Carmelite habit, or like anyone who follows Jesus.

Ignatian Guided Meditation

This is a meditation on the passage of ‘The Woman at the Well’ (John 4:5-42) using a method of praying with scripture taught by Saint Ignatius.

Today I’m going to try something different. Instead of giving a Carmelite-themed homily for this Third Sunday of Lent – the passage is ‘The Woman at the Well’ from John’s Gospel – I’m going to give an Ignatian Guided Meditation. It’s a way Ignatius, Saint Ignatius, teaches us to pray with scripture. He says, ‘immerse yourself in the passage; engage all the senses.’ What does it smell like? What do you see? What do you hear? Engage your senses and immerse yourself in. Then lean in and listen to what Jesus might have to tell you. So let us begin…

We’re in Samaria; you’re in Samaria. It’s noon. You’ve been walking all morning and you’re tired. It’s hot. You sit down on a rock near the well. Jesus is sitting at the well. You’re thirsty; very thirsty, and he’s doing nothing about getting water. But then this woman comes up. And you can hear her jewels and her bracelets clanking as she’s walking. And you’re thinking, ‘what is she doing here? No one is at the well this time of day.’ And she sits down near Jesus and you can hear them, but not hear them distinctly, talking to each other. That’s because the wind which is so hot (it’s midday) is blowing against your ears. That’s what you hear more than their talking – the wind. Where did those disciples go? Oh yeah, Jesus sent them into town. So it’s just you, her, and Jesus. You smell the heat on the rocks. You smell some perfume. Is that her perfume? She’s wearing perfume in the middle of the day! All of a sudden she runs off and then Jesus turns to you and says to you, ‘and what are you here for? what are you looking for?’ And you say to Jesus:

Message to the Order regarding the Coronavirus

From Míceál O’Neill, O.Carm., Prior General

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On this rare occasion I want to address a word of support to all our members who in one way or another are affected by the continuing spread of Covid-19. Here in the Curia we have heard the instructions of the Italian government and we have done our best to follow all the instructions. This has meant saying to our staff that they should not come to work until further instructions. We have organized our life in such a way that none of us will have people coming to the house and no one will leave the house until the ban is lifted, except for emergencies and essential services. We recognize the sacrifice that this entails, but we feel that we have to allow ourselves to be guided by the advice of the experts.

We will keep in our thoughts and prayers, those who have died and their families who are in mourning. We will pray for the medical profession, that the researchers may succeed in identifying this virus and finding the best ways to protect the population from infection, and the doctors and nurses may be able to help all who have fallen victim to it.

We must not allow ourselves to lose confidence or to be gripped by fear. This experience may lead us to reflect on how powerless we are, despite all our progress. At moments like this we realize more clearly that without God, we can do nothing. It is a good moment for us to renew our faith in God and our commitment to the wellbeing of one another, and in a special way our care for the poor, for the ones who are least able to cope when life gets difficult. In the time that we spend confined to our homes, we may find ourselves thinking and praying more, at one with Mary the Mother of God who kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Míceál O’Neill, O.Carm.
Prior General

Doubt and Fear

Carmelite homily for Sunday, March 8, 2020 – Lectionary 25 (Matthew 17:1-9) – Second Sunday of Lent

Today’s Gospel is Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration, where, it says, Moses and Elijah appeared and were seen conversing with Jesus. It doesn’t say what they were talking about, but here’s what, I think, they were talking about. Moses spoke and said, “Jesus, I doubted. I struck the rock twice when God said to strike it. I almost failed my mission because of doubt. Do not doubt. And then Elijah would speak and said, “Jesus, do not fear. I was afraid of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and I ran from them. And I almost failed my mission because of fear. Do not be afraid.” That’s the invitation of today’s Gospel; yes, doubt and fear are powerful motivators in our life and there’s no way we can escape them. I think the invitation is: don’t let them control you.

Goodness and Greatness

Carmelite homily for Wednesday, March 4, 2020 – Lectionary 226 (Luke 11:29-32)

Because today’s Gospel passage is the same, this homily is repeated from Monday, October 14th.

Instead of giving you a Carmelite quotation today, I’m going to give you my take on today’s Gospel passage. The people come to Jesus asking for a sign and he says, “no, because you’re looking for the sign of Jonah like in the time of Nineveh, or the time of Solomon when the Queen of Sheba visited. You don’t see what’s in front of you.” I think what they’re doing is they’re living in the past. Jonah was a great preacher and the people of Nineveh turned their lives around. Solomon was a great king and the Queen of Sheba and others came from great distances to listen to him. They’re living in the past. “We were great then with Jonah; we were great then with Solomon!” But they are great today with Jesus and they don’t see it. The call of today’s Gospel is to see the goodness and the greatness right in front of us.

What Are My Verticals?

Carmelite homily for Tuesday, February 25, 2020 – Lectionary 342 (Mark 9:30-34)

Those disciples, they’re at it again, arguing who is the greatest. So Jesus brings a child and places the child in the middle and says, “whoever receives a little one like this receives me” and “the last shall be first, the first shall be last.” What he’s getting at is all the things that keep us enslaved, like the disciples ‘who’s the greatest?’ It’s status, it’s power. Their culture was very vertical and Jesus is asking for very horizontal. But what about us? What are our verticals that we’re not willing to budge on? Money? or power? or status? or wealth? or the house? or my will? or my control? What are my verticals? And are they child-like? That’s the call of today’s Gospel. It’s not to be a child necessarily, but to check what are the verticals? What are the non-negotiables? What are the things I insist on having my way? And does that have to be so?

Immensity of Christ

Carmelite homily for Thursday, February 20, 2020 – Lectionary 338 (Mark 8:27-33)

In today’s Gospel Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they give a bunch of answers and finally Peter says, “You are the Christ.” Then Jesus predicts his upcoming passion and death. And Peter says, ‘Oh, This must not happen to you.’ Jesus, “Oh, behind me Satan for you do not think as God thinks but as human beings think.” I think that’s the call of today’s Gospel: is to think beyond what human beings think; to think as God thinks. Edith Stein (Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) writes, “Living in a Eucharistic way means coming out of oneself, out of the narrowness of one’s life and growing into the immensity of life in Christ.” I think that’s why Jesus begins with the question, “Who do people say that I am?” Is your understanding big enough, immense enough, to understand Jesus? Because that’s what you’re called to grow into – that immensity. That’s what we called as Christians, as Eucharistic people, as disciples – to grow into the immensity of Christ.