Category: Spiritual Formation
-
Come And See
“Come and see” is what Jesus said to the two disciples of John the Baptist who asked him, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” (John 1:35-39) Jesus responds to their question but he does not answer it. Instead of an answer he extends an invitation. Instead of information he offers an experience. Instead of a destination… Read more
-
Time For An Update
I began “Interrupting the Silence” a little over twelve years ago in January 2009. It started with a few “I wonder ifs.” “I wonder if I can figure out the technology and how to create a blog.” “I wonder if people will read and respond to what I write.” “I wonder if this might be… Read more
-
Celebrating St. Gregory the Great
Today, March 12, is the feast of St. Gregory the Great also known, especially in the East, as St. Gregory the Dialogist because he wrote a book entitled The Dialogues in which he extolled the Italian saints. Gregory served as pope from 590 until his death on March 12, 604. Though often seen as Augustinian… Read more
-
Advent, the Season of Necessary Endings – A Sermon on Mark 13:24-37
By now most of you probably know that the primary focus of my priesthood and ministry is the growth and development of our inner life. It’s the core of my preaching, teaching, and our life together at St. Philip’s. The inner life takes us from darkness to light. It means we are always trying to… Read more
-
Called to Become God: The Human Vocation
“I should be doing more,” she said. “I want to do more but I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what God wants me to do. What is God’s will for my life?” That’s how our conversation began. Her questions and statements are more than familiar to me. I have heard them or… Read more
-
Silence, the Way Home
The 14th century Sufi poet and mystic, Rumi, wrote, “Return to the root of the root of yourself.”¹ His words remind me that I often live on the periphery or circumference of life, disconnected from the root of my being and existence. To “return to the root of the root” of myself means returning to… Read more
-
A Spiritual Pilgrimage
You need a spiritual pilgrimage. Begin by closing your mouth. – The Sayings of the Egyptian Fathers (Quoted by John McGuckin in The Mystical Book of Chapters, 47). Read more
-
You Should Observe Silence
And therefore you should observe silence! In that manner the Word can be uttered and heard. For surely, if you choose to speak God must fall silent. There is no better way of serving the Word than by silence and by listening. If you go out of yourself, you may be certain that God will… Read more
-
Call to the Inner Life – Remembering Evelyn Underhill
Originally posted on Interrupting the Silence: Sometime around 1931 Evelyn Underhill wrote a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon Lang (1928-1942), about the inner life of the clergy. Her concern was that the multiplicity of the clergy’s duties had diminished some priests’ grounding in a life of prayer. Underhill’s concerns are as relevant… Read more
Interrupting the Silence 