John Michael Talbott's Lenten and Easter Message

[calicowriter]

I am on his mailing list and I thought this was very interesting.

I have been struck in recent weeks by the much talked about
report that 8 out of 10 Americans call themselves "Christians." That
is much higher than I would have thought, and is very revealing
concerning everything from interfaith issues such as meditation and
mysticism to moral issues such as pro life and simple living. But the
report goes on to say that most of these have not stayed with the
religion of their upbringing, and now tend to "shop around" with
various churches whenever one gets too familiar, or "old."

This latter point is a bit disconcerting. It is a challenge to the
church, and a challenge to our culture. How is it that so many call
themselves not just religious or "churched," but "Christians," yet are
so unhappy with the stability offered in the institutions of
traditional family and church? On one level this report gives us
great hope that we will find enough common ground with those of
western culture to bring the deeper messages of faith, morality, and
mysticism. On another level it means that we Americans tend to only
"buy" that which is easy, simple, and quickly replaceable. Is it any
wonder that deeper levels of spirituality are seldom reached by those
of our own culture?

This is a challenge to those of us who stay with one church or spouse
for life. It challenges us to live our stability in a more life giving
way. This way must authentically change us within before it can change
anyone or anything without. This is called being a "witness" for
Christ. But such "witnessing" can be most off putting if done only for
display. It must be genuine and humble if it is to have a positive effect.

So I encourage you to set aside some extra time for prayer, church
sacraments, and care for everyone we meet. Let's embrace a Christian
spirituality that takes us so deep that we no longer feel the need for
the easy and quickly replaceable spirituality that has become so
prominent in America today. Then we can get to the root of the
problems of our culture that sees everything from marriage to
monasteries in an easy, and quickly replaceable mindset. Then can we
find the stability of Jesus who never leaves us when we fall into the various troubles of life.
Then we can have a stability within that no one can take away. This stability can then bring a deep and abiding peace to our troubled and insecure world.

Of course, I cannot do any of this without God's grace, and most
specifically through the dying and rising of Jesus. This is the whole
point of Holy Week and Easter. When I let go of my ego centric self in
the dying of Christ, then my real self finds its place gracefully in
His resurrection. Without this I can do nothing.

In Jesus,
John Michael Talbot