Ancient Anglican

The discovery of our True Self is found in our discovery of the Kingdom of Heaven as described by Jesus.

Rohr speaks to us on Easter morning, in the light of the Resurrection of Christ in which death and evil and victimhood are left behind and a new, transformed, and resurrected creation has arisen.

This book is about transformation and how the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is not simply a historical event, but, more importantly, is a present reality in which we can participate.

In our striving to obtain whatever we believe will give contentment and happiness, we will lose that contentment and happiness. We will never obtain enough to bring us the happiness that we ultimately seek.  

The Speaker is concerned with our making promises to God (i.e. vows) that we cannot satisfy. It is better not to vow at all than to vow and not fulfill. Thus the Speaker tells us that vows are not to be taken lightly or inadvisably.

When the Speaker addresses oppression, he simply describes the situation with no contemporaneous recognition of any role that he could play to address the oppression that he sees.

The Speaker finds great value in companionship. Two are better than one in their endeavors and for support, warmth, and protection. In vv.9-12, the Speaker extols the goodness of having a companion.

The Speaker knows wisdom and righteousness but also knows that death has the final say over all. As Paul reminds us, if there is no resurrection of the dead and if Christ has not been raised then our faith is pure vanity. 1 Cor. 15:14.

There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot; A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build; A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance; A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time…

But Christianly understood death is by no means the last thing of all, hence it is only a little event within that which is all, an eternal life. – Sören Kierkegaard

I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one’s burden again. But Sisyphus teaches the higher fidelity that negates the gods and raises rocks. He too concludes that all is well. – Albert Camus

The Speaker begins his teaching with the recognition of the Absurd – life makes no coherent sense, life is not fair, and life is not just. For the Speaker and for us, therefore, the question arises as to how he/we respond to this recognition. This is the story of Lent.