We Catholics must admit that there is a constant temptation among us to avoid the lectionary and the Word of God for private and pious devotions that usually have little power to actually change us or call our ego assumptions into question.
Richard RohrThe important thing is the willingness to give back the gift that is you, not the perfection of the gift itself. Can you feel the difference?
Richard RohrDenial of our pattern of failure seems to be a kind of practical atheism or chosen ignorance among many believers and clergy.
Richard RohrGod is always drawing us closer, blow by blow and bit by bit. And most of the time we do not even know it is happening.
Richard RohrThe path of descent is the path of transformation. Darkness, failure, relapse, death, and woundedness are our primary teachers, rather than ideas or doctrines.
Richard RohrAll great spirituality teaches about letting go of what you donโt need and who you are not. Then, when you can get little enough and naked enough and poor enough, youโll find that the little place where you really are is ironically more than enough and is all that you need. At that place, you will have nothing to prove to anybody and nothing to protect. That place is called freedom. Itโs the freedom of the children of God. Such people can connect with everybody. They donโt feel the need to eliminate anybody . . .
Richard Rohr