Faith is not for overcoming obstacles; it is for experiencing them—all the way through! Richard Rohr More Quotes by Richard Rohr More Quotes From Richard Rohr The Gospel is not a fire insurance policy for the next world, but a life assurance policy for this world. Richard Rohr nextfireworld God created us for love, for union, for forgiveness and compassion and, yet, that has not been our storyline. That has not been our history. Richard Rohr storylineunionscompassion To believe in Jesus, is to believe that the historic person who lived on this earth more than 2000 years ago was the image of the invisible God. That's a huge leap of faith, but it is my leap of faith, it's the act of faith of the Christian community. Richard Rohr christianbelievejesus Church practice has been more influenced by Plato than by Jesus. We invariably prefer the universal synthesis, the answer that settles all the dust and resolves every question even when it is not entirely true over the mercy and grace of God. Richard Rohr dustplatojesus Sacramental listening reminds us that current suffering isn't the end of the story. God loves us deeply, and the vision for the future is vaster and more magnificent than we could ever imagine. In these moments of profound human presence, we are awakened to the divine presence and see that the kingdom of God is coming and yet is already here. Richard Rohr sufferinglisteningprofound Solitude is a courageous encounter with our naked, most raw and real self, in the presence of pure love. Richard Rohr solituderealself Moralism is always the cheap substitute for mysticism. Richard Rohr moralismmysticismsubstitutes Who is telling us about the false self today? Who is even equipped tell us? Many clergy have not figured this out for themselves, since even ministry can be a career decision or an attraction to "religion" more than the result of an encounter with God or themselves. Formal religious status can maintain the false self rather effectively, especially if there are a lot of social payoffs like special respect, titles, salaries, a good self image, or nice costumes. It is no accident that the religious "Pharisees" became the symbolic bad guys in the Jesus story. Richard Rohr nicereligiousjesus ...religion either produces the very best people or the very worst. Richard Rohr produceworstpeople "Christ" is bigger than the Earth planet. If tomorrow we discover life on another planet, the whole "Jesus" piece would not make sense anymore. If he did everything for just us on this planet he wouldn't be the savior of the "world." Richard Rohr piecesworldjesus After 32 years as a priest , I think its fair to say that most institutional churches are very limited in addressing higher levels of spiritual consciousness. Richard Rohr spiritualyearsthinking There are not sacred and profane things, places, and moments. There are only sacred and desecrated things, places, and moments-and it is we alone who desecrate them by our blindness and lack of reverence. It is one sacred universe, and we are all a part of it. Richard Rohr blindnesssacredmoments What we know about God is important, but what we do with what we know about God is even more important. Richard Rohr importantknows One wonders how far spiritual and political leaders can genuinely lead us without some degree of mystical seeing and action. Richard Rohr politicalleaderspiritual Those who are not true leaders will just affirm people at their own immature level. Richard Rohr immatureleaderpeople If you do not transform your pain, you will always transmit it. Richard Rohr transmitpainifs In terms of the ego, most religions teach in some way that all of us must die before we die, and then we will not be afraid of dying. Suffering of some sort seems to be the only thing strong enough to destabilize our arrogance and our ignorance. I would define suffering very simply as whenever you are not in control. Richard Rohr egostrongignorance True gospel authority, the authority to heal and renew things and people, is not finally found in a hierarchical office, a theological argument, a perfect law, or a rational explanation. The Crucified revealed to the world that the real power that changes people and the world is an inner authority that comes from people who have lost, let go, and are re-found on a new level. Richard Rohr reallawletting-go Much of the work of midlife is to tell the difference between those who are dealing with their issues through you and those who are really dealing with you. Richard Rohr midlifeissuesdifferences It’s a gift to joyfully recognize and accept our own smallness and ordinariness. Then you are free with nothing to live up to, nothing to prove, and nothing to protect. Such freedom is my best description of Christian maturity, because once you know that your “I” is great and one with God, you can ironically be quite content with a small and ordinary “I.” No grandstanding is necessary. Any question of your own importance or dignity has already been resolved once and for all and forever. Richard Rohr maturitychristianforever
