For the second week of Advent, our focus is on waiting with hope and abiding with peace in our hearts and our actions. We long for leaders of greatness and grace because we ache for a world with greater justice and shalom. The first two reflections in this series probed these elements of our human condition. Underneath these aching longings throbs a deep desire for God and the realm of God, for someone with the power and goodness to save us from ourselves and make our world right. The short season of Advent … [Read more...] about Waiting: Preparation and Peacefulness within Our Hearts
Aching: Justice and Shalom in Our World
The Emerging Scholars Network is pleased that Bobby Gross has once again agreed to contribute a series of Advent reflections to the ESN blog. This, on the first Sunday of Advent looks at the theme of lamenting the ravages of a war-torn, dark world and our longing for God to come bringing justice and shalom. The last of the Thanksgiving leftovers have been downed. The colorful lights are going up around the neighborhood. The carols are playing in the stores and the Christmas movies streaming on the Hallmark channel … [Read more...] about Aching: Justice and Shalom in Our World
Longing: Greatness and Grace in our Leaders
The Emerging Scholars Network is pleased that Bobby Gross has once again agreed to contribute a series of Advent reflections to the ESN blog. This first looks back to Christ the King Sunday just passed and reflects on our longing for a great and good king that is so much a part of the Advent journey of preparing to celebrate the birth of the King and longing for his return. When I first read the coronation scene in Book Six of the Lord of the Rings years ago, unexpectedly, great tears upwelled together with feelings … [Read more...] about Longing: Greatness and Grace in our Leaders
Lenten Reflection: Eastertide and the Renewal of All Things
This is the eighth and concluding reflection in our series of Lenten reflections, as we transition from Lent to the season of Eastertide. ESN would like to thank Bobby Gross for these thought-provoking and spiritually enriching posts. The first appeared on Ash Wednesday. You may browse the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth posts by following the respective links. The seventh post focuses on Good Friday. For six weeks during Lent we fasted, but over the seven weeks of Eastertide we feast. Sobriety … [Read more...] about Lenten Reflection: Eastertide and the Renewal of All Things
Lenten Reflections: Good Friday
This is the seventh in a series of reflections through the season of Lent, written by Bobby Gross, who contributed the reflections for this past Advent Season. The first appeared on Ash Wednesday. You can browse the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth reflections by following the links. The whole journey of Lent brings us to this weekend, holy in the Christian calendar, the Great Three Days, the Paschal Triduum, this Good Friday--Holy Saturday--Easter Sunday that plunges us into the … [Read more...] about Lenten Reflections: Good Friday