“God loves things by becoming them.” Father Richard Rohr
One of the most influential and world famous teachers of today is Father Richard Rohr, a priest, author, theologian and mystic. For 50 years a Franciscan friar, he is also the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in New Mexico.
Rohr’s message is for all peoples- Christian, Jew, Muslim, whatever-and is profound in its inclusivity!
His latest book is an accumulation of what his life has taught him, he says. The book is called The Universalist Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe.
In preparation for writing he asked many people to share their stories, and the common theme was ‘everything visible without exception is the outpouring of God’.
In his book, Father Rohr emphasizes that Jesus is the historical figure, while Christ is the cosmic figure, and while the two are complementary, we need to change our perception to see Christ as the metaphor for everything.
We are, Rohr stresses, all God’s expression and everything is in divine relationship. “We would never have polluted this planet if we had understood the incarnation, since the first incarnation of God was in creation itself!”
Therefore, God’s presence is in everything and everybody. Rohr calls for a radical unity rather than the fragmented reveling in multiple diversities.
He quotes a German theologian who said “(We need) to stop using the term “God” for 50 years because we don’t know what we are talking about.”
The following video is from Oprah Winfrey’s show Super Soul Sunday where she talks with Rohr about his book and thoughts.
If you do nothing else this week but listen for ½ hour to this man, you will have given yourself an unforgettable gift! It’s eye-opening and mind-expanding!
