"The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was,…"

“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be.”

– Marcel Pagnol (via theorthodoxheretic)

For a contemplative, the methods become a part of a way of life. Perhaps they are practised twice a day. Over time, gradually, the quality of our mind changes until contemplation arises in the midst of daily life and changes the world. This then reinforces the times of formal practice, which in turn deepens our experience of being alive. It is a virtuous learning cycle. We have made ourselves available to see through holy eyes by the Grace of God

Simon Small in “From the Bottom of the Pond” 

I have to admit that for quite some time St. Paul has been out of favour with me and I was having great problems squaring the some of the writings of Paul with the teachings of Jesus. It seemed to me that Jesus was preaching a liberating faith, free of all the hangups of the Pharisees, whilst Paul was laying down the foundations for a Church that has proved to be even more Pharisaical than those Jesus condemned.

Of course my thinking about Paul is largely based on the teaching I received as a young Evangelical Christian – a Paul who is often quoted to support the dualistic view which has, sadly, pervaded the Church.

But what if we were to read Paul from a different point of view? What if we could shed the baggage with which he has been saddled for years? I believe it is then we would find a very different Paul – ones whose teaching fits far better with that of Christ.

Thankfully there are some in the Church who are now brave enough to try.

The following is from Richard Rohr

The three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are largely about the historical Jesus who worked miracles, who taught, who promised us a new way of seeing, a new way of life in this world.

It is seldom pointed out, however, that Paul is not talking about Jesus; Paul is almost always talking about “Christ.”  Paul hardly ever quotes the historical Jesus and never knew him in the flesh.  Really rather shocking when you realize that his letters are one third of the New Testament!  The phrase “in Christ” is his most common usage—over 100 times, I’ve been told.

We take Paul as a touchstone of orthodoxy, the central, foundational teacher of Christianity—and yet he hardly quotes Jesus!  Something else is going on here, which has largely been off of the Christian radar.  Paul has largely fallen in love with “the Christ” and it was Jesus who pointed him there.  Most Christians still need to make the same movement, and to believe in both Jesus AND Christ.  They are two distinct faith affirmations.

Adapted from The Cosmic Christ (CD/MP3)