Practicing Resurrection D
As the Sister preached tonight at St. Benedict’s Vigilย service, she reflected on the Gospel reading for tomorrow. Sheย reminded me and about about 60 other worshipers that everyone, like Jesus’ย disciple Thomas, hasย periods of doubt aboutย the resurrection.
Amen, Sister.
I’ve got doubts about manyย mundane things, not to mention the resurrection. When I dwell in my doubts, I find myself increasingly isolated, depressed, and mucking around in despair. This leads me to the second rule forย practicing resurrection: practice in community ~ it’s not an individual venture.
My timeย with the sisters atย Saint Benedict’s Monastery today for both Morning Prayer and Vigil services, brought home to meย on many levels the need for community. One of the most basic, and often overlooked, is that when one of us can’t believe or practice resurrectionย –ย or any otherย aspect of our shared faithย –ย theย community can surround us and hold up theย practice and belief. We can let them carry us. That is a kind of trusting faith that is embodied, relational and communal. Practices of community areย essential for the practice of resurrection.
- When I made this photo in 2011, I asked permission to share it on my blog. This is the first time I’veย chosen to post any photos from St. Ben’s.
