The Invitation

Part VIII completes chapter three of Fr Martin Laird's book, A Sunlit Absence. Josh offers some more context of Fr Laird's writing by looking at one saying of Abba Arsenius from the 4th century desert sayings. The question for discernment before us is what kind of daily practices, rhythms, disciplines each of us need to cultivate and nurture inner silence so that we can remain open to the love and life of God. You are invited to join our Zoom chat with Fr Laird Thursday, July 9 at 2pm EST. To find more information be sure to subscribe: www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe

his is part VII of our journey through Fr Martin Laird’s A Sunlit Absence, the second of his three books on contemplative prayer. In the last episode we looked at how the opposite of the contemplative life is not the active life, but the reactive life. In this episode we consider how silence leads us to justice, to an honest awareness of what is broken, sick, and failing inside of ourselves. Fr Laird is working out the teachings of Jordon of Saxony, a 13th century Augustinian monk who writes, “Through silence a brother begins to cultivate and practice justice by which virtue he is informed so as to live his own life honestly. Not to harm others, and to each each one his due. Such formation as this carries anyone so formed on to the state of perfection. On the other hand, from the breakdown of silence, disturbance of mind arise. Quarrels are borne.”

A simple summary of Jordan of Saxony goes like this: the children of silence: peace of mind and cultivation of justice.

Please sign up to stay informed about the date and times of our two Q&A sessions with Fr Laird here: https://www.invitationpodcast.org/fr-laird-qa-webinar

If you have not already subscribed to the Invitation Podcast, please do so: https://www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe

It is a gift and honor to serve you through the Invitation Podcast. We hope you are well wherever you are during these difficult times. Peace of Christ!

This episode is part SIX of our journey through Fr Martin Laird's book A Sunlit Absence. Here Josh completes a guided study and practice through chapter two. It is not too late for you to join into this journey especially if you want to join into the webinar Q&A session with Fr Laird. Information and signup to be involved in the Q&A is found here: https://www.invitationpodcast.org/fr-laird-qa-webinar

Due to Covid-19 the date and time for the first of these two sessions is TBA. In this time of quarantine and as we face the racism in America, we invite you to contemplation for two reasons: 1. Contemplation is a practice of Divine healing, where the Holy Spirit can have more access to reach the trauma, exhaustion, and despair we are experiencing. 2. Contemplation is a de-centering practice that open us to listen to God, and others, especially open to see how we are complicit in racism and in other arenas of sin. For more help with facing racism, please visit: https://www.invitationpodcast.org/facing-racism

In the context of the growing race protests across America, Josh checks in with one of his favorite conversation partners, Chris Hoke of Underground Ministries in the Skagit Valley of Washington State. Chris initially appeared in episode 19 in January of 2018. Chris has been a prison chaplain and now also is involved connecting former convicts with local churches. Josh especially wanted to reach out to Chris to discuss the question of race after the killing of George Floyd. Chris will become a regular monthly contributor to the Invitation Podcast to help create conversation that connects the dots between deep, spiritual formation and the outcasts of America's industrial incarceration system. ALSO, we are continuing our journey with Fr Martin Laird's A Sunlit Absence this summer. Sign up for our two webinar Q&A sessions with him at www.invitationpodcast.org/fr-laird-qa-webinar

To introduce Part V of our journey through Fr Martin Laird's A Sunlit Absence, Josh takes a moment to wrestle with the point of contemplative prayer in the midst of America's current racial upheaval. The two main gifts of contemplation for us as we heal of our racism is: 1. contemplation is divine therapy. It is a safe place to rest, to find healing, and to draw in the life of God as we continue in these very difficult race conversations and continue in our protesting. 2. Contemplation can lead to the de-centering that is necessary to see ourselves, to see our own contribution to the racism of America, and to hear, listen and see our black and brown brothers and sisters.

Read more about this episode on our website: https://www.invitationpodcast.org/

While protests continue to erupt across America, we continue here on a journey into contemplative prayer knowing that contemplation is not an escape from the brokenness around us. Contemplation is not a comfortable way of hiding from the justice that we should all be crying out for today either. Contemplation will deepen and clarify our understanding of justice. Contemplation will help us identify each of our own unique responses to the crises that beset us, and contemplation will also help sustain and nourish our much needed activism to address the racism that continues to have a stranglehold on us. In fact, it may only be via contemplation that you are freed from your ego long enough to catch a glimpse of how you are contributing to the oppression of the marginalized and are a part of the problem!

In this fourth episode working through Fr Martin Laird’s book, A Sunlit Absence, we finish up chapter one and should by now have a working definition of contemplation. In this episode we consider how through practice, the mechanical nature of this prayer movement will eventually become familiar and more graceful.

The exciting news is that Fr Laird has committed to two separate Q & A sessions with Invitation podcast listeners. The specific details are being worked out, but the idea is to meet with Fr Laird after chapter four and then again at the end of the book which will likely take us through most of July 2020. It isn’t too late to dive into this valuable book and for you to come up with your own questions that you may very well be able to ask Fr Laird yourself. If you haven’t already, please subscribe so that we can contact you with the further details about these two online events. https://www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe

Also, in this episode Josh mentions his song, “Silence.” The song can be found at the end of the episode, at 22:40. This is a more recent version of the song that includes Josh’s wife, Susanna Childress as well as strings performed by Jared Demeester.

The greatest gift you can offer back the invitation is to invite a friend to the Invitation. Please share the Invitation!

If the Invitation has been of help to you, and if you would like to see the Invitation grow sustainably, your financial help is much appreciated. https://www.invitationpodcast.org/donations

Peace of Christ to you in these very bewildering times. Amen.

This third instalment of our journey through A Sunlit Absence by Fr Marin Laird continues in chapter one. Chapter one is a summary of Laird's previous book, Entering the Silent Land. The intention here is to offer a substantial definition of contemplation as well as offering some practical descriptions of how contemplation is practiced. Bless you for continuing on this journey. May you be blessed even in the midst of this covid pandemic. Subscribe to this podcast to stay updated when new episodes, classes, and retreats are made available www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe

Part two of a journey of guided prayer, reading, and commentary through A Sunlit Absence by Fr Martin Laird. Buy your own copy of the book and read more in-depth on your own or access the journey through this transformative book with the podcast. A new episode will be offered every second or third day. Questions and comments are welcome. Email josh at invitationpodcast dot org. If you have not already subscribed, please join the journey www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe Peace of Christ to you during this quarantine wilderness.

One sentiment offered on social media this past week went something like this: “let's not return to normal. Normal wasn't working. If we try to return to normal, we won't have learned the costly lesson." This is the truth of all transformation. COVID 19 is just a very severe, collective opportunity for us to move beyond "normal." This episode no. 48 is the first of a new series of reading, studying, and praying through Fr Martin Laird’s book A Sunlit Absence. Fr Laird helps us reform a consciousness that can embrace the transformation that is at hand. You are invited to buy the book to follow along in your own reading or to simply listen and pray with the podcast. If you have not subscribed yet to the podcast, please join the journey https://www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe And also, please consider inviting someone to the Invitation. Let someone know about the goodness of going deeper with God with the Invitation Podcast. Peace of Christ to you during this troubling time wherever you are in the world.

This episode turned out to be two meditations, connected to each other but each worth separate listens. First, Josh walks through some questions for us to consider regarding our experience of being in quarantine. How free are you to accept the trauma of this crisis and to talk to God about your suffering? Then, at around 12 mins in, the episode moves on to Nathan Foster of Renovare guiding a prayer through Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, my Rock and Redeemer." This is an invaluable prayer to direct our hearts and mind while we are in the midst of this pandemic. May you be blessed in your prayer. Please subscribe to this podcast and share it with someone! https://www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe