<div dir="auto">Thanks Art! </div><div dir="auto">Beautiful thoughtful reflection - so post as we go through life!</div><div dir="auto">Happy Easter to you and Angie! <br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 7:50 PM Arthur Blomme via Sundaycommunity <<a href="mailto:sundaycommunity@lists.integralshift.ca">sundaycommunity@lists.integralshift.ca</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<p>Happy Easter Friends and co-conspirators <br>
</p>
<p>I am living a contemplative life here in Chemainus with lots of
hard work getting back to Eden, partnering with creation to create
a food forest(regenerative agriculture). A highlight of my life
is sharing my theological reflections. As the abundance of nature
once again begins to rebirth I would like to share with you my
reflection on the resurrection. <br>
</p>
<p>Thank you all for continuing to be in my life.<br>
</p>
<p>Art Blomme<br>
<span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<h2><br>
</h2>
<h2><span lang="EN-US">The </span><span lang="EN-US">Tomb</span><span lang="EN-US"> is Empty</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">In this
Easter Sunday's reading from the Gospel of John the disciples
discover the tomb of Jesus to be empty.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Richard
Rohr's latest book, <u>The Universal Christ</u>, has
facilitated my understanding of the resurrection <span></span>according to <span> </span>John's Gospel. "<i>Christ is not Jesus's last
name,"</i> says Rohr. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">John's
Gospel identifies the Universal Christ with several "I am..."
statements. My favorite is "I am the way the truth and the
light." I find it very enlightening to reflect on the Universal
Christ as truth, as light and as the way.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">In Chapter
11 of John's Gospel the Christ say's ”I am the resurrection and
the life." <span> </span>If the
universal Christ is the resurrection then, I ask: What is the
resurrection?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Some
contemporary thinkers see resurrection along the lines of
transcendence. Transcendence is the act of rising above
something to a superior state. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">According
to Teilard de Chardin evolution happens in leaps. When a stage
of creation reaches the boundaries of its development a new
stage springs forth that transcends and overcomes the boundaries
and limitations of the previous stage. On a macro scale Chardin
saw the evolution of Earth proceeding through three levels. Each
successive level transcends and includes the previous level.
Evolving from:</span></p>
<ol type="1" start="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border:none"><span lang="EN-US">the geosphere(made up
of all the planetary matter and evolving chemical processes),
</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border:none"><span lang="EN-US">to the biosphere(the
interconnected web of plants and animals and their biological
processes) </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border:none"><span lang="EN-US">to the noosphere
which is the sphere of thought, culture and communication </span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Human consciousness and
creativity are especially characterized by this transcendence.
When limitations emerge that block human growth, consciousness
and creativity can transcend those boundaries to create a new
state that overcomes the limitations of the previous state.
Today with the internet we have the facility to communicate
knowledge and thought across the globe. Chardin's vision of the
noosphere is a reality today. The limitations to communication
imposed by distance have been overcome enabling instantaneous
communication to every corner in the world. When human
creativity meets formidable barriers, human creativity seems to
transcend those barriers. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">One of the
great perceived barriers to our individual growth is our
inevitable death. Even Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemene
to have the cup of his death taken away from him. At the moment
of his death he despairs “My God, My God, why have You forsaken
Me?” Facing our death is difficult.<span> </span>In the end Jesus chooses to
accept his fate. <span> </span>By
embracing death Jesus transcends death. He is resurrected. He
is one with Christ and Christ is the resurrection. As St. Paul
says "Death has lost its sting". The Tomb is empty. <br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><b>Prologue:</b>
For me this view of the resurrection only makes sense when we
heed the words of St. Paul: "Jesus is the first of many
brothers(siblings)." We share in the resurrection when we too
become one in Christ.<br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Biblical
scholar N.T. Wright in his book "God and the Pandemic" talks
about how the Judeo-Christian tradition has historically
related to pandemics. Notable to him is the courage found in
Christian communities as they fearlessly engaged in the reality
of suffering from the plagues of the past, treating the sick,
comforting the bible and creating hospitals and health
awareness. Christian communities creatively transcended the
limitations of the plague. Fear of death incapacitates our
ability to creatively respond to the object of our fear. It
prevents us from transcending the reality of our suffering. If
"death has lost its sting" we can engage courageously and
transcend our tribulations. As Einstein says, We cannot solve a
problem at the same level in which the problem was created.</span><span lang="EN-US">
Resurrected in Christ we are not paralyzed by fear. </span><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p align="center">Art Blomme, April 6 2023<br>
</p>
<b>Arthur Blomme</b><br>
Mobile: 647-719-7779<br>
<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/10351+Chemainus+Rd+%0D%0A++++Chemainus,+BC+V0R+1K2?entry=gmail&source=g">10351 Chemainus Rd</a><br><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/10351+Chemainus+Rd+%0D%0A++++Chemainus,+BC+V0R+1K2?entry=gmail&source=g">
Chemainus, BC V0R 1K2</a><br>
<a href="mailto:art@integralshift.ca" target="_blank">Email: art@integralshift.ca</a><br>
<p>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
</div>
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