The PloughCast A Disabled Savior by Devan Stahl
Aug 28, 2025
Devan Stahl, a theologian and bioethicist, explores the profound relationship between faith and disability. She shares her own journey through illness, challenging notions of bodily perfection with a God who embodies vulnerability. The discussion highlights the holiness found in fragility, emphasizing Christ's crucified form as a testament to the strength in shared suffering. Stahl beautifully affirms the value of all bodies, particularly those with disabilities, urging listeners to embrace empathy and community through the Eucharist.
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Diagnosis Redirected His Calling
- Devan Stahl describes being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis during divinity school and how it disrupted his life and vocation.
- That experience led him into theological bioethics and hospital clinical ethics work supporting patients and clinicians.
Resurrection Defies Cultural Beauty
- Cultural expectations shape our hopes for resurrected bodies, often imagining flawless youthful forms.
- The Gospels instead portray a resurrected Jesus who surprises friends and is not immediately recognized, challenging those expectations.
Wounds Identify The Resurrected Christ
- The resurrected Jesus appears with the marks of crucifixion, inviting touch and recognition through wounds.
- Those wounds connect his glorified body to his suffering mortal body and to his friends' recognition.
