The hosts address listener questions on Meister Eckhart, including surrendering to God's love and embracing nothingness, seeking guidance in the silence of God, the transformative power of listening to the mystics, understanding God's unconditional love and the concept of evil, witnessing evil and the brokenness of the church, and answer a listener question about bad theology in churches.
01:01:13
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Eckhart emphasizes the yearning for the hidden word, inviting us to detach from hindrances and embrace the presence of God.
God's love extends to all, including those who perform evil acts, as they are still God's children.
Eckhart's teachings are rooted in the love and mercy exemplified by Christ, emphasizing the birth of God in us and reciprocating it by giving birth to God back into God's heart.
Deep dives
The Hidden Word and Eckhart's Sermon
Eckhart explores the hidden word in a sermon where he speaks of the word descending into the darkness of our hearts. He emphasizes the yearning and sighing for this word, which comes like a thief, stealing our attachment to anything other than God. The word is a mystery that we may not fully comprehend, but it invites us to detach from hindrances and embrace the presence of God.
God's Unconditional Love
God's unconditional love is extended to all, regardless of the depth of their evil acts. God's love embraces even those who perform evil acts, as they are still God's children. While we can and should confront evil and set boundaries, it is important to recognize that the evil acts themselves do not define the true nature of individuals. God's love remains unwavering and ever-present, even in the face of darkness.
Eckhart's Christocentric View
Eckhart's teachings can be seen as both Christocentric and centered on the nature of God's love. He acknowledges the significance of Jesus in his sermons, highlighting the eternal expression of God as the word and the unifying presence of Christ in our lives. The birth of God in us allows us to reciprocate the birth by giving birth to God back into God's heart. Eckhart's teachings are deeply rooted in the love and mercy exemplified by Christ.
Understanding Journaling as Self-Knowledge
Journaling can be a powerful tool for deepening experiential self-knowledge in God's presence. Through reflection and introspection, one can explore their emotions, thoughts, and responses to various life experiences. It involves asking meaningful questions about oneself, the invitation to growth and acceptance, the nature of one's relationship with God, and exploring the light that could potentially shine through acceptance and understanding. Journaling serves as a means to pray and understand oneself more fully.
God's Presence and Evil Acts
God's presence remains unwavering and does not withdraw from individuals who commit evil acts. While evil acts may have destructive consequences and necessitate justice and boundaries, God's love persists even in the hearts of those who perpetrate such acts. The notion of God's unconditional love extends to all individuals, recognizing that what is betrayed through evil acts is not a true reflection of one's identity before God. God's love reaches those who have strayed but offers the possibility of reconciliation and transformation.
Welcome to the listener questions series from our sessions on Meister Eckhart. Due to the volume of questions this season, we have decided to make three episodes dedicated to listener questions. This is the third and final episode addressing questions on Meister Eckhart.
Resources:
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Jim's reading list for Meister Eckhart can be found here.
Connect with us:
This podcast is made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
