Deepening our Christianity

the Monday Newsletter of Paul Prins

Edition #3 · 1 May 2023

Blessings Reader,

I want you to remember. To remember something like the ground that we stand on. So easy to see, yet not see. To feel, yet not feel. Like the earth beneath us, the love of God touched us, and formed us from our first breath. It sustains us in the midst of the turbulence of life, and in the stillness of life. It is simply here. It simply exists for us to move through, breathe in, and to take rest in.

The expansiveness of God's love is ever undeserving. A love that holds each of us, all of us, through all the parts of ourselves we cannot yet see. It is a love that confounds the smallness of our imaginations. A love that darkness and hate can never overcome. A love that sees our every trespass, yet keeps no record of wrongs. A love that invites us to abandon fear, entitlement, and hate. A love whose invitation is aromatic, sweet, unending, and quiet.

A love that longs to sustain you. That sustained Jesus, and longs for us to be refreshed in the midst of our work. A love that labors with you, and longs to give you hope. A love that weaves all of us together within the bottomless well of God's love.

Until Next Week

Posted this Week

Discover the Tradition of Christian Mysticism

The tradition of Christian Mysticism has roots in second temple Judaism. It’s woven its way through nearly every denomination and movement of the Church for two millennia. Let this brief overview help you learn about mysticism.

Read/Listen to the Essay

Unpublished Photo of the Week

The NYC Metro coming into the station — I've been in New York City for much of this past week, attending a conference hosted by Middle Collegiate Church. It's a wonderful city, but Paris is where my heart feels at home.
**Catpured:** 27 April 2023

Curated Goods from the Week

Sharing what I've come across from around the internet that may encourage or help you.

The Sixth-Century Augustine Gospels ~8 Minutes (plus 2 short videos)
These stunning Latin gospel texts are primarily from the Vulgate of St Jerome, with some lines from the earlier Vetus texts. They have many beautiful illuminations. This book was sent by Gregory the Great to Augustine of Canterbury (in 601) to aid the mission of bringing Christianity to the British Isles that started in 597.
What are the Ten Commandments by Rabbi Mike Harvey ~5 Minute Twitter 🧵
Did you know/remember that the Ten Commandments appear in three separate places in the Torah? Each of these inclusions has its own uniqueness, and they cannot be synthesized into one ultimate list of 10. Rabbi Mike steps compares and contrasts these 3 instances in a clear and helpful way.

A Prayer for the Week to Come

May you be reminded this week that you are known by our God. That you were loved at your first breath. Loved by our God when you were incapable of earning it. Now return that gracious and overwhelming love back into our world. Love along with our God as His kingdom comes.