Announcing: LIVE Zoom for Lent 2024!

Share this year’s Lenten journey with the Henri Nouwen Community!

Whether you are a faithful observer of Lent or you aren’t even really sure what Lent is, we invite you to join new Executive Director, Bruce Adema, and our Director of Development, Wendy VanderWal Martin, for LIVE Zoom conversations on the Sundays @ 4 PM EST leading to Easter. With a combined total of more than 60 years accompanying faith communities, Bruce and Wendy are eager to share this Lenten journey with you!

Guided by Henri Nouwen’s book, Show Me the Way: Readings for each day of Lent, we invite you to set aside this time to reflect as we journey together towards Easter.

Beginning on Sunday, February 18 through to Sunday, March 24, join us for our LIVE Zoom Conversations @ 4 PM EST.

Registration is FREE, so be sure to tell your friends. Whether or not you’ve read the book — everyone is welcome!

TO PURCHASE THE BOOK:

Use Crossroad Publisher Discount Code till end of April 2024: Nouwen25%

PURCHASE THE BOOK OR E-BOOK

April 3rd to 9th: Fifth Week of Lent

Reading: Letter VI—Jesus: The Hidden God (p. 67 to p. 78)

Whereas the way of the world is to insist on publicity, celebrity, popularity, and getting maximum exposure. God prefers to work in secret. (p. 68) . . .
It is very important for you to realize that perhaps the greater
part of God’s work in this world may go unnoticed. (p. 72)

In an online Philosophy of Religion textbook we read, “In Western (Christian) thought, God is traditionally described as a being that possesses at least three necessary properties: omniscience (all-knowing), omnipotence (all-powerful), and omnibenevolence (supremely good). In other words, God knows everything, has the power to do anything, and is perfectly good.” While this is true, for me, if this was the whole story we would be describing a distant and impersonal God. In his letters to Marc, Henri Nouwen has described God using more human terms: compassionate, descending, loving, and, this week, hidden. Why the difference? Henri is describing the characteristics of Jesus, the Son of God—the Divine person with two natures: fully human and fully divine. God entered into his creation in the person of Jesus, and it is through Jesus that we can enter into relationship with God. Henri write, “Jesus is the hidden God. He became a human being among a small, oppressed people, under very difficult circumstances. . . . There was nothing spectacular about Jesus’ life—far from it!” (p. 71)

This week we reflect on the hiddenness of God and how we can live that in our world today.

  1. Marthe Robin is one of the most impressive examples of God’s hidden presence in our world. . . . . As the years passed her suffering grew deeper. In the beginning she suffered with Jesus, but little by little she became the suffering Jesus. (p. 68-69)
    Were you aware of Marthe Robin before reading this chapter? (I was not.) What did you learn from her story? Where are the places / spaces in you life where experience “a peace which the world cannot give; a joy which doesn’t conflict suffering”? (p.70) Please share.
  2. I’m constantly struck by the fact that wherever the gospel of Jesus bears fruit, we come across this hiddenness. The great Christians throughout history have always been lowly people who sought to be hidden. (p. 72) Henri then cites St. Francis of Assisi and others as examples.
    Are there “lowly people who sought to be hidden” in your life or that have lived a fruitful gospel life? Share their story and why it touched you.
  3. The heart is at the center of our being human. . . . The mystery of the spiritual life is that Jesus desires to meet us in the seclusion of our own heart, to make his love known to us there, to free us from our fears, and to make our own deepest self known to us.” (p.74)
    How do you respond to Henri’s understanding of our heart as our center. What changes would you need to make to to discipline your heart and live a spiritual life? What would that mean for your relationship to Jesus and to others?
  4. (T)he Eucharist is preeminently the sacrament of God’s hiddenness. (p. 76)
    As he has in other letters, Henri writes to Marc based on his Catholic understanding of the Eucharist. How do Henri’s insights help you gain a better understanding of God’s hiddenness or the Eucharist. Please share.

We look forward to another week of excellent discussion. You are encouraged to share your reflections on one or more of the excerpts above or anything that touched your heart i the reading this week.

May the Lord give you peace.
Ray

March 25th to 31st (Conclusions): Epilogue

“Is Jesus truly enough for you,or do you keep looking for others
to give you your sense of worth?” (p222)

Reading:  Epilogue

Dear All,

This has been another wonderful book discussion, and we are truly grateful for all who have journeyed with us actively or silently.

This final week is an opportunity to reflect on the book as a whole, and an invitation to articulate your “take aways.”  The epilogue itself provides much to reflect upon, and it may help you to frame some of your take-aways from the book.

As we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday we also welcome you to share what God is speaking to your heart as we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

With much gratitude,

Ray and Brynn