I think you’ve heard us say that the gospel of John should not be read with a literal mindset, that it is about an expansion of consciousness more than it is about recounting historical events. Each of the events recounted (so far the water into wine, the cleansing of the temple, and now Nicodemus coming by night) contain both concrete and symbolic imagery. this invitation into a faith movement, an expanded, inclusive mindset, got translated into a belief (or doctrine) movement. The beliefs got institutionalized. We’ve come to believe more in an institution rather than in a way. What does it mean, in this moment, to have faith the unknown, to un-empire Jesus, as Rev. Jacqui Lewis likes to say. This is the internal work of transforming consciousness, to release Jesus —and in the process ourselves—from the confines of of doctrine.

Mysticism is “the science of union with the Absolute,” which is to say the experience of union with everything. Mysticism presupposes that everything is endlessly knowable and intricately connected. It does not assume sameness or monolithic belief. It assumes complexity and differentiation which is always, always, necessary for union. It’s a beautiful, messy process.

Two essential questions in this story are: What does it mean to be born again? and What is in the dark that needs to be brought to light? We will deal with these sequentially over the next two weeks. Thanks for being with us!