“Silence shapes social imagination. Prayer forms a consciousness of justice. Reflection grounds one in a state of awareness to the areas of human fragmentation that need healing.” @richvillodas.bsky.social on how contemplation forms the inner life needed for faithful public presence.

The Story of scripture in four phrases repeated throughout its pages: I love you. I am with you. Don’t be afraid. You can come home.

Loved this talk by @richvillodas.bsky.social on ‘Resisting Racism’. His context is North American, which has its own story, but there’s so much in here that’s thoughtful, nuanced, and deeply rooted in the Christian vision. Well worth a listen. m.youtube.com/watch?v=YC1i...

Memorial Day: ▪️Remember those who have fallen and the families who grieve. ▪️Remember that war isn't part of God's good creation & will one day cease. ▪️Remember our call to be peacemakers.

Imagine what the Left Behind crowd would have said if Obama had done something like this.

“When we are able to reject illusions of ourselves, we can live with greater discernment as we engage the world.” @richvillodas.bsky.social on a spirituality of privacy.

Rich Villodas pointed out on Substack this week that the season of Lent lasts 40 days, but the season of Easter (Eastertide) lasts 50. The celebration is longer than the preparation. The feast is longer than the fast. @richvillodas.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/richvill...

Good Friday Reversals in the Bible.

On Holy Wednesday, Judas agrees to betray Jesus. Judas had been with Jesus for three years as one of his 12 disciples. It’s a painful, tragic event containing so many lessons. Here’s one of them: Being around Jesus doesn’t automatically mean we are being formed by Jesus.

Cohort 5 application window is now open! If you’ve been considering joining the School of Formation the time to apply is now! This is an intentional communal cohort style journey exploring and anchoring 5 transformative values deep into your life. newlifesof.nyc

Some reflections on what I’m seeing in our congregation as it relates to spiritual formation and the younger generation(s). richvillodas.substack.com/p/spiritual-...

Growing up I never read comics. Last year I started to see what I’ve been missing. I’m late to the party but glad I’m here! I read Secret Wars over a couple of days last week. Loved it!

A conversation between @drmoore.bsky.social and @richvillodas.bsky.social on living out the challenges of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount:

I’m joining Adam Young for a live zoom conference on Saturday, April 5. The focus of the conference is how to engage God about your story. It should be a very meaningful time. You can register at adamyoungcounseling.com.

Dear Ben - please don’t make me wait long for season 3. Please!🙏🏽 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 @benstiller.redhour.com #severance

The Church might be the only community of people that establishes its credibility in the world by routinely and fearlessly confessing and repenting of sin. And we lose our credibility by refusing to name our sins.

My latest article is up on Substack. I make a connection between the contemplative life, mission, and justice. substack.com/home/post/p-...

My latest article is up on Substack. I make a connection between the contemplative life, mission, and justice. substack.com/home/post/p-...

The season of Lent is not just about saying “NO” to something, but giving a strong “YES” to God. If you’re looking for a book to anchor you in your relationship to God over the next 6 weeks, I invite you to check it out. 🙏🏽

I am not ok after this last Severance episode. What are you doing to me @benstiller.redhour.com??? 😭😫

Tonight I encouraged our community to get their ash in church next Wednesday amen.

I used to be enamored with politicians who openly used Christian faith language in interviews and speeches. I’m now far more enamored when politicians openly treat others with Christian kindness.

4 Things we get Wrong about Racial Justice/Reconciliation substack.com/home/post/p-...

Christians can read the Bible every day and still have our hearts firmly against the ways of the kingdom of God. Unless we read scripture through the lens of the crucified Christ, with others, our exegesis is dangerously subject to personal preferences and political allegiances.

One day I hope to write a book on preaching. In the meantime, I’m going to use my substack to start articulating reflections. This is part 1 of Deeply Formed Preaching. open.substack.com/pub/richvill...

I reserve the right to switch who I root for at any moment this evening

New Substack article up. I wrote a short piece on my complicated relationship with prayer. If you struggle to pray, I think I have some words than can help. richvillodas.substack.com

2,000 years after it was first asked, the question, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) is one of the simplest ways to assess the degree to which we take the teachings of Jesus seriously.

I’ve been a preacher for 26 years. Sunday was the first time someone ever shouted “heretic!” during a sermon. Surprisingly it had nothing to do with my unwavering support for my Mets and Jets. I wrote about this moment and the exchange that followed after the service. substack.com/home/post/p-...

Someone shouted “Heretic!” as I was preaching yesterday. It was not the kind of call and response I was hoping for. 😂 But it led me to write an article that I hope goes out soon.

Great time speaking at The Hills Men’s conference with Bob Goff and others. Love the good work @erichrobinson1969.bsky.social is up to. But what about that alligator!? 😳

5 things I’m re-discovering about the social and cultural climate we live in

It’s incredibly challenging when Christians on various sides think the other side is delusional, blind, trapped, etc. How do we know who is being faithful to God? The litmus test I believe is: Cruciform love. Living the Beatitudes. The Sermon on the Mount. That’s how we know.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven. - Jesus

More than anything, today is a great day for the Church to take seriously the Sermon on the Mount. May we as followers of Jesus organize our lives around his presence and his teachings, offering a prophetic and priestly witness that confounds the world.

Been rewatching Severance again in anticipation for season 2. What a great show!!!

As a pastor, I make it a point to periodically mention in my sermons that I have seasons of therapy with a professional counselor. I've been amazed (and overjoyed!) to see how many congregants have decided to do the same as a result. We all could use some help.

The 4th Beatitude, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" is a declaration and an invitation that might be summed up this way: In Christ, you have been made right with God, therefore make things right for others.

Lamenting is the spiritually mature response to sadness and sorrow. Our spiritual aliveness is not found in our ability to suppress our sadness. Our spiritual aliveness is found in our ability to bring it to God. – @richvillodas.bsky.social

Starting today (January 6–Feb 17) a couple of thousand people will journey through The Narrow Path via the @renovare Book Club. You can still join! renovare.org/bookclub#join

Oh wow, Fr. Richard Rohr just gave a shoutout to my 2nd book, Good and Beautiful and Kind. 🙏🏽

I’m ready to preach this thing.

SAVE THE DATE 🚨 June 5-6, 2025 - Join us in Queens, NYC for our inaugural Deeply Formed Life Conference! Registration and Conference website coming January 2025.

Here’s my list of books I read in 2024. I might be missing one or two. I’m hoping to get closer to reading 30 again in 2025.

Another beautiful Christmas Eve at New Life. So wonderful to celebrate the birth of Christ. A joy to worship, share good news, and hear the Christmas story read in Spanish & Tamil (an ancient classical Indian language). Beautiful. 🙏🏽 (Thanks to Tilly Swift for the pics!)

4th Sunday in Advent. God is love.

So encouraged to see that The Narrow Path has been named one of the 15 best Christian books of the year by Premier Christianity in the UK! www.premierchristianity.com/reviews/the-...

. @richvillodas.bsky.social on how false mental pictures of God can exacerbate our anxiety

This week on The Russell Moore Show: Host @drmoore.bsky.social and @richvillodas.bsky.social consider Jesus’ words on anger, lust, and lament in the Sermon on the Mount.

I really enjoyed this conversation with @richvillodas.bsky.social about anger, resentment, envy, lust, revenge and how to find the way of Jesus.