Speaker: Jessica Knight

Today, Jessica Williams shared drawing parallels between the lectionary reading in Mark 5 (the healing of Jairus’ daughter and the bleeding woman), the history of Pride, and St. Thecla. She asks the question, “what does faithfulness look like?” while pointing out how in each of these stories the rules/law had to be broken in order to be faithful to the greater law of Love, and to the voice within their own hearts. To end, we watched Glennon Doyle’s animated short-story from her most recent book, Untamed. 

We also listened to the song “Liberty” by Isa Ma.

Here are the notes to today’s talk.

Please take time to listen to this lament by Brian Doerksen and Cheryl Bear, 215

Jessica Williams spoke this morning from her recently finished MA thesis entitled “Kenotic Love and the Soul’s Transformation.” She shared teachings that have touched her life from St. Macrina the Younger, from 4th century Cappadocia, and some similar ideas from 20th century Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. It is a beautiful talk. It will help people believe that the best way to reveal the true self is through acceptance and generosity rather than through constant wallowing in a sense of shame.