Over at the Jürgen Moltmann Discussion Group on Facebook James Blackhall shared about his practice of reading through The Crucified God as a Lenten devotion. His post came as I have been trying to discern a healthy Lenten practice for myself for this season. I usually find giving up a food item might help my waistline, but it usually doesn’t translate into a devotional practice which is more fitting for the season. The years that I’ve found Lent most meaningful have been those when I’ve added a practice to my daily life. Last year I took on the daily office, which I do, albeit quite a bit more sporadically, otherwise. This year I wanted something different so I was inspired when James mentioned his use of The Crucified God.
The Crucified God was one of the first books by Moltmann that I read. My first read of the text was likely in the third year of my undergrad. I remember a conversation in the hall about it with Ken Melchin, he thought I should go back to the beginning and read Theology of Hope. I followed Ken’s advice after I finished The Crucified God and have read Theology of Hope many more times since. I had forgotten just how good The Crucified God is because even though I used much of it in my doctoral research, I hadn’t read the whole of The Crucified God since those early years of study.
Right from the get go, Moltmann confronts us with the arresting claim that “[t]he cross is not and cannot be loved.” (p.1) Then he draws us into the notion that any Christian theology of hope is in fact built upon “the resurrection of the crucified Christ.” (p.5) I am hooked. I’ve decided that I will post one or two quotes on Facebook every day, both as a way of keeping myself accountable to the practice and as a way of letting the text live in my real world context. I’m sure there will be commentary here as well.
May your Lenten reflections be rewarding.
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