The Way of Divine and Human Handing-over: Pauline Apocalyptic, Centering Prayer, and Vulnerable Solidarity

Abstract

The premise of this article is that in order for apocalyptic theology to be a valid form of God-talk, it must be explicit in its existential orientation by articulating the role of apocalyptic Christian practices. Following Barth’s exegetical insights, I first propose that the existential orientation for apocalyptic theology center on the divine handing-over ( paradidōmi) of Jesus in the incarnation and crucifixion, which has its positive human correlate in the apostolic handing-over of the tradition ( paradosis) by disciples like Paul. The confrontation by the apocalypse of the divine handing-over is therefore always existentially oriented. As Jesus hands over the Spirit to us (John 19:30), we are given the power to correspond existentially through the Spirit’s non-identical repetition of the death of Christ in us, to the divine prototype of handing-over through the vocation of witnessing to Jesus. Centering prayer is a Christian practice that functions within such an apocalyptic framework. Through centering prayer’s embodied practice of spiritual kenosis, the Spirit can form us, more and more, in the apostolic way of handing-over Jesus as we come daily into open situations of proclamation in which we are called to give embodied witness to the powerless power of God in the world.