PARADOX
- Mar 9
- 1 min read
Bishop Erik Varden gave the Papal Lenten Retreat 2026 and spoke about biblical paradox.
The word comes from the Greek:
Para - Beyond
Doxos - Opinion.
It is one among many literary techniques that is able to express profound truths, not open to conventional language. For example:
Less is more.
Apparently, Adolf Hitler hated the Bible because it is full of paradox.
Life is full of paradox, and so we find metaphorical language to express it. John’s Gospel highlights the paradox of Jesus’ death:
It is the supreme moment of glory.
What presents as a complete and utter failure, is the salvation of the world.
Each of us is a paradox. We are faithful, yet full of infidelity:
When Jesus spelled out what it means to remain with him, to enter the Kingdom towards which he was pointing, ‘many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him’.
They would not put up with his discourses about sacramental realism, the indissolubility of marriage, the necessity of the Cross.
When Christ was crucified on Calvary, the synodos that had walked with him six days before was no more (Varden).
Let’s be honest with ourselves this Lent.
AMEN.
