Coffee and Contemplation with Crowder

What if contemplation isn't about trying to get closer to God... but awakening to the communion already accomplished in Jesus Christ? In this conversation, I sit down with author, friend, and theologian John Crowder to discuss his newest book, The Silence of the Word: Contemplation and the Mystery of the Incarnation. Together, we explore a Christ-centered vision of contemplation rooted in the Incarnation, union with Christ, and the Church's rich contemplative tradition. Rather than treating prayer as a technique or spiritual discipline for achieving intimacy with God, John invites us into a radically different vision: contemplation as participation in the life and communion that Christ has already established on behalf of humanity. Some of the topics we explore include: Is contemplation something we practice, or something we awaken to? What does it mean that Jesus is the One who prays on behalf of humanity? How does the Incarnation reshape the way we understand prayer? What is theosis, and why has much of Western Christianity lost this language? How do silence and contemplation transform us—not just our theology, but our lives? If union with Christ is already accomplished, what role do spiritual disciplines actually play? Whether you're new to contemplation or have spent years exploring union with Christ, I hope this discussion encourages you to move beyond striving and into a deeper awareness of the life that is already yours in Jesus Christ. If this conversation encourages you, please consider liking the video, subscribing to the channel, and sharing it with someone who longs to discover a more Christ-centered vision of prayer and the Christian life.