Marcus was guest at Christ Church Cathedral soon after the arrival of Barkley as new Dean in 2013. Marcus was impressed with him. And the parish. They struck a chord. And a friendship. I share the reflection Barkley offered, “My Friend, Marcus Borg” the afternoon of the morning Marcus died, Wednesday, January 21, 2015. Word of Marc’s death traveled “like a lit fuse.”
Barkley had been in touch with Marcus in November. He knew Marcus was living with a cancer diagnosis. Marcus was hopeful. As he shared with Barkley, I may have ten years! He was gone in three months from that writing.
It has been two years since Marcus’ death. We are committed to the “unending conversation” Marc so deeply engaged about what matters, what is real, how we shall live. Marcus left us a foundation of work to help us continue that conversation and in particular on what it means to be Christian in the 21st century. Surely it is about inclusion, justice, peace, non-violence, following in the way of Jesus. Marcus also thought that compassion, empathy and gratitude were essential for our life together.
In the coming months we will continue to reflect upon and engage our understanding and experience of the heart of Christianity, what we consider essential to its practice, what are its imperatives, what challenges it presents, how we situate the relevance of its wisdom. We want to deepen and broaden that conversation.
With Barkley’s contribution we come full circle. It was Marcus’ death that gave rise to The Marcus J. Borg Foundation, and to this ongoing conversation. As we move into the future we look forward to words becoming flesh in us. And, borrowing from a benediction Marcus often used, be swift to love, make haste to be kind.
