The other night I sat in on a small group here at Marble. It's called "The Forgiveness Project." I was invited to give the Christian perspective on forgiveness, along with rabbis who offered a Jewish perspective.

As I sat and listened and spoke and listened some more, I was struck again by how similar—and how different—Judaism and Christianity are. They share the same roots, many of the same values and goals, and obviously many of the same sacred texts. But they are different, too, and perhaps nowhere else is that difference greater than in their approaches to forgiveness. Both are elegant and beautiful. But they are not the same.

The reality of religious difference, when we see it, is striking. It prevents us from reducing religions by saying that "they're all really the same" or that "they're all different paths up the same mountain." Not only are they different paths—they might very well be climbing different mountains.

I never worry, in the face of difference, whether my religion is "right" or "wrong." Those are false categories when it comes to religious difference. I think the better question is: "does my religion work?" Does living according to its teachings, pondering its central stories, grappling with the central questions, risking life according to its wisdom—does it all lead me to a life that feels full and rich and beautiful?

I was reminded last night of a saying about religion that is attributed to rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel: Religion begins in mystery and ends in ethics. I always apply that to my Christian practice—does my practice of the faith, my church, my community, my prayer life, my service—does it root itself firmly and always in the beautiful, unsolvable mystery of life? And does it long to unfurl itself and into the complicated world of human relationships? Does it work?

Over these next few weeks, as we approach Holy Week, you will encounter the central mystery of the Christian faith: God, born in human form, was crucified, died, and buried. And didn't stay that way. Root yourself in that mystery. Feel it. Embrace it. And discover how, from that strange place, you might feel your heart guided, led, toward love for the world.

Does it work? That's a good question, these next few weeks, for you and God to share together.