“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.” We are conceived from the noise of lovemaking. We are born from the noise of childbirth. We … Continue reading “Making Noise for the Sake of Humanity”
Category: Jesus-Movement
The Last Thing We Do
Luke writes the Acts of the Apostles after he wrote his Gospel. He begins Acts with Jesus saying goodbye. The last thing Jesus does before Luke records his departure via Ascension is to empower the disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses… to the … Continue reading “The Last Thing We Do”
Hope
“On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to Jesus’ tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark and saw the stone removed from the tomb.” “They saw the burial cloths … and the cloth that had covered his head… rolled up in a separate place.” “They did not yet … Continue reading “Hope”
Consistent Ethic of Life: Human Rights
“After Pilate had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus.. and gathered the whole cohort around him… and threw a scarlet military cloak about him and… kept striking him on the head… and led him off to crucify him… (at) a place called Golgotha —which … Continue reading “Consistent Ethic of Life: Human Rights”
Consistent Ethic of Life: Racial Harmony
“When Jesus arrived in Bethany, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.” “And Jesus wept. So the people said, ‘See how he loved him.’” Jesus went to the burial cave and a stone lay across it. “Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Jesus raised his eyes and said, … … Continue reading “Consistent Ethic of Life: Racial Harmony”
Consistent Ethic of Life: Healing
“As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned.” Jesus then “spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and … Continue reading “Consistent Ethic of Life: Healing”
Consistent Ethic of Life: Pregnancy
“Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus began talking with her.” “His disciples returned, and were shocked that he was talking with a woman.” Dehumanizing women was a routine ancient practice. It remains a routine current practice. One aspect … Continue reading “Consistent Ethic of Life: Pregnancy”
Consistent Ethic of Life: Social Activism
“Jesus was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” “Peter said to Jesus in reply, “It is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make… tents here.” But Jesus led them “down from the mountain.” Peter witnesses a stunning transformation on high, above … Continue reading “Consistent Ethic of Life: Social Activism”
Consistent Ethic of Life: Peacemaking
“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert.” “He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached” Jesus to forsake his peacemaking mission from the Spirit. Jesus refused, including the last to rule the world, “the devil… showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world… “All these … Continue reading “Consistent Ethic of Life: Peacemaking”
Pro-Life Sexuality, Pro-Choice Patriarchy
“Some Sadducees came” to Jesus and made a harmful patriarchal assumption about women, also children, “If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.” The harmful patriarchal assumption is that women are controlled by men as property. Under patriarchy, women are … Continue reading “Pro-Life Sexuality, Pro-Choice Patriarchy”