The New Testament reading is likely written by Paul or perhaps a follower to the people of Ephesus. It describes Paul being in prison. Paul is in prison because there are rulers who want him in prison. In today’s reading he is encouraging the people of Ephesus “to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.”
The rulers of Ephesus, like all rulers, do not promote unity nor peace but rather discord and warfare, as it is advantageous to them. What rulers really want is compliance. Specifically, the rulers of Ephesus want compliance around their projected ruler God of the hunt, Artemis. Artemis is written by men as a female deity. Anyone who fails to comply with Ephesus’ God of the hunt, Artemis – meaning Ephesus’ rulers – will be made to suffer. As it was in Ephesus, so it is now in the U.S. Anyone who fails to comply to the U.S.’ Gods of the hunt – ruling MAGA, including Trump – will be made to suffer. Democracy and all its elements are being hunted down by militant MAGA deities. MAGA are hunting down and killing a commitment to truth, elections, a free and independent press and judiciary, an oath to office because it impedes loyalty to a cult leader, birthright citizenship, transparency, any public good that impinges on private plunder, and any peaceful resolution to conflict. Guns are therefore crucial because guns enable MAGA deities to hunt down and to kill the noncompliant. It is as MAGA deity and Trump supporter Timothy Muller recently said after being arrested by the FBI. The told them, “So here’s how it’s gonna go: Trump’s gonna win the re-election, and then we’re gonna [expletive] go through the FBI and just start throwing you [expletive]s in jail… and then the guns will come out, and we’ll hunt you (expletive)s down and slaughter you like the traitorous dogs you are… The last thing you’ll ever hear are the horrified shrieks of your widow and orphans. And then you know what we’re going to do?… We’re going to slaughter your whole (expletive) family.” MAGA militants are distributing hunting licenses with every word they speak, every threat they level. Kamala Harris is targeted with rape and murder for being a “DEI hire,” a “lefty lunatic,” “crazy,” “nuts,” “the bottom of the barrel.” Vulnerable people are being targeted by militant MAGA Gods of the hunt; individuals who are homeless, trans persons, LGBTQ, Muslims, people of color, women, journalists, and community activists. Disabled persons are being hunted down and killed, more slowly and with less spectacle through administrative burdens, deconstruction of the Department of Education, and cuts to social services including job training, nutrition assistance, affordable housing, and, especially ominous, cuts to Medicaid. Militant MAGA gods are deadly serious about hunting down and killing people. Are we as passionately serious about unity and peace?
Jesus actualizes unity and peace routinely, for example in today’s Gospel when he gathers people for a communion meal. When the 5,000 people realize he has fed them from a boy’s 5 loaves and two fishes, they get the notion to “carry him off to make him a ruler (and) so he withdrew.” We live in unity and peace so long as we humbly withdraw from rule and its violent demands for compliance, certainly as devised by MAGA militants. Jesus is solving the problem of violent authority. It is the standard operating procedure of the anti-Christ MAGA deities. Jesus is asking for our authority to nurture unity and peace, as he asked for it from disciples, “give them some food yourselves” (Mt 14:16, MK 6:37). Like the small boy in the Gospel, we step forward to share the nourishment we have.
Prayer: Beautiful Spirit, inspire us to live with a passion for life.
Question: What is the nourishment of unity and peace I have to offer in this time of violence.
July 28, 2024 Gospel John 6:1-15 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time