“Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.”
Jesus was one of history’s worst citizens. Citizens obey rulers and their laws; Jesus repeatedly disobeyed rulers and their laws. Citizens pay taxes; Jesus made games out of paying taxes. Citizens pledge allegiance to the state and conform to its practices; Jesus never pledged allegiance, not to Israel or to Rome, and didn’t conform to its practices. Jesus’ bad citizenship was on display for all to see. Unlike Peter in the Gospel story, Jesus understood the rulers would target him. As Jesus persisted in his Way, he understood the rulers would kill him. Watching the rulers kill Jesus, Peter and other early disciples came to understand the rulers would kill them too if they followed Jesus’ Way. Early disciples, knowing the risk, decided to follow Jesus’ Way and they became bad citizens. They too rejected rulers and their laws, taxes, and the state. Like Jesus, many of the early disciples were killed. Many more were not killed. Many more disciples kept living Jesus’ Way, the Community of God. Jesus’ Way was very simple, but also entirely counter-cultural. Jesus’ new Community of God is the replacement of the old kingdom of Caesar. Some people who were attracted to Jesus didn’t respect the social transformation Jesus was effecting, for example, Paul of Tarsus. Paul respected social conformity. Thus, while Jesus related in Communion with all people, obedient types like Paul began to diminish Communion into tribalism, preaching that “all rulers are appointed by God” and to be obeyed. While Jesus witnessed Loving all people, insecure types like Paul diminished Love into seeking to be valued by rulers, paying attention to them and “paying taxes,” so as to live “quiet lives of holiness.” While Jesus practiced true ‘salve’-ation, meaning he was a healing power with people, conformist types like Paul, practiced fidelity to violent state rulers, “who are God’s servant” who “carries the sword… as an agent of retribution.” Jesus’ Way didn’t die because Christians and their communities were killed off. Jesus’ Way died because people who used Jesus’ name became good citizens. These good citizens established institutional Christianity, in which the Way of Jesus of Nazareth was replaced by the preferences of Paul of Tarsus. Strong women leaders in house communion circles were replaced by patriarchs like Augustine and his penalty of original sin. Courageous lovers of many different people were replaced by judgmental groups worried about sameness to get into heaven. Healing risk-takers were replaced by Constantine and the violent security of the state with self-titled Christians among its conformist warriors. Amidst obedient, valued, and violent followers of Paul of Tarsus that have taken over institutional Christianity, we still have disciples of Jesus of Nazareth willing to live his simple Way. They relate in Communion with people who are different from them, Love people no matter those differences, and act as a Healing power.
“We’re all God’s children. We all have a place in this world. We all need to be loved and respected.” “I know [trans people] and love them all, and I do not judge… And I just see how broken-hearted they get over certain things and I know how real they are.” “It doesn’t matter if you’re Black or white or green or alien gray… we’re all pieces of God and we all have that little God-light inside us… That’s how I accept everybody because I know that we’re all pieces of God.” “I think in a way, my music has been almost like my ministry. Hopefully, it’s healing in some ways… able to lift people up.” Dolly Parton (1946-2026) R.I.P.
Prayer: Beautiful Spirit, thank you for the all the people in our lives who empower us with communion, love and healing.
Question: Who are the people I empower?
August 30, 2026 Gospel Matthew 16:21-27 Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
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