Lent celebrates Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen his life witness. The Spirit guides Jesus while rulers who act as devils plot his end in a torturous and violent ‘Good’ Friday. Lisa Pilenko, later known as Mother Maria Skobtsova, is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen her … Continue reading “Lenten Saints: Crucified”
Author: Editor
Lenten Saints: Free
Lent celebrates Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen his life witness. At the end of his sojourn he is tempted by the devil. Nicolai Berdyaev is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen his life witness. He is tempted by the devil that is the Russian Revolution. Activists … Continue reading “Lenten Saints: Free”
Lenten Saints: Seeing
Lent celebrates Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen his life witness. At the end of his sojourn he is tempted by the devil. Louse de Marillac is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen her life witness. She is tempted by the devil that is two competing monarchies, … Continue reading “Lenten Saints: Seeing”
Lenten Saints: Outcast
Lent celebrates Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen his life witness. At the end of his sojourn he is tempted by the devil. Fannie Lou Hamer is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen her life witness. She is tempted as a human rights activist by the devil … Continue reading “Lenten Saints: Outcast”
Lenten Saints: Transfigured
Lent celebrates Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen his life witness. At the end of his sojourn he is tempted by the devil. Fr. Engelmar Unzeitig is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen his life witness. He is tempted by the devil that is Nazi Germany during … Continue reading “Lenten Saints: Transfigured”
Lenten Saints: Courage
Lent celebrates Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen his life witness. At the end of his sojourn he is tempted by the devil. Hans and Sophie Scholl are led by the Spirit into the wilderness to strengthen their life witness. They are tempted by the devil that is Nazi Germany. … Continue reading “Lenten Saints: Courage”
The Rule of Law is a False God
The Old Testament reading from Sirach glorifies the rule of law, telling people, “If you choose, you can keep the Lord’s commandments, they will save you.” The reading from Psalm 119 also glorifies the rule of law, using various synonyms across its many verses such as precepts, statutes, commandments, and judgments. The psalm extends a … Continue reading “The Rule of Law is a False God”
On Love For the Poor
Jesus has a message of love for all people whom ‘Godly’ rulers make poor, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to … Continue reading “On Love For the Poor”
Is Hope a Blessing, a Curse?
In today’s Gospel Jesus is blessing people who are, like him, oppressed. They are oppressed into poverty; oppressed into mourning; oppressed into alienation; into submission; into cruelty; into heartlessness, into warmaking; into persecution. What does a blessing matter to people oppressed by the master class? Does it give them hope to endure their oppression, maybe … Continue reading “Is Hope a Blessing, a Curse?”
Rivals or Neighbors
In Isaiah, the Lord God declares that the Chosen people shall soon “rejoice” in victory, “as people make merry when dividing spoils” in war. Rival Assyrians, foreigners, will be crushed. It will happen when the Chosen warriors trust in their Lord God and stop trusting in the foreigners. Foreigners, especially those living among them, scam … Continue reading “Rivals or Neighbors”