Jesus has been healing people in many villages but not in his own. Locals question why he can’t “do (healing) here in your native place.” Jesus proposes it is their lack of faith. He names two Gentiles from their Old Testament stories who, unlike them, did believe and were healed. “When the people in the … Continue reading “Healing Mandates”
Author: Editor
Woke Social Movements
“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” He went “into the synagogue” and read, “The Spirit of God is upon me… anointing me to bring glad tidings to the poor,” “liberty to captives,” “sight to the blind,” and “let the oppressed go free.” If synagogue members were sleeping through a reading they … Continue reading “Woke Social Movements”
Speaking Up About the Problem of Violence
“There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.” The mother of Jesus, Mary, is aware of a problem that will disrupt the peace of the first day of the couple’s new life together. She “said to Jesus, “They … Continue reading “Speaking Up About the Problem of Violence”
Are Youth Filled With Expectation?
The people are facing many hardships. Upon learning of John the Baptist, they are “filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying” he was not. The Christ “will baptize you with the Spirit.” Do we know how serious are the hardships people … Continue reading “Are Youth Filled With Expectation?”
Educating for Lasting Peace
We learn from the story of the Magi that those who are wise seek out peacemakers to be educated by them, ‘We saw the child’s star rising… and have come to follow him.’ We learn from the story of Herod that those who are rulers target peacemakers and lie about being educated by them, ‘Go … Continue reading “Educating for Lasting Peace”
Bringing Home the Lost
When he was 12, Mary and Joseph lost Jesus. “They had journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,” but could not find him. “They returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to … Continue reading “Bringing Home the Lost”
Midwife: To Stand With Life
Midwives ‘stand with’ women who are with child. Midwives guide women in bringing beautiful new life to birth. Elizabeth acts as a midwife to Mary of Nazareth. She guides her young cousin most especially in a spiritual way. One example is by Elizabeth receiving Mary and her baby with great joy. Mary, as any young … Continue reading “Midwife: To Stand With Life”
Midwife: To Stand with All Mothers
To be a midwife is “to stand with,” to guide someone to bring forth life. Bringing forth life can be messy and chaotic and requires we give ourselves to unknowns. But we embrace what is messy and chaotic for we are miracle workers and we step into the unknown. In the vastness of what is … Continue reading “Midwife: To Stand with All Mothers”
Midwife: To Stand With All Fathers
Midwives ‘stand with’ women who are with child. Midwives guide women in bringing beautiful new life to birth. Humanity does not always give witness to the lifegiving spirituality of women, nor to the birthing guidance of midwives. If it did, we would not be grieving Ahmaud Arbery. We would not be imprisoning Travis McMichael. Travis … Continue reading “Midwife: To Stand With All Fathers”
Midwife: To Stand With
Mary is pregnant in difficult times. She embodies the circumstance of so many women across history and across our world. Who will be with Mary through the difficulties? Who will guide her in bringing beautiful new life to birth? Midwives are women who ‘stand with’ pregnant women. Mid is not derived from middle so much … Continue reading “Midwife: To Stand With”