Jesus calls himself “the Good Shepherd.” He contrasts that witness with a hired man, “A hired man… whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.” Institutional christianity is the hired man in the story above. Who has hired institutional … Continue reading “Civilians”
Author: Editor
Changed By Our Adventures
In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter is remembering Jesus, but his death, “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob… has brought to fulfillment… that his son would suffer.” Peter uses Jesus’ death to encourage change, “Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.” Peter … Continue reading “Changed By Our Adventures”
Healing Scars
“Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the others when Jesus” appeared to them after his Resurrection. Thomas “said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’” “A week … Continue reading “Healing Scars”
Resurrecting
“Mary Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning… and saw the stone removed.” She ran “to the other disciples… and told them, ‘They have taken Jesus from the tomb, and we don’t know where he is.’” The priestly rulers who sought Jesus’ murder, the political rulers who ordered it, and the soldiers who … Continue reading “Resurrecting”
The Cross: The Axis of Evil
The war waged by rulers against Jesus ends with their murder of him, as detailed in today’s Gospel. Religious rulers request Jesus’ torture and murder, political rulers order it, and soldiers carry it out. “The soldiers led Jesus away inside the palace… weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him,… kept striking his head … Continue reading “The Cross: The Axis of Evil”
Lifting Up Soldiers from the Abuse of War
Jeremiah writes of the War Lord Yahweh, a Soldier Master who claims to love his “chosen people,” and “will write his law upon their hearts.” But then the War Lord Yahweh says, “they broke my covenant, and I had to show myself their master.” The people are shown as holy for accepting enslavement, abuse, and … Continue reading “Lifting Up Soldiers from the Abuse of War”
Cancel War
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “the light came into the world, but people preferred the darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light, and does not come toward the light, so his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light.” … Continue reading “Cancel War”
Ending the War on Water
“In their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses.” The Lord said to Moses, “Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink.” In the Gospel, a Samaritan woman thirsts for water and goes to a well. She meets Jesus at the well and grumbles a bit with … Continue reading “Ending the War on Water”
Youth Are Not Being Radicalized, They Are Being Soldiered
“God put Abraham to the test.” Take your “son Isaac… and offer him up as a holocaust.” “Abraham… took the knife to slaughter his son.” But seeing his devotion, God said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy.” Abraham’s tribe is transfigured by his rejecting child sacrifice. Jesus is also transfigured, on a mountaintop. … Continue reading “Youth Are Not Being Radicalized, They Are Being Soldiered”
Giving Up War for Lent and for Life
The Old Testament reading recalls a flood experience, lasting 40 days. Its authors believed an ancient War Lord, sparing Noah, justifiably waged war against life itself and “destroyed all mortal beings.” The Old Testament then shows war being continually waged by believers in the ancient War Lord; Moses, Joshua, David, and the like. The Gospel … Continue reading “Giving Up War for Lent and for Life”