“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.” “Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Spirit.” There gathered a large crowd of “Parthians, Medes and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, … Continue reading “Joyful Homemaking”
Author: Editor
Truth about the Big Lie
Jesus tells disciples that, like himself, they “do not belong to the world” of rulers. Jesus also tells them truth does not belong to the world of rulers either, so Jesus “consecrates them in truth.” Rulers not being ‘consecrated in truth’ explains Trump’s 30,000+ lies. One type of lie is opinion. Not to be confused … Continue reading “Truth about the Big Lie”
Love: Essence and Emotion
Jesus confirms love is essential for peacemakers, “Remain in my love… I have told you so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment, love one another as I love you.” Love is more than a personal emotion. It is expressed beyond family or like-minded people. … Continue reading “Love: Essence and Emotion”
A New Normal: Social Health
Jesus said to his disciples, I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in them, will bear much fruit.” Bearing fruit is a metaphor indicative of health; physical, psychological, spiritual. Producing sickness is indicative of the exact opposite. A terrible sickness, abnormal in that it is a pandemic, has … Continue reading “A New Normal: Social Health”
Civilians
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”
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”