“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…
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…
The Old Testament reading concerns the will of the priestly class to judge a man a sinner. He is a leper. The judgment dehumanizes the man. No longer is he a human being with a disease but instead, he is the disease. He is the sin; “the priest shall declare him unclean… (he) shall…
Jonah is given the task of converting sinners, the “wicked” people of Nineveh. He walks away from the task feeling no desire nor urgency given their wickedness. He eventually carries it out and the people convert. “But this greatly displeased Jonah, and he became angry.” He believed the sinners deserved the wrath of the…
In the Old Testament, young Samuel mistakenly believes he is being called by Eli. Eli says “the Lord was calling the youth.” The Lord is calling Samuel for allegiance to a War Lord, King David, and to a warrior nation, Israel. In the Gospel, Andrew believes he is being called by Jesus. Jesus says…
Isaiah writes “The LORD goes forth like a warrior, like a man of war he stirs up his fury; He shouts out his battle cry, against his enemies.” John the Baptist heralds Isaiah’s warrior deity and tries to save people from being an enemy to that deity by cleansing people of past sins. But…
“Magi from the East arrived in Jerusalem” where they told “King Herod” of their quest. They seek a newborn holy one, “We saw his star rising.” The Magi are scientists and believers open to epiphanies, to experiencing the essential meaning of divinity present in the world. They cultivate care for the natural world and…
Mary and Joseph are bringing their new baby, Jesus, “up to Jerusalem.” They are met by a man named “Simeon” who receives their little one as the “Christ.” Simeon beheld the child as one who would transform the world and “took him into his arms and blessed God.” “There was also a prophetess, Anna.”…