Sunday’s readings are about neighbors. The reading from Exodus says, “Thus says the Lord,” “If ever you wrong your neighbor and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you.” In the Gospel reading Jesus tells Pharisees wanting to trap him that they … Continue reading “Kill Your Neighbor or Love Your Neighbor”
Author: Editor
How War Lords Trap Us
The Pharisees were upset about Jesus continually challenging them. They “plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.” They construed a dilemma, a choosing of sides – or so they thought, between God and Caesar. Rulers like to trap people in conflicts. They like to trap people into taking sides in conflicts. Shall we take … Continue reading “How War Lords Trap Us”
Come to the Feast
As he frequently does, Jesus is speaking “to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables,” telling of a banquet prepared in great abundance. “Everything is ready” and the invitation is sent out to all, “Come to the feast.” Feasts like the one in the Gospel of a coming wedding highlight sharing. Everyday … Continue reading “Come to the Feast”
Come, Let Us Kill Him
Jesus tells a parable of a “man who plants a vineyard” and “leases it to tenants” (chief priests and elders). When the man sends servants (peacemakers) and then his son (Jesus), to obtain the yield, the chief priests and elders do violence, ultimately colluding, “Come, let us kill him.” Colluding to kill is what rulers … Continue reading “Come, Let Us Kill Him”
Turning
“Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people,” “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, … Continue reading “Turning”
Energy: Scarce or Generous
Jesus tells a parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers.” Then, “going out at five o’clock,” he hired more. At the end of the day, he “gave them their pay.” The ones who started late “received the usual daily wage,” equal to the ones who … Continue reading “Energy: Scarce or Generous”
Dictators Destroying the Common Good
Jesus tells a parable of a debtor who receives a loan he cannot repay, “the lender… let him go and forgave him the loan.” “When that debtor had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what … Continue reading “Dictators Destroying the Common Good”
The Fault in Our Magnificent Selves
“Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” Jesus concludes by addressing “loosing” what “binds” us. It is difficult to be honest about faults, speaking to others about theirs, having others speak to us about ours. Even if done so one … Continue reading “The Fault in Our Magnificent Selves”
Killing Conscience is Killing Democracy
“Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed.” Jesus understands the killer ethics of the dictator class. They will kill him and will command subordinate soldier/slaves to do the deed. An extremely small number of very … Continue reading “Killing Conscience is Killing Democracy”
Who Do You Say that I Am?
Jesus “asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of … Continue reading “Who Do You Say that I Am?”