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The End of War Lords
Like last Sunday, several instances of Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God are again squeezed into today’s Gospel selection. Again, the teaching itself is squeezed out – that the Kingdom of God, better translated as the Community of God, is happening in the here and now in our peaceful social transformation of the…
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Propaganda and Western Civilization
Several instances of Jesus’ most important teaching, the “Kingdom of God,” rarely addressed in Protestant sermons or Catholic curriculum, are squeezed together in today’s Gospel selection. The effect is to squeeze out Jesus’ actual teaching on it – that the Kingdom of God, better translated as the Community of God, is happening in the…
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Native Communities Nurturing Seeds and Soil
Jesus’ parable about nature addresses who and what harms us and who and what nurtures us. “The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Community of God without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart.” “But the seed…
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Declaration of Moral Independence
Today’s readings ask us to consider to whom we belong. Zechariah speaks of his nation as the best nation and his joy in belonging to it, “Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy,” “See, your king shall come to you.” Jesus speaks of “little ones,” vulnerable people who form community, as those to…
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A Rewarding Life
In the first reading the prophet Elisha is conscious of the hospitality a woman provides and promises to reward her. Paul proclaims consciousness about a life before baptism and the rewards of a baptized life. Jesus begins his Gospel conscious of the violence done to peacemakers (“the cross”) but promises that rewards will come…
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Sparrows Who Fall
Jeremiah laments his plight as a prophet, but hopes in the Lord’s violence of the sword against enemies to save him, “the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion… O LORD of hosts… let me witness the vengeance you take on” my enemies. Paul laments all humanity’s plight judging us as sinners, but…
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Living Under Threats
In Exodus, Lord Yahweh is wrathful and threatening death, “You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians.” In Romans, Paul, relays that same Lord Yahweh, wrathful and murderous, “while we were still sinners Christ died for us… (and we) will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.” Jesus frees…
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The Flesh and Blood of Magnifica Humanitas
A reading from the Gospel according to John, which tends to magnify Jesus’ flawless and perfect divinity, is used on today’s Feast of Corpus Christi which tends to magnify Jesus’ flesh and blood humanity, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” The magnificence of the Incarnation, divinity enfleshed, continues to inspire.…
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Trinity: A More Perfect Union?
Today’s Gospel according to John, used to celebrate the Trinity, tells us, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son… Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned.” Perhaps the Gospel condemnation means to a less meaningful life. Supremacists within institutional Christianity…
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Rededicate Pentecost
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on…