Joseph is loving, attentive, especially so on our forced journey. I am making the journey on the back of donkey and it is so very hard on my body. He is patient, tending to me every time I have to get off the donkey and attend to my body’s needs. He touches my belly and … Continue reading “Trimesters: Birthing”
Blog
Trimesters: Planning
Some things I planned. I planned to take care of myself, always, even from a young age. Thus, I planned to take care of my babies. I have spoken with older women who have already had babies – rather – they have spoken with me. I have listened. They wanted to share their wisdom and … Continue reading “Trimesters: Planning”
Trimesters: Preparing
I am waiting in fullness. I do not lie in wait, to hurt. I am not waiting on guard; anxious something will be done to me. I am waiting in fullness. The fullness of life is stirring within me. I am waiting in preparation. I am preparing the way for fullness to be born. I … Continue reading “Trimesters: Preparing”
Trimesters: Growing
When the soldiers who write our history tell us of the “shoot that shall develop from the stump of Jesse,” they are telling us of a warrior, David. The warrior is proclaimed as our savior. The man of war will fight for justice, slay the wicked, and thus save us. But warriors will never save … Continue reading “Trimesters: Growing”
Trimesters: Knowing
The Roman rulers and their soldiers who occupy our village, brag openly of knowing. They know their control for warmaking and the deaths war spawns. We women know too. We know our power for lovemaking and the life we hold close, deep within us during these first weeks. We know of the life we generate … Continue reading “Trimesters: Knowing”
Jesus Did Not Suffer and Die on the Cross to Save Us from Our Sins
“The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is a king.” “The soldiers too jeered at Jesus” on the cross. “Now one of the two criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.’” The earthly kings and their soldiers are … Continue reading “Jesus Did Not Suffer and Die on the Cross to Save Us from Our Sins”
Why Are We Fighting in Jesus’ Name?
Amidst people fawning over the temple’s finery, Jesus speaks of the building’s demise, so too the religion of Militarism that constructs it while destroying people. Religion’s demise is a disturbance to rulers who fight Jesus. Religion’s demise is a curiosity to disciples who question Jesus, “when will this happen?” Jesus cautions, “Many will come in … Continue reading “Why Are We Fighting in Jesus’ Name?”
Pro-Life Sexuality, Pro-Choice Patriarchy
“Some Sadducees came” to Jesus and made a harmful patriarchal assumption about women, also children, “If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.” The harmful patriarchal assumption is that women are controlled by men as property. Under patriarchy, women are … Continue reading “Pro-Life Sexuality, Pro-Choice Patriarchy”
Tax Collectors
Jesus shows love toward those judged sinners. He encounters and befriends a rich tax collector named Zacchaeus who is judged “a sinner.” The man’s wealth is from working for Caesar and the plundering Roman military. From the Gospel and other sources, we know Militarism’s tax collectors have existed from ancient times onward. The job originates … Continue reading “Tax Collectors”
Habits of the Home
Jesus tells of a Pharisee who has the habit of going up “to the Temple area to pray.” He feels at home there but will not extend that feeling to another who has joined him. For, while there, the Pharisee’s prayer habit is to insult and ostracize those he judges as not belonging there with … Continue reading “Habits of the Home”