In the Old Testament “Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Fear the Lord, your God, and observe… all his statutes and commandments.” In the Gospel when a scribe who is a follower of Moses asks Jesus about Moses’ commandments, Jesus does not tell people to “Fear.” He tells them only to “Love.” To those who … Continue reading “An Eve and A Day for Saints”
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Walking Away From the Call to War
In today’s Old Testament reading the Warlord Yahweh calls the Warlord Jacob to, “Exult at the head of the nations.” The New Testament reading says “every high priest” is “called by God” to offer blood “sacrifices for sins.” In the Gospel, a blind man, Bartimaeus, calls Jesus to heal him. “Many rebuked him, telling him … Continue reading “Walking Away From the Call to War”
Lording Nuclear Annihilation
Two of Jesus’ followers desire the glory of rule and ask him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus then summons the others and says to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers lord it over them, and their great … Continue reading “Lording Nuclear Annihilation”
How Hard It Is For Those Who Have Wealth
A rich man is told by Jesus, “’Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it … Continue reading “How Hard It Is For Those Who Have Wealth”
Care-full and Play-full
The Pharisees do not so much care about people as they care about people obeying their laws. Jesus demonstrates care and cares that the Pharisees do not care. Jesus speaks about their lack of care to their face, “of the hardness of your hearts.” Jesus then notices a hardness of hearts in his disciples, “People … Continue reading “Care-full and Play-full”
Capitalism, Socialism, Communism
James is a poor disciple of a poor man, Jesus, who partnered with people to co-create the one “Community of God.” He cautions listeners about how the rich are divisive in the kingdom of Caesar, “Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries… Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who … Continue reading “Capitalism, Socialism, Communism”
Parents Who Will Not Receive a Child
Some disciples “had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.” In reply, Jesus, “taking a child, placed the child in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, ‘Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me.’” However great we imagine we are, most … Continue reading “Parents Who Will Not Receive a Child”
Hail Hale
Jesus tells disciples, “The Son of Man will suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed.” Jesus knows how rulers, sickened with the religion of Militarism, operate. How they dominate, abuse, and kill and coerce the soldiers they employ to do the same. Jesus knows they … Continue reading “Hail Hale”
Show No Partiality to the Rich
The Old Testament routinely shows partiality to the rich, since its writers believe wealth is a sign of God’s blessing. Poverty thus marks a person as cursed by God, a sinner. Jesus in the Gospel reverses the Old Testament. He shows no partiality to the rich. whose wealth is man-made from abusing the poor. James … Continue reading “Show No Partiality to the Rich”
Patriarchal Precepts on Sexual Violence
Moses sets forth “statutes and decrees which,” if “observed,” will gain the dutiful a reward, ‘you may… take possession of the property which the LORD… is giving you.’ Jesus does not observe Moses patriarchal precepts, “You teach as doctrines mere human precepts.” Patriarchal precepts control the behavior of men who also gain rewards from them. … Continue reading “Patriarchal Precepts on Sexual Violence”