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The Myth of Chosen Ones

People who believe they are ‘Chosen Ones’ are undertaking a violent coup. They believe their mythical warrior deity, ‘the Lord,’ has unchosen Saul as King and chosen David. “(T)he LORD said to David, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.” Soldiers, some of whom once fought and killed for the … Continue reading “The Myth of Chosen Ones”

What in God’s Name?

Jesus is naming the terrors rulers will devise and is en-couraging people to be brave. Always rulers and their soldiers will devise “wars and insurrections.” Always in a ruler’s name “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Always in a ruler’s name will soldiers “seize and persecute you, hand you over to…prisons, lead … Continue reading “What in God’s Name?”

The Deadly Just War Religion

The family Maccabees refuses to obey a foreign War Lord, a god of the dead, King Antiochus IV. Antiochus was outlawing Jewish religious traditions and forcing the family to obey Greek ones, for example, the deadly just war tradition. Thus the king “slaughtered” many; “in the space of three days, eighty thousand were lost.” But … Continue reading “The Deadly Just War Religion”

The Point of Our View

When Jesus was passing through Jericho, “he looked up” and saw Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus had “climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus.” Zacchaeus had to change his point of view in order to see Jesus, to encounter him. He could not do so from his original point of view, it rendered him short-sighted. His short-sighted point … Continue reading “The Point of Our View”

Is Love A Folly?

Jesus has encounters with people “who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.” In today’s Gospel he tells of a Pharisee who is praying near a humble tax collector, despised by others, who “stood off at a distance … and prayed” for “mercy.” The Pharisee’s prayer is, “O God, I thank you … Continue reading “Is Love A Folly?”

Creating a Faithful Climate

While addressing the importance of persisting in faith, Jesus tells the story of a widow. She has strong faith in her position against an “adversary” in a corrupt system harming her. The judge deciding her case is corrupt, reflecting the corrupt system. Even so, she is unrelenting in petitioning the judge for fairness, “Render a … Continue reading “Creating a Faithful Climate”

Contagious Diseases

Jesus is traveling through a region known as Samaria. Many view the people living there as enemies. On the way, “ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus!  Have compassion on us!” Jesus does have compassion and he heals them; “they were cleansed.” The ten individuals … Continue reading “Contagious Diseases”

Criminals with Guns

The prophet Habakkuk is upset with “the Lord” for his governance of the ancient nation of Israel. Habakkuk laments, “I cry out to you, “Violence!”  but you do not intervene…there is strife, and clamorous discord.” Since the “Lord” was invented by the nation’s ‘Lords,’ Habakkuk’s lament is really for the nation’s Lords and their violent … Continue reading “Criminals with Guns”

Foundations

Jesus’ parable about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus, sets the foundation for wisdom about rich and poor, “There was a rich man who dressed in … fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus … who would gladly have eaten … … Continue reading “Foundations”