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Stop Supporting the Troops
Abram in the Old Testament is set to wage war. He “mustered three hundred and eighteen of his slaves, born in his house, and went in pursuit.” Upon Abram’s victory, Melchizedek, allied with Abram, “brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram.” “Then Abram gave him…
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Being Pro-Choice is No Mystery
We live in a world dominated by science, meaning to know. From science we know the substance of the stars and the intricacies of the womb. We do not, however, know the origins of either – the origins of life. Life is a mystery. All of humanity lives within the mystery that is life…
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A Universal People’s Movement
Jesus has a universal message of communion and is often on the move sharing it. He is thus constantly in contact with a variety of different people always bringing them together. He is creating a new people’s movement. Jesus’ universal movement of communion is highlighted at Pentecost, All “were filled with the Spirit and…
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Usual and Unusual
Disciples have not been living a usual life. They’ve been living an unusual life with an unusual guide, Jesus, a peacemaker. Usual life is living under warmaking rulers. Rulers judge common people’s sins and calculate the payment they must suffer through to be redeemed of their sinner status. The payment might be money or…
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Peace On All Sides
Jesus tends not to take sides, meaning he does not play favorites or act like a judge. Jesus does however clearly take the side of life. Jesus is not on the side of war. He is on the side of peace. In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus, the peacemaker, is letting disciples know he will always…
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White Evangelicals Are Worse Than Judas
Jesus knows Judas is about to betray him to the rulers who will kill him. Jesus takes responsibility to reach out lovingly to Judas. He shares a communion meal with Judas. Jesus is honest and addresses Judas and his betrayal at the meal. Judas unfortunately goes through with the betrayal. However, we know Judas…
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Borders on Our Home
Three young women are walking home late at night. The first says “We should split up so that if someone attacks us, one of us is free to get help.” The second says “We should stay together so that if someone attacks us, we can fight him off better.” The third girl says “If…
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Slaves, Prostitutes, Soldiers
Disciples are alive with the Spirit of the Risen Christ. They are giving witness to a free and revolutionary way that disturbs the system and those who arrange for its undisturbed dominance. Those dominating the system during Jesus’ time included the Sanhedrin, rabbis who ruled ancient Israel. When Jesus’ peaceful revolution started disturbing those…
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Easter Uprising
Jesus’ disciples are huddled together. They do so not so much for community. Nor so much for warmth. It is perhaps more out of fear, stone cold fear. Soldiers, on command from the ruling elite, have arrested, tortured, and murdered Jesus. The disciples fear the same will be done to them. And so, they…
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Being There
Mary is there at the cross, filled with shock and sorrow. She is there at the tomb, filled with gloom and grief. She has seen her friend, Jesus, brutally tortured and murdered. She now sees “the stone removed from the tomb.” Knowing Jesus is horribly and certainly dead, she begins to wonder, ‘Where have…