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Good Guys With Guns Killed Jesus
Jesus has a marked ability to ask life-changing questions. He asks one such question of Peter in this Sunday’s Gospel. “Who do you say that I am?” It is both a prayerful question in that it contemplates Divinity and a realistic one in that it considers human practicalities. Peter answers Divinely, “You are the…
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Does U.S. Culture Justify Rape?
Is there ever any justification for a man to treat a woman disrespectfully? A Pharisee in this Sunday’s Gospel thinks there is. The Pharisee considers himself just and judges others as unjust. He judges a woman who touches Jesus as unjust, meaning sinful. The “sinful woman” is less worthy than he. He is a…
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Life after Death
Jesus’ heart is moved with compassion when he encounters a widow whose only son has just died. It is usually the case that people plead with Jesus, especially for healing. In this case, it is not words but the mother’s tears that form her plea and Jesus responds. He is touched by her grief,…
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Why Jesus Started a Movement and Not a Religion
This Sunday’s readings give insight into the origins of religion. They also show the difference between religion and the People’s Movement Jesus started. Religion is a Latin word and consists of ‘re’ which means ‘again’ and ‘ligio’ which means ‘to bind’. The truth of religion being a ‘re-bind’ is seen in the first reading.…
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Spirit of Truth
In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus promises the Spirit as a guide to truth. He tells disciples: “The Spirit of Truth will guide you to all truth.” The Spirit of Truth can be distinguished from the Law. Law can consist of doctrine or dogma meaning a set of rules or beliefs held as incontestable. Incontestable…
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Holy Energy: Worship or Inspiration
Christ’s Spirit, emphasized on Pentecost, celebrates an ongoing energy shift. It’s the energy shift away from worship – extracted energy, and toward inspiration – enlivening energy. Worship extracts energy by directing our energy outward. We direct our energy to an external unchanging deity and his earthly representatives. We seek in return a reward or…
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Making Things Happen
So many things have been happening to disciples in a short number of days. They shared a festive meal but it was followed soon after by Jesus’ arrest. Amidst that chaos and pain an ear is severed, but then healed. A night of anguish is endured which is then followed by a day of…
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Disturbing the Peace
Those disturbing the peace in Jesus’ time were the rulers. The rulers waged war on the people using capricious decisions, financial burdens, and punitive unto violent behaviors. Those restoring the peace included commoners like Jesus, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives peace do I…
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Love in the Concrete
A psychology professor who had no children would frequently reprove his neighbor for scolding her child: “You should love your child, not punish him.” One hot summer day the professor repaired his concrete driveway spending many hours of hard work on it. When finished he turned back on his accomplishment and out of the…
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Leading Sheep
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is designated as Good Shepherd Sunday. Its Gospel reading is drawn from Jesus’ teaching on the subject. Most commentaries on the subject assert good shepherds lead from the front. Others consider the possibly they lead from behind. Perhaps we might also consider that a good shepherd leads from among.…