This Sunday’s Gospel shows Jesus’ local opponents colluding with Roman sympathizers. The Pharisees and the Herodians are colluding in a plan to trap Jesus. They use a tax question to set the trap. “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar?” Jesus’ response is commonly misinterpreted by self-titled Christians. Martin Luther famously misinterpreted … Continue reading “Conscientious Authority”
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Whistleblowers
Jesus’ parables, in addition to being enjoyable and thought provoking, are a means to speak truth to privilege. This Sunday’s parable is one example. It is a long parable that tells a story about invited guests who reject a meal and kill servant messengers. It is basically an account of the destructive history of the … Continue reading “Whistleblowers”
Gift of Creation
Jesus tells a parable this Sunday about the Community of God. He describes it metaphorically as a vineyard. The vines and their fruit, like all of creation, are given to us as a gift. If we receive the earth’s many gifts and care for them, the earth will continue to be a source of nourishment. … Continue reading “Gift of Creation”
Easy Choices
Jesus’ parable this Sunday seems to present most modern readers with an easy choice. Is it better to say “No” to a father’s public request but then do as he asked? Or is it better to say “Yes” but then not actually fulfill the request. Modern readers would likely say doing what was asked is … Continue reading “Easy Choices”
People Getting What They Deserve
Someone getting what they deserve has an ominous tone to it. While it could indicate someone being rewarded, the sound of it feels more like someone is suffering as payback. Whichever the case, people getting what they deserve signifies an exacting judgment to ensure fairness. Jesus’ parable this Sunday is about a landowner who doesn’t … Continue reading “People Getting What They Deserve”
Exaltation of Weapons
Some distortions are so bizarre it is difficult to understand their existence. This Sunday’s feast day of the Exaltation of the Cross is one such bizarre distortion. Would Christians consider celebrating a feast day named The Extolling of the Electric Chair or The Acclaim of the AK 47? Would Christians wear one of those instruments … Continue reading “Exaltation of Weapons”
Reaching Out in Truth
What are the responsibilities of an Old Testament prophet? Overall it was to call people to convert. Old Testament prophets could fulfill their responsibilities by lording sinner’s guilt over them. They could threaten doom until offenders repented. Jesus’ witness was not centered on guilt or doom or harm of any type. Jesus was instead centered … Continue reading “Reaching Out in Truth”
Names
The name Satan conjures up monstrous images; such as a maleficent horned creature robed in red. If rendered human, still the images are monstrous, conjuring up evil people. The word evil, however, was originally defined as an adversary. It could mean one was in league with the devil but that name too lacks the monstrous … Continue reading “Names”
Models of Authority
One model of authority is to rule over people. It is the military model of domination. A rather clear sign of such authority is the threat of or use of a weapon. The weapon might be a fist or a gun. It could be a knife or a tongue sharpened like one. Whatever its shape, … Continue reading “Models of Authority”
Play
Jesus is more playful than we might think. We see his playfulness in his many parables. He did not tell his parables to teach dogma. Dogma is not playful. Instead, he told his stories and used metaphors within them so that we might play with them. He offered characters and events to help us enjoy … Continue reading “Play”