In the Gospel Jesus is preparing disciples for his death. He tells them, in part, his departure includes a benefit to them. He says, “I am going to prepare a place for you.” It should not be surprising, Jesus spent his life preparing a place for people here on earth. Jesus was a homemaker.…
Jesus is changing the way we human beings can see the world and ourselves. He is overturning the hurtful values in which many of us are raised. He does so on a mountain side as he addresses a crowd. We learn we are blessed in ways we never realized. Blessed are we when poor…
“The people sit in darkness.” A tyrant, aligned with another more tyrannical ruler, controls the darkness. He’s entombing a challenger in his darkness. The people need someone to step forth as a light. Someone does and offers a vision into the darkness and, more importantly, a vision beyond it. With this Sunday’s Gospel in…
The Gospel for the Second Sunday of Advent begins with John the Baptist. John is something of a fiery character. He makes the public aware of the injustice of rulers. John calls rulers a “brood of vipers.” The rulers are aware of his challenge and plan to extinguish him. That is how Militarism operates.…
Jesus initiates a radical paradigm shift for humanity when he teaches and gives witness to the Community of God, sometimes translated as the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ Kingdom of God shifts humanity to communion, love, and creative healing power thus transforming the kingdom of Caesar’s domination, suffering, and violence. Unfortunately, institutional christianity hinders that…
Jesus sends out disciples in this Sunday’s Gospel. He does not want them to perform individual tasks but to accomplish a social mission – establishing the “Community of God.” The Community of God is people living in very practical ways on the personal and social level. Therefore, life in the Community of God requires…
Jesus tells a parable about a mustard seed grown into a plant in this Sunday’s Gospel. It begins, “The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed.” It later describes birds coming and nesting in the plant. The parable is often interpreted in reference to growth. For example, as a person’s faith growing larger…