“The soldiers then… brought Jesus before Pilate.” “Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers” who “shouted out… Crucify him!” “The soldiers led Jesus away to be executed” on a cross. “When they came to the place called the Skull, the soldiers crucified him.” Jesus lived as a peacemaker, intentionally so. He was not ignorant … Continue reading “Feast on Spirituality Fast from the Cross”
Category: Jesus-Movement
Feast on Spirituality Fast from Shame
Old Testament rulers judge between unchosen and chosen people, proud to receive “honor” from “chosen people” and to shame unchosen people. The “Scribes and the Pharisees, brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act … Continue reading “Feast on Spirituality Fast from Shame”
Feast on Spirituality Fast from Justice
Rulers call out Jesus for being unjust, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” “So, to them, Jesus addressed this parable” of an unjust son who “squandered his inheritance.” Suffering the consequences, the Prodigal Son wisely returns home to a loving father. An older brother is angry about the father’s loving spirit. He wants … Continue reading “Feast on Spirituality Fast from Justice”
Feast on Spirituality Fast from Projection
Jesus listens as people ask him about the sin of murdered “Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with the blood of his sacrifices.” The people are coerced by rulers to believe those murdered were sinners who deserved their suffering and death. Jesus rejects it all, “Do you think… the Galileans suffered (because) they were greater sinners?” … Continue reading “Feast on Spirituality Fast from Projection”
Feast on Spirituality Fast from Possession
Abram believes a deity has given him “land as a possession.” Paul believes his deity does not desire “minds occupied with earthly things,” rather, our “citizenship is in heaven.” After witnessing Jesus’ glowing Transfiguration, Peter desires possession of both, land on earth for shrines to heaven, “let us make three tents, one for you, one … Continue reading “Feast on Spirituality Fast from Possession”
Feast on Spirituality Fast from Religion
The warrior Moses is a member of the religion of Militarism. Militarism lauds warriors and the warrior deity they invent, who, for his Chosen People, inflicts godly suffering on an enemy, and kills them. For example in ordering the sufferings of the Plagues, and killing the enemy’s first born children in the 10th Plague. Members … Continue reading “Feast on Spirituality Fast from Religion”
Walking Away From the Call to War
In today’s Old Testament reading the Warlord Yahweh calls the Warlord Jacob to, “Exult at the head of the nations.” The New Testament reading says “every high priest” is “called by God” to offer blood “sacrifices for sins.” In the Gospel, a blind man, Bartimaeus, calls Jesus to heal him. “Many rebuked him, telling him … Continue reading “Walking Away From the Call to War”
Care-full and Play-full
The Pharisees do not so much care about people as they care about people obeying their laws. Jesus demonstrates care and cares that the Pharisees do not care. Jesus speaks about their lack of care to their face, “of the hardness of your hearts.” Jesus then notices a hardness of hearts in his disciples, “People … Continue reading “Care-full and Play-full”
Capitalism, Socialism, Communism
James is a poor disciple of a poor man, Jesus, who partnered with people to co-create the one “Community of God.” He cautions listeners about how the rich are divisive in the kingdom of Caesar, “Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries… Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who … Continue reading “Capitalism, Socialism, Communism”
Torture for Sport
Mary “traveled to the hill country… and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out” “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Mary’s response shows the radical nature of such joyful union, “God has cast … Continue reading “Torture for Sport”