“A large crowd followed Jesus, because they saw the healings he was performing on the sick.” When he “saw the large crowd coming to him, he said to Philip, ‘Where can we get enough food for them to eat?’” “Philip answered him, Two hundred days wages worth of food would not be enough for each … Continue reading “Resilience for Life”
Category: Jesus-Movement
Mission for All Time
Disciples had been sent on a healing mission by Jesus. After returning they “told him all they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.’ But people were coming in great numbers.” When he “saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with compassion … Continue reading “Mission for All Time”
Into The Wind
Jesus directs disciples onto a boat to “cross to the other side.” They run into a difficulty, “A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat.” While “Jesus was in the stern, asleep” the disciples were afraid, “Do you not care that we are perishing.” Jesus woke up and said to the … Continue reading “Into The Wind”
Joyful Homemaking
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.” “Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Spirit.” There gathered a large crowd of “Parthians, Medes and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, … Continue reading “Joyful Homemaking”
Entrusted with Being Alive
Jesus tells a story of people entrusted with a man’s livelihood. The man is going on a journey and entrusts to three people money of varying amounts. Two put it to good use. When the man returns, they give back what they had been entrusted with and so much more. But the third man, “out … Continue reading “Entrusted with Being Alive”
Christian Is An Action Verb
Jesus’ opening teaching in the Sermon on the Mount is referred to as The Beatitudes. They are the Gospel reading commemorating the active witness of every saint on every All Saints Feast Day. Given the active witness of saints, it is therefore at least odd that the Beatitudes are inaccurately translated into the passive voice, … Continue reading “Christian Is An Action Verb”
What is Being Asked of Us?
Jesus tells a parable to “the chief priests” about the “Kingdom of God,” symbolized as a vineyard. Two sons are asked to “go out and work in the vineyard.” Jesus likens one of the sons, who says “Yes,” to the work, but then does not do it, to the priests. Jesus likens the other son, … Continue reading “What is Being Asked of Us?”
The Old and The New
Jesus has been telling people terrorized by Empire, both David’s and Caesar’s, parables about the Community of God. The Community of God is described as a treasure, a fine pearl, a net and thus surprising, joyful, fulfilling. Upon concluding all the parables Jesus says, “Every scribe who has been instructed in the Community of God … Continue reading “The Old and The New”
Decorating Our Memories
The disciples were “all in one place together” when “tongues as of fire, parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Spirit and began to speak… as the Spirit enabled them.” They went out among people gathered together from all parts of the world, and they … Continue reading “Decorating Our Memories”
Religious Imperialism
The Acts of the Apostles describes early efforts of some disciples to share Jesus’ Way. These include “Peter and John,” and also “Philip.” Each set out to love as Christ loved and thus “proclaimed the Christ” to people and healed people afflicted and orphaned; in their own land and in other lands such as “Samaria.” … Continue reading “Religious Imperialism”