We have been looking for a Messiah. He will be our savior to keep us pure, separate from the impure foreign infidels and their collaborators. We thought we found our savior in John and were baptized into his group. We had the sense we were emerging from this world’s darkness to find a light for … Continue reading “Spectrum of Learning: See”
Category: Jesus-Movement
Reform or Transform?
The phrase ‘baptism by fire’ is something of an oxymoron and has a connection to Jesus in this Sunday’s Gospel. Baptism signifies a refreshing and transforming relationship symbolized by a flow of water. That such a relationship starts with a blaze of fire signifies something much more radical. Jesus uses both meanings to describe his … Continue reading “Reform or Transform?”
Left Behind or Progressing Forward
Jesus is progressing forward in his mission of peace in this Sunday’s Gospel. He travels into Samaria which some of his followers think is enemy territory. After some Samaritans reject Jesus, two of his followers ask him, “Do you want us to call down fire from heaven against them?” Jesus lives and teaches love of … Continue reading “Left Behind or Progressing Forward”
Fruitful
To be Christian means to be Christ-like, which in this Sunday’s Gospel means to be fruitful. Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in them will bear much fruit.” Jesus bore fruit by gathering diverse people together in communion, by being loving, and by acting as … Continue reading “Fruitful”
Distinctions
Jesus makes use of distinctions in some of his parables. He makes a distinction between sheep and goats in the parable he tells this Sunday. The distinction highlights the difference between humble loving actions that need to be practiced and proud harmful ones that require conversion. This distinction and others are so obvious they confirm … Continue reading “Distinctions”
Church
People’s movements often start in someone’s house, usually around the kitchen table. They tend to bubble up with free flowing conversations and a vision for change. Little by little such movements spread. They can spread so far and wide and deep as to diminish empire. Protectors of empire, really they are imprisoned by it, by … Continue reading “Church”
Faith Works
The Gospel according to John emphasizes Jesus’ Divinity. Jesus’ Divinity is at the service of the physical world, especially healing its pain. The Gospel thus emphasizes all that is physical is being transformed. Everything that brings pain and suffering – our bodies, this world, Jesus’ death – all of it is being transformed. Do not … Continue reading “Faith Works”
Old and New
The longer version of this Sunday’s Gospel includes a reference Jesus made to the law. Jesus says he has not come to abolish the law and that not the smallest letter of the law would not pass away. He was not however referring to the Old Testament law of Moses. Jesus already abolished that old … Continue reading “Old and New”
Ordinary
There is much about us that is ordinary. We are ordinary in our routines, in our customary habits, and in our character. Peter, Andrew, and James were quite ordinary people when the Gospel tells their story of encountering Jesus. Jesus then showed them how to live within the ordinary and transform it, thus creating an … Continue reading “Ordinary”
Courage
Jesus gives testimony in this Sunday’s Gospel to the courage needed by disciples. He speaks of our need for courage in times of trial. We especially need courage in times of violence, the violence that surround us and awaits us. We will need to give testimony to courage in the simplest and in the most … Continue reading “Courage”