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”
Category: Jesus-Movement
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”
Who Am I?
Identity is behind a question Jesus poses to disciples in this Sunday’s Gospel, “Who do you say that I am?” At issue is whether Jesus is divine or human. Divinity can suggests a celestial being worthy of worship with priests conducting that worship. Jesus was human and very much of this earth. Yet Jesus evoked … Continue reading “Who Am I?”
Rejecting Warmaking, Accepting Peacemaking
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (John 14:27) Jesus authored for the world a peace entirely unlike that proselytized by the world’s militaries. The military says it believes in peace, but through violence. Jesus’ early followers gave witness to … Continue reading “Rejecting Warmaking, Accepting Peacemaking”
Vocation
Jesus says in Sunday’s Gospel: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” Disciples hear Jesus calling us to follow him by creating communion among people torn apart by divisive identities, by witnessing love to those who promote anger as righteous or just, and by bringing healing to those who wound … Continue reading “Vocation”
Resurrection
Resurrection means so many things. It means the creative healing power of God endures beyond the grave. It means Jesus lives beyond the suffering and death inflicted upon him. His pain was inflicted by Militarists who believe violence is a saving act and that they have the right to inflict it. In Jesus’ Resurrection all … Continue reading “Resurrection”
Emerging People
In the Gospel, we see a women dragged into the streets but who because of Jesus’ response, emerges from her enslavement. Emerging seems to describe our humanity. We are emerging because we are centering ourselves on the witness of peacemakers, like Christ Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus’ life witness, as shown with the woman in the … Continue reading “Emerging People”