Jesus tells disciples, “I have come to light a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze.” Jesus lights a fire of love as do disciples. Such love blazes wild, spreading to Samaritans, those who are poor, lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors and so many more. It challenges imperialists, of Rome, throughout … Continue reading “Blazing Love”
Category: Love
A Cache of Life-Giving Energy
Jesus was “determined to journey to Jerusalem’ and on the way “entered a Samaritan village.” “They would not welcome him.” “When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?’ Jesus turned and rebuked them, and He said, “You do not … Continue reading “A Cache of Life-Giving Energy”
Revelation: Now
In the Book of Revelation, John of Patmos has a vision of a “new earth,” for the “former earth had passed away.” Some followers of the Book destructively misinterpret the vision. They insert belief in a destructive god who will set them in rule over the ‘new earth.’ They insert belief in the deity justifying … Continue reading “Revelation: Now”
Revelation: Love
What I did for love moved me far beyond my home in Galilee. I was an itinerant, journeying from one village to the next with my mission to love. So many people touched my life as I touched theirs. Some were hateful, lethally so. But they could not kill my milder Spirit. They could not … Continue reading “Revelation: Love”
Listening to Love
Jesus lives in a culture dominated by the religion of Militarism, practiced by both Rome and Israel. Militarism is known by its cult of worshiping War Lord supremacists, by its creed of inflicting suffering on enemies, and by its code of sanctified violence. Jesus transforms the world by telling the people, “To you who listen… … Continue reading “Listening to Love”
Love: Essence and Emotion
Jesus confirms love is essential for peacemakers, “Remain in my love… I have told you so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment, love one another as I love you.” Love is more than a personal emotion shown only to family or like-minded people. Love … Continue reading “Love: Essence and Emotion”
Ending the War on Water
“In their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses.” The Lord said to Moses, “Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink.” In the Gospel, a Samaritan woman thirsts for water and goes to a well. She meets Jesus at the well and grumbles a bit with … Continue reading “Ending the War on Water”
Musings on Love
Isaiah writes “The LORD goes forth like a warrior, like a man of war he stirs up his fury; He shouts out his battle cry, against his enemies.” John the Baptist heralds Isaiah’s warrior deity and tries to save people from being an enemy to that deity by cleansing people of past sins. John then … Continue reading “Musings on Love”
Holy Children, Holy Families
Mary and Joseph are bringing their new baby, Jesus, “up to Jerusalem.” They are met by a man named “Simeon” who receives their little one as the “Christ.” Simeon beheld the child as one who would transform the world and “took him into his arms and blessed God.” “There was also a prophetess, Anna.” She … Continue reading “Holy Children, Holy Families”
Women are Truthful
Spending time this Advent with Mary, and women in general, we can discover women are truthful. We hear Mary sing a song from the Gospel of Luke, the Magnificat. The Magnificat is the classic rendition of speaking truth to power, but, since Mary is power, it is really about speaking truth to control, speaking truth … Continue reading “Women are Truthful”