Sunday’s first reading includes the War Lord Yahweh ordering his supporters to “keep his statutes and commandments.” The people believe Yahweh deserves their loyalty because he “took a nation for himself…by testings, …by war,…and by great terrors.” Jesus’ Gospel also includes commands, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that … Continue reading “A Higher Loyalty?”
Category: Militarism
The Challenge To Change Our Values
Authors of the Old Testament portray Hebrews as the chosen people of their God, Yahweh. The chosen people value Yahweh in the same way they value the War Lords who invented him – he is their savior, their protector – as long as they are obedient. How then do authors explain the defeat of those … Continue reading “The Challenge To Change Our Values”
The Challenge to Change Our Leaders
Scripture scholars treat Moses and his deity, Yahweh, as leaders. Moses is a military leader, a War Lord, as is the Yahweh deity he invented. They dominate, inflict suffering, and kill. Their military leadership is evident in Sunday’s first reading concerning the 10 Commandments. From Yahweh, “I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, … Continue reading “The Challenge to Change Our Leaders”
Taxing Decisions
Trick questions are always…tricky. Some are amusing or thought provoking; What’s another word for Thesaurus? Why doesn’t glue stick to its bottle? A definitive trick question however is drawn from cunning and intends to deceive or trap. It is with that intention that religious rulers who are plotting to kill Jesus ask him a trick … Continue reading “Taxing Decisions”
The Weight of Rulers
Who are the people who wait for rulers to come and save them? It seems the Hebrews are such people. It’s a reoccurring theme in the Old Testament and part of this Sunday’s first reading, “shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and … Continue reading “The Weight of Rulers”
The Misguided Concern for Personal Salvation
Jesus shows concern for others. Out of concern for others he is willing to lead a dangerous life. He intentionally challenges the world’s political, financial, and theological status quo. That status quo is devised by Militarists; supremacists, who abuse, and violate common people. Militarists need to be challenged. Jesus starts gathering common people together for … Continue reading “The Misguided Concern for Personal Salvation”
The Violent and Their Lies
Throughout his life and most especially in his last days, Jesus challenged the violent and their lies. When the violent told their lie that God ordained them to subjugate others, Jesus challenged them by inviting the subjugated into the Community of God. When the violent lied about God willing the suffering they inflicted, Jesus willed … Continue reading “The Violent and Their Lies”
What Is It We Expect?
Expectations, specifically of a Chosen people, are at the center of this Sunday’s readings. The Old Testament reading reflects the culture of Militarism and sets up the expectation of a violent warrior who is an exclusive savior for a chosen people. The Gospel then says “the people were filled with expectation” for a savior. But … Continue reading “What Is It We Expect?”
Women’s Liberation
This Sunday’s Gospel identifies Jesus as promoting women’s liberation. He does so by promoting communion. Communion is a life-giving power. It the relationship model Mary witnesses for Jesus and Jesus passes on. The life-giving power of communion is a relationship model some misunderstand or perhaps fear. Thus, when Jesus witnesses life-giving communion in today’s Gospel, … Continue reading “Women’s Liberation”
Staying Nourished
This Sunday’s Gospel is a healthy lesson on staying nourished. We need to do so while living in a depraved and deprived world. It is the world of Militarism and it has projected its harmful qualities onto a deity. Militarism’s depraved and deprived qualities have been made holy. We first encounter Militarism’s two qualities in … Continue reading “Staying Nourished”