“All the chief priests and the elders took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.” “After Pilate had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to soldiers to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor… stripped off his clothes and … Continue reading “What Is Our Quest?”
Category: Military-Deviance
Dying While We Are Still Alive
Jesus is summoned for a sick friend but upon arriving “found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.” When Jesus tells Lazarus’ sister, Martha, “Your brother will rise,” she mistakenly thinks Jesus means a “resurrection on the last day.” He does not. Together they go to the tomb where Jesus “cried … Continue reading “Dying While We Are Still Alive”
Drawing Meaning From Our Well
Jesus is journeying and thirsty, in need of water. He sits down at a well where a “woman of Samaria came to draw water.” He asks for and she provides him with water to quench his thirst. She asks for and he provides her with meaning to quench her thirst. Together, they drink up real … Continue reading “Drawing Meaning From Our Well”
Led By The Spirit
“At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.” Jesus is led away from family, friends, even physical sustenance and he is hungry. Yet Jesus has been led by the Spirit to this … Continue reading “Led By The Spirit”
What in God’s Name?
Jesus is naming the many terrors rulers always devise and challenging us about them. Be peacemakers during the terror of rulers and their soldiers who will always devise “wars and insurrections.” Be conscientious when rulers and their soldiers devise for “nation to rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,” as they always do. Be courageous … Continue reading “What in God’s Name?”
The Deadly Just War Religion
The family Maccabees refuses to obey a foreign War Lord, King Antiochus IV. Antiochus was outlawing Jewish religious traditions and forcing the family to obey Greek ones, for example, the deadly just war tradition. Thus the king “slaughtered” many; “in the space of three days, eighty thousand were lost.” But the Maccabees’ Jewish religious traditions … Continue reading “The Deadly Just War Religion”
Contagious Diseases
Jesus is traveling through a region known as Samaria. The people living there are viewed as enemies. On the way, “ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus! Have compassion on us!” Jesus does have compassion and he heals them; “they were cleansed.” The ten individuals … Continue reading “Contagious Diseases”
Criminals with Guns
The prophet Habakkuk is upset with “THE LORD” for his governance of the ancient nation of Israel. Habakkuk laments to THE LORD but really to his earthly governing Lords, “I cry out to you, “Violence!” “Wicked” people abound. But THE LORD/the Lords, “do not intervene…there is strife, and clamorous discord” because of the violent criminals. … Continue reading “Criminals with Guns”
Gunning For People
Jeremiah is blaming the people and their sins for Babylonian gangs of soldiers making war against them and dividing them. Jeremiah does not blame the gangs of soldiers. Conversely, in the Gospel, Jesus is encouraging people for peaceful leadership. They will need it for the division ahead, “From now on a household of five will … Continue reading “Gunning For People”
Human Consumption
“Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” The first reading from Ecclesiastes warns that the pursuit of things consumes the fool. Lost in the consumption is our soul. Jesus tells a parable of a soul so foolishly consumed, “A rich man, whose land produced a bountiful harvest” ponders, ‘What shall I do?’ ‘I shall build … Continue reading “Human Consumption”