Subservience to supremacists is the unfortunate message of Sunday’s non-Gospel readings. The Old Testament reading glorifies people’s subservience to an earthly supremacist, Joshua, and to the heavenly supremacist, Yahweh, Joshua helped invent. Traveling among various tribes each with their invented deities, Joshua incites submission to Yahweh from the people, “If it does not please you … Continue reading “Sex Abuse”
Category: Military-Dominion
Shaming
Jesus is preaching and healing on the Sabbath in his hometown synagogue. Many are “astonished” but rulers “took offense at him.” Rulers are offended by his integrity; preaching independent of their judgments. They are offended by his power; healing people they oppress. Rulers do not like people who dare to challenge their oppressive system. It … Continue reading “Shaming”
Violating Borders
Sunday’s first reading uses a dominating tree to symbolize Yahweh’s protected empire and the submission all will one pay to the deity, “Every tree of the field will know that I am the Lord.” Jesus has no interest in empires, their borders, or their violent warlords who protect and sanctify it all. He acts to … Continue reading “Violating Borders”
Civil War in a Divided Kingdom
Jesus’ many healings upset rulers, especially his exorcisms; the driving out of a demonic or divisive force. The rulers are upset because, in truth, Jesus is driving them out; their rule too is a demonic and divisive force. Rulers would drive us mad with their demonic divisiveness of priests over laity, bosses over workers, whites … Continue reading “Civil War in a Divided Kingdom”
God as Father
Yahweh is a deity within the religion of Militarism. He is the fictional War Lord deity invented by Hebrew warmakers. Yahweh sanctifies Old Testament rulers who dominate over the people. Yahweh cannot be compared to the historical peacemaker Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospel. Attempts to connect the two, however, are sometimes made. One attempt … Continue reading “God as Father”
Strange Bedfellows
Jesus’ description of himself as the Good Shepherd is matched by his periodic description of people as sheep. At times the animals, and therefore people, are described as faithful and innocent and at other times a bit gullible, if not stupid. This Sunday, sheep are described as faithfully hearing their shepherd’s voice calling out to … Continue reading “Strange Bedfellows”
Moses, Elijah, and Muhammad; Not Jesus
Similar to a previous peacemaker, Gautama Buddha, Christ Jesus creates a seismic shift in human history. This Sunday’s Transfiguration is one expression of that shift. Its seismic nature however is not appreciated by Biblical fundamentalists who write commentaries on the event. They diminish both Jesus and the Transfiguration. They do so by interpreting both as … Continue reading “Moses, Elijah, and Muhammad; Not Jesus”
Deal with the Devil
“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert and tempted by the devil.” While the word devil conjures up monstrous images its original meaning is less horrific. Devil is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Satan which is defined as “adversary” and means someone or something that acts ‘against’ – against us, against … Continue reading “Deal with the Devil”
Politically Correct
When members of the supremacist class, Pharisees, invite Jesus to a meal they are not being politically correct. Being politically correct is a feature of domination in which supremacists correctly honor their own who dominate. Why then do the Pharisees bestow honor upon a dishonorable commoner, the politically incorrect Jesus, by inviting him to share … Continue reading “Politically Correct”
Our Place
When Jesus returns to his native place, as this Sunday’s Gospel relates, he is a different man than the boy who left. He is especially noteworthy as a healer. He is different from the tribe that helped shape him, that thinks it knows him and has beliefs about who he should be. For the tribe, … Continue reading “Our Place”