After Jesus is murdered by rulers of the Roman Empire, his disciples do their best to “love one another.” Disciples start expanding Jesus’ Community of God to diverse members and to expanding their love to those diverse members. Peter is struggling though. He is initially inclined to be loving and show partiality to those who … Continue reading “Showing Partiality”
Category: Military Justice
Warrior Victims
The political rulers and their soldiers persecuted disciples after Jesus’ death. For example, Stephen’s persecutors “threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. They laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul,” a soldier persecutor. Saul had a conversion and was renamed Paul. Paul set a precedent … Continue reading “Warrior Victims”
Come, Let Us Kill Him
Jesus tells a parable of a “man who plants a vineyard” and “leases it to tenants” (chief priests and elders). When the man sends servants (peacemakers) and then his son (Jesus), to obtain the yield, the chief priests and elders do violence, ultimately colluding, “Come, let us kill him.” Colluding to kill is what rulers … Continue reading “Come, Let Us Kill Him”
Loan Me a Generation With Interest
“There was a rich man who dressed in… fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. Lying at his door was a poor man, Lazarus, covered with sores… dogs even used to come and lick his sores. The poor man died, and was carried to Abraham. The rich man also died… and from the netherworld cried … Continue reading “Loan Me a Generation With Interest”
Possessing a War Bonnet
Ecclesiastes tells us, “All things are vanity! Here is one who has labored.. and yet to another must leave his property and possessions.” In the Gospel Jesus responds to a man worried about his property and possessions by telling him, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life … Continue reading “Possessing a War Bonnet”
How Hard It Is For Those Who Have Wealth
A rich man is told by Jesus, “’Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it … Continue reading “How Hard It Is For Those Who Have Wealth”
The Case For Reparations
In the Old Testament, “the Lord,” wears a MAGA hat: Make Atonement Great Again. Atonement requires reparations, which are payments from the people, commoners, to “the Lord.” The Old Testament, written mostly by ‘Lords,’ asserts commoners are “depraved,” deserving of death via “the Lord’s wrath.” But, for a price, reparation can be made by the … Continue reading “The Case For Reparations”
What We Know
From Sunday’s Old Testament reading we know of the claim that “all nations” will worship “the Lord.” Western history would seem to bear this claim out. For example, the U.S. continues to show a majority of people still worshiping the Bible’s “Lord.” We also know from the Old Testament and Sunday’s second reading, that “whom … Continue reading “What We Know”
Shaking Persecutors
Isaiah spends much of his writing affirming Yahweh’s persecution of disobedient Chosen People. In the last chapter, Isaiah tells the obedient, “Everyone will see the LORD’s hand of blessing on his servants and his anger against his enemies.” In the Gospel, Jesus missions common people to bless enemies and to expect persecution in return, “I … Continue reading “Shaking Persecutors”
Concentration
There’s an old joke told about three men being asked, “What do you want to hear said about you as you lay in your coffin.” The first wants to hear: “He was a great family man.” The second wants to hear: “He was a great doctor.” The third wants to hear: “He’s breathing!” In this … Continue reading “Concentration”