Jesus is at his last meal with disciples. This includes Judas who has already betrayed Jesus and later that night will help assault him. Jesus knows Judas is betraying him. He describes the assault and violence that await. Jesus does not, however, assault Judas nor does he even protest against him. Instead, Jesus initiates…
“Jesus took Peter, James, and John” “up a high mountain.” There they saw Jesus, “transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” “And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared.” When we look at Moses and Elijah we see ancient figures bound to the kingdom of Israel. When…
Jesus tends not to take sides, meaning he does not play favorites or act like a judge. Jesus does however clearly take the side of life. Jesus is not on the side of war. He is on the side of peace. In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus, the peacemaker, is letting disciples know he will always…
Sunday’s readings begin with a passage from Isaiah referred to as the Suffering Servant. It tells of one who will fight to “bring forth justice to the nations.” He will not “cry out” nor “shout,” “until he establishes justice on the earth.” Jesus’ Gospel reading begins with people hopeful for a new just one.…
Sunday’s readings speak of troubled times; “unsurpassed in distress” and “tribulation.” Jesus speaks on these concerns from Jerusalem. Jerusalem is an outpost of the Roman Empire with soldiers who cause troubled times, distress, and tribulation. Jesus is a peacemaker who causes courage, calm, and well being. He is encouraging others to be that same…
This Sunday’s Old Testament reading concerns Yahweh. Yahweh is the Lord of ‘Hosts’ – which means Lord of ‘Armies.’ Yahweh is a warmaker and is ordering obedience. It is the same obedience ordered by the warmakers who invented Yahweh; warmakers such as Moses. The Gospel reveals Jesus is not a warmaker but a peacemaker.…
Jesus is Transfigured before the very eyes of three of his disciples. They see his face shine radiant like the sun and his clothes become dazzling white. They watch him instruct two ancient figures on the Transfiguration of humanity, away from an ancient figure of a War Lord and toward an eternal figure of…
Mary of Nazareth is undergoing a series of very trying experiences. She is pregnant under questionable circumstances. She is traveling a great distance on the back of a mule while pregnant. She is being forced upon this trip late in her pregnancy by an emperor who wants more tax money from working people. She…
We spend our childhoods and some restful moments dreaming. Those who would diminish our dreaming will tell us it is time to grow up or to wake up and stop our dreaming. But growing up or waking up does not stop our dreaming. We are simply given the chance to live out our dreams…
So many things have been happening to disciples in a short number of days. They shared a festive meal but it was followed soon after by Jesus’ arrest. Amidst that chaos and pain an ear is severed, but then healed. A night of anguish is endured which is then followed by a day of…