Job in the Old Testament is a good man, evidenced by Job being a rich man, blessed by God, “Job owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen,” “and a very large number of slaves.” Job’s circumstances change though, because “the Lord” says to “satan,” “All that Job has is in your control satan.” … Continue reading “Circumstantial or Systemic?”
Tag: capitalism
Davos and Hollow Men
“Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unhealthy spirit… Jesus rebuked him and said, ‘Come out of him!’ The unhealthy spirit… came out of him. All were amazed … Continue reading “Davos and Hollow Men”
Energy: Scarce or Generous
Jesus tells a parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers.” Then, “going out at five o’clock,” he hired more. At the end of the day, he “gave them their pay.” The ones who started late “received the usual daily wage,” equal to the ones who … Continue reading “Energy: Scarce or Generous”
Love A Hundredfold
Jesus teaches a parable about a sower and seeds; “some seed fell on a path and birds came to eat it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for … Continue reading “Love A Hundredfold”
Consistent Ethic of Life: Healing
“As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned.” Jesus then “spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and … Continue reading “Consistent Ethic of Life: Healing”
On A Mission
Jesus is on a mission to his nation’s capital of rule and oppression, Jerusalem. His plans include travelling through inhospitable territory. His plans likely included meeting people in that territory who are themselves treated inhospitably, lepers. The lepers “stood at a distance from Jesus and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, have compassion on us!” and … Continue reading “On A Mission”
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”
Finishing the Work
Jesus is talking to, “great crowds traveling with (him)” about the work of being his “disciple.” He tells a parable about “laying the foundation” and tells of others needed to “finish the work.” It requires we renounce our possessions, “anyone who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Today’s accompanying New Testament … Continue reading “Finishing the Work”
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”
Revelation: Mothers
John of Patmos uses the symbol of a lamb in his Revelation writings. He describes a gathering of peaceful people, “a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue (who) stood before… the lamb… who will shepherd them” John is borrowing the lamb symbol from Jesus who uses it … Continue reading “Revelation: Mothers”