Jesus has a gift for words and is a highly sought-after teacher. His words, which he gives away freely, attract great crowds as in this Sunday’s Gospel. He is never shown letting the people’s attention spoil him. In other words, he never expresses feelings of entitlement. He never expects others to please him or serve … Continue reading “Being Spoiled Isn’t Kid’s Stuff”
Tag: capitalism
Forgiving the Slaves to White Supremacy
Jesus tells a parable this Sunday about a God who unceasingly forgives others debts or sins; 70 x 7 times. Jesus’ new revelation of divinity, an ethic of forgiving love replaces the old deity, Yahweh, and the old ethic of debt slavery. The old deity was invented by War Lords who enslaved people; Amalekites, Canaanites, … Continue reading “Forgiving the Slaves to White Supremacy”
From Darkness Into Light
What is it we who are not blind want to see? Do we want to see the true meaning of life? Do we want to see it as desperately as the man in this Sunday’s Gospel who is born blind wants to see the physical world? When Jesus heals the blind man people react with … Continue reading “From Darkness Into Light”
Wealth: Inherited or Shared
When Jesus leaves his trade as a common laborer, he starts traveling as a preacher among mostly poor working people. He has very few things. What he does have he shares with others; his spirituality, his wisdom, his storytelling. Others share their gifts with him; home, hearth, food. Amidst this shared life, a man says … Continue reading “Wealth: Inherited or Shared”
Holy Energy: Worship or Inspiration
Christ’s Spirit, emphasized on Pentecost, celebrates an ongoing energy shift. It’s the energy shift away from worship – extracted energy, and toward inspiration – enlivening energy. Worship extracts energy by directing our energy outward. We direct our energy to an external unchanging deity and his earthly representatives. We seek in return a reward or an … Continue reading “Holy Energy: Worship or Inspiration”
Who’s Been Gaming the System
There’s an old joke, not so old that Jesus heard it, but old nonetheless – You can tell Monopoly is an old game because it’s got a luxury tax and it’s possible for rich people to go to jail. The possibility of either or both happening is greater in the board game than in real … Continue reading “Who’s Been Gaming the System”
How Can We Change the Climate This Christmas Season?
The Advent/Christmas season begins with the Gospel forecasting an apocalyptic event. It uses symbolic language to convey its seriousness: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay.” Jesus describes a climate of distress apparent socially and personally (he’s facing his own suffering and … Continue reading “How Can We Change the Climate This Christmas Season?”
Why Don’t Rich People Like To Share?
Shocking in its day and still now is Jesus’ encounter with a young man. The man keeps the commandments but, because he is rich, is said to lack godliness, “Go and sell what you have to the poor.” Not only is the rich young man stunned by this news the disciples are too. Their stunned … Continue reading “Why Don’t Rich People Like To Share?”
Crumbs
If you’re ever looking for Jesus just follow the crumbs. Throughout his life he was always sharing meals with people. He dined with Pharisees, tax collectors, and prostitutes as well as the various men, women, and children of the villages he visited on his journeys. After his Resurrection, as this Sunday’s Gospel relates, Jesus shares … Continue reading “Crumbs”
Weeds and Wheat
The story is told of a man driving a winding country road. He is almost run off it by a woman who rounds a curve too wide. As she gets back onto her side she yells at him, “Pig!” He promptly responds, “Idiot!” only to round the bend and crash into a pig. We don’t … Continue reading “Weeds and Wheat”