Jesus tells disciples, “The Son of Man will suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed.” Jesus knows how rulers, sickened with the religion of Militarism, operate. How they dominate, abuse, and kill and coerce the soldiers they employ to do the same. Jesus knows they … Continue reading “Hail Hale”
Tag: militarism
Authority and Autonomy: Abortion
Jesus sent out the disciples “two by two and gave them authority over unhealthy spirits.” “So the disciples… drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.” Authority has roots in the term auger, the farm implement used to open the soil. Auger, and thus authority, means we … Continue reading “Authority and Autonomy: Abortion”
Leaving Militarism
Today’s reading from Exodus says Moses, Aaron, and other warlords “sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord.” They did so believing the “Lord” would then not sacrifice them, “the Lord did not lay a hand on these chosen Israelites.” The reading from Hebrews tells us Jesus’ “own blood” is “sacrificed” to the “Lord.” … Continue reading “Leaving Militarism”
Lovers Gonna Love
Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” From whom have we heard it said, “hate your enemy?” It is from the cult of Militarism. Militarism trains its soldiers to hate enemies. Haters gonna hate. Be it soldiers of nationalism or white … Continue reading “Lovers Gonna Love”
The Deadly Just War Religion
The family Maccabees refuses to obey a foreign War Lord, a god of the dead, King Antiochus IV. Antiochus was outlawing Jewish religious traditions and forcing the family to obey Greek ones, for example, the deadly just war tradition. Thus the king “slaughtered” many; “in the space of three days, eighty thousand were lost.” But … Continue reading “The Deadly Just War Religion”
A Pro-Life Christmas: Women’s Wisdom
This Third Sunday in Advent has a Gospel reading that once again focuses not on Mary but on John the Baptist. It includes John being sought out as a wisdom figure. The last of the people seeking wisdom are men paid to be violent, soldiers. They ask John, “And what is it we should do?” … Continue reading “A Pro-Life Christmas: Women’s Wisdom”
A Pro-Life Christmas: Our Bodies
Advent’s liturgical readings leading up to Jesus’ birth focus less on Mary and more on John the Baptist. Today’s reading on John focuses on how he relates to his body. John subjects his body to austere desert living, withholding basic needs from his body. John’s life style, asceticism, which neither Jesus nor Mary live, values … Continue reading “A Pro-Life Christmas: Our Bodies”
Peacemaking Pioneers
Jesus is sending out disciples to spread his Way: of communion and so he sends out people in pairs to nurture community; of compassionate love and so he sends out people who are poor to nurture vulnerability; of creativity and so he sends out people gifted with healing power. All of these qualities make for … Continue reading “Peacemaking Pioneers”
The Challenge to Change Religion
Sunday’s first reading concerns child sacrifice. Yahweh wants Abraham to murder his young son, Isaac, as a test of faith. Will Abraham offer his son in a blood sacrifice ritual for Yahweh? It turns out that Abraham will. At the last moment, however, Yahweh stops Abraham but commends his willingness to obey the violent command. … Continue reading “The Challenge to Change Religion”
The Challenge to Change Our Image of God
Sunday’s first reading makes the judgment all the earth and all her people are evil. One man alone is just, Noah. The Lord God of the Old Testament was thus believed to have saved only that one man and killed everything else. When everything living is dead, that Lord God promises not to do that … Continue reading “The Challenge to Change Our Image of God”