Listening to Love

Jesus lives in a culture dominated by the religion of Militarism, practiced by both Rome and Israel. Militarism is known by its cult of worshiping War Lord supremacists, by its creed of inflicting suffering on enemies, and by its code of sanctified violence. Jesus transforms the world by telling the people, “To you who listen… … Continue reading “Listening to Love”

There Is No Salvation

Peter has performed “a good deed done to a cripple.” He has healed him. Peter does not take credit for doing so. He says the man has been healed “in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean.” Peter then makes a statement that has unfortunately been twisted in its meaning. He says, “There is no … Continue reading “There Is No Salvation”

Suffering and Violence: Reality and Fable

This Sunday’s long Gospel is about the suffering and violence inflicted upon Jesus. It describes his arrest, trial, torture, and murder. Scripture scholars usually sanctify the violence done to Jesus as in keeping  with a ‘suffering servant’ character from Isaiah. Of Isaiah’s 1,292 verses, 30 are so titled. One sample ‘suffering servant’ verse is, “He … Continue reading “Suffering and Violence: Reality and Fable”