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: soldiers
Mission for All Time
Disciples had been sent on a healing mission by Jesus. After returning they “told him all they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.’ But people were coming in great numbers.” When he “saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with compassion … Continue reading “Mission for All Time”
DeMoralize the Police
Jesus addresses disciples, “Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” Jesus’ address is often called the ‘The Great Commission.’ Persons he has helped shape as peacemakers are sent out to give authoritative witness to the Way of communion, love, and … Continue reading “DeMoralize the Police”
Civilians
Jesus calls himself “the Good Shepherd.” He contrasts that witness with a hired man, “A hired man… whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.” Institutional christianity is the hired man in the story above. It is unfortunately hired … Continue reading “Civilians”
Healing Scars
“Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the others when Jesus” appeared to them after his Resurrection. Thomas “said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’” “A week … Continue reading “Healing Scars”
The Cross: The Axis of Evil
The war waged by rulers against Jesus ends with their murder of him, as detailed in today’s Gospel. Religious rulers request Jesus’ torture and murder, political rulers order it, and soldiers carry it out. “The soldiers led Jesus away inside the palace… weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him,… kept striking his head … Continue reading “The Cross: The Axis of Evil”
Lifting Up Soldiers from the Abuse of War
Jeremiah writes of a War Lord, a Soldier Master, Yahweh, who claims to love his “chosen people,” and “will write his law upon their hearts.” But then the War Lord Yahweh says, “they broke my covenant, and I had to show myself their master.” The people are shown as holy for accepting enslavement, abuse, and … Continue reading “Lifting Up Soldiers from the Abuse of War”
Cancel War
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “the light came into the world, but people preferred the darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light, and does not come toward the light, so his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light.” … Continue reading “Cancel War”
Youth Are Not Being Radicalized, They Are Being Soldiered
“God put Abraham to the test.” Take your “son Isaac… and offer him up as a holocaust.” “Abraham… took the knife to slaughter his son.” But God said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy.” “I know now how devoted you are.” Abraham’s tribe is transfigured by his action on a mountaintop. A people … Continue reading “Youth Are Not Being Radicalized, They Are Being Soldiered”
Duped
“I let myself be duped,” acknowledges Jeremiah in the first reading. He knows who duped him, “You duped me O Lord.” Being duped by Lords, earthly ones who invent heavenly ones, is unfortunately rather common. Jesus in the Gospel is therefore educating disciples about Lords and not to be duped by them, “Jesus began to … Continue reading “Duped”