The Gospel for this time in Lent draws from Jesus nearing the end of his life. He has lived a compassionate and generous life though he has been met with vehement opposition by rulers. He understands the deadly intent of the rulers and yet he is still feeling forgiving and generous, “I say to you, … Continue reading “Emotional Exercise”
Tag: spirituality
Feast on Spirituality
“On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed.” While it was still dark and there is no light by which Mary could see, she is moved by the Spirit to venture out. Her spirituality, or … Continue reading “Feast on Spirituality”
Feast on Spirituality Fast from Possession
Abram believes a deity has given him “land as a possession.” Paul believes his deity does not desire “minds occupied with earthly things,” rather, our “citizenship is in heaven.” After witnessing Jesus’ glowing Transfiguration, Peter desires possession of both, land on earth for shrines to heaven, “let us make three tents, one for you, one … Continue reading “Feast on Spirituality Fast from Possession”
Feast on Spirituality Fast from Religion
The warrior Moses is a member of the religion of Militarism. Militarism lauds warriors and the warrior deity they invent, who, for his Chosen People, inflicts godly suffering on an enemy, and kills them. For example in ordering the sufferings of the Plagues, and killing the enemy’s first born children in the 10th Plague. Members … Continue reading “Feast on Spirituality Fast from Religion”
Why Jesus Started a Movement and Not a Religion
This Sunday’s readings give insight into the origins of religion. They also show the difference between religion and the People’s Movement Jesus started. Religion is a Latin word and consists of ‘re’ which means ‘again’ and ‘ligio’ which means ‘to bind’. The truth of religion being a ‘re-bind’ is seen in the first reading. In … Continue reading “Why Jesus Started a Movement and Not a Religion”
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”
Advocate
The God presented for worship in the Old Testament simply does not match Jesus’ revelation of Divinity in the Gospel. The difference is the difference between the religion of Militarism and the spirituality of Jesus. One assurance of our evolution beyond Militarism’s religion and toward Jesus’ spirituality is the difference between a warrior and an … Continue reading “Advocate”
Knowing God
John the Baptist lets us know in this Sunday’s Gospel that before Jesus’ baptism he didn’t actually know Jesus. He said it twice: “I did not know him.” There are additional instances after Jesus’ baptism that shows John didn’t entirely understand Jesus, or His mission. (Matthew 11:2-6) Though John doesn’t know Jesus, John knows the … Continue reading “Knowing God”