Rulers judge Jesus is a problem and they target problem people with hostility. Jesus focuses on people as friends and is loving. It is therefore not Jesus nor his disciples who are the problem but rulers and their supporters. This is exemplified in today’s Gospel encounter when a ruler, “a scholar of the law, tested” … Continue reading “Being Afraid to Love is the Problem”
Tag: violence
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”
Killing Fields or Fruitful Fields?
Jesus tells a parable about people in a vineyard who go on a killing spree. They “seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.” “They treated (others) in the same way.” Then, “when they saw the son, they said, “Come, let us kill him.” The men kill because … Continue reading “Killing Fields or Fruitful Fields?”
Faithless Christians
Jesus is caught in a storm at sea in today’s Gospel and tells disciples to have faith. Years later, Paul says he has faith in Jesus and writes letters after Jesus has already established the Community of God for all people. However, in Paul’s writings there is a sinking feeling he doubts both Jesus and … Continue reading “Faithless Christians”
Have We Done What We Were Obliged To Do?
Faith is generally understood as believing in a Supreme Being. Often attached to that belief is another belief, that because of our faith, that Supreme Being will do something for us. The prophet Habakkuk, in this Sunday’s first reading, has such faith and believes his Lord will do something for him, “O Lord, … I … Continue reading “Have We Done What We Were Obliged To Do?”
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”
A Fulfilling Peace
Jesus makes a proclamation in this Sunday’s Gospel. “This is the time of fulfillment. The Community of God is at hand.” By doing so Jesus shifts the meaning of fulfillment. His listeners had long been taught of a promise that was to be realized in a time of fulfillment. The promised fulfillment was that of … Continue reading “A Fulfilling Peace”
Ferguson: Violence or Peace
Every Advent brings a switch in the particular Gospel to be read for the coming year; Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. This is a problem when the slated Gospel is Mark because Mark has no infancy narrative to raise our awareness of Jesus’ coming birth. Thus, Sunday’s Gospel is instead raising our awareness of Jesus’ … Continue reading “Ferguson: Violence or Peace”
Exaltation of Weapons
Some distortions are so bizarre it is difficult to understand their existence. This Sunday’s feast day of the Exaltation of the Cross is one such bizarre distortion. Would Christians consider celebrating a feast day named The Extolling of the Electric Chair or The Acclaim of the AK 47? Would Christians wear one of those instruments … Continue reading “Exaltation of Weapons”
Reaching Out in Truth
What are the responsibilities of an Old Testament prophet? Overall it was to call people to convert back to Yahweh. Old Testament prophets could fulfill their responsibilities by lording sinner’s guilt over them. They could threaten doom until offenders repented. Jesus’ witness was not centered on guilt or doom or harm of any type. Jesus … Continue reading “Reaching Out in Truth”