Independence from violence is the life witness of people following peacemakers like Jesus. In this Sunday’s Gospel, James and John are not yet living such an independence. They are traveling among Samaritans who have rejected Jesus. James and John want to “rain down fire” upon the Samaritans. Jesus rebukes both saying, “You don’t know of … Continue reading “Independence From Violence”
Tag: violence
Resurrection
Resurrection means so many things. It means the creative healing power of God endures beyond the grave. It means Jesus lives beyond the suffering and death inflicted upon him. His pain was inflicted by Militarists who believe violence is a saving act and that they have the right to inflict it. In Jesus’ Resurrection all … Continue reading “Resurrection”
Suffering
Suffering, such as the Gospel describes this Sunday in the crucifixion, is violently inflicted upon Jesus on the cross. Such suffering is unfortunately extolled in institutional christianity. It is mistakenly believed to save us. It is a mistaken belief because Jesus never teaches his suffering saves us. Those who believe it are therefore not centered … Continue reading “Suffering”
Emerging People
In the Gospel, we see a women dragged into the streets but who because of Jesus’ response, emerges from her enslavement. Emerging seems to describe our humanity. We are emerging because we are centering ourselves on the witness of peacemakers, like Christ Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus’ life witness, as shown with the woman in the … Continue reading “Emerging People”