Jean Vanier introduces his meditation on chapter 5 of John this way: The first time Jesus journeys with his disciples to Jerusalem he goes to the Temple, his “Father’s House.” The second time he goes to an asylum where rejected people are lying around unwanted. This is also his Father’s home. Jesus is calling his …
Do you trust?
Only John’s Gospel makes Thomas a significant character. The other three Gospels merely list him as one of the disciples. In John’s version of the life and teachings of Jesus, Thomas figures in three episodes. In the Lazarus episode, when Jesus decides to go to raise Lazarus, Thomas says, “Let us also go that we …
God of the gaps is no God
I love reading from Bonhoeffer's writings, especially in the series of the complete works in English translations put out by Fortress Press. Bonhoeffer is perhaps best known for his "Letters and Papers from Prison," written between April 1943 (when he was arrested for conspiring against Hitler) and January 1945, three months before he was executed …
The Question of Holy Week
Two processions entered Jerusalem, perhaps on the same day, certainly in the same week... Audio file:
Be astonished, O disciple of Christ!
Without us knowing it, and perhaps without the Church intending it (!), the Sundays of Lent have done something of a discipleship catechism for us struggling disciples of Christ. I had never realized this, until I sat down to work on this sermon. The First Sunday of Lent promised visions of glory: You shall see the …
Our privacy for sale
In case anyone still has doubts as to who rules our lives, consider this: Today the US Congress voted to kill privacy rules which would have prevented Internet providers from selling our online habits and personal data. Because of this act of Congress, there will be no limits to the amount of advertising that will clutter our …
Behind the Curtain
The Guardian newspaper published an article today about the super-rich of Greenwich, Connecticut, and how they benefit from a tax code loophole called "carried interest". As a result of this loophole, they pay taxes at a much lower rate than most Americans. People are beginning to wake up, and today's article in the Guardian was …
Jesus, teacher of the possible
Nasruddin was walking in the bazaar with a large group of followers. Whatever Nasruddin did, his followers immediately copied. Every few steps Nasruddin would stop and shake his hands in the air, touch his feet and jump up yelling "Hu Hu Hu!". So his followers would also stop and do exactly the same thing. One …
Tetelestai
God’s covenant with ancient Israel: circumcision/election, passover/redemption, sabbath/holiness. These were the most essential parts of the Law, the Torah. Sabbath came first, at creation, but it became canonized at Sinai. Sabbath was the sign of holiness to ancient Israel - and yet it belongs to all humanity from the 7th day of creation. The cross …
Messages of the Just
A friend shared with me the concluding stanza of the poem September 1, 1939, by W. H. Auden. Here it is: Defenceless under the night Our world in stupor lies; Yet, dotted everywhere, Ironic points of light Flash out wherever the Just Exchange their messages: May I, composed like them Of Eros and of dust, …
Ancient Answers 