https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx8QKlE6jMk Son House, 'John the Revelator,' in concert, 1965. Book of Revelation 1 (NRSVue). 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the … Continue reading ‘Dwelling in the Word’: Looking at the Book of Revelation in a parish study group during apocalyptic times of huge turmoil
What happens when you read a gospel as poetry? or with a grain of salt? John, ‘the Jews’ and the man who was born blind
Jesus healing man born blind, El Greco, 1567 (Wikimedia Commons). John 9 (NRSVue)): 28 Then they reviled [the man who had been born blind], saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man … Continue reading What happens when you read a gospel as poetry? or with a grain of salt? John, ‘the Jews’ and the man who was born blind
‘After the final no comes a yes’: On new beginnings, Elaine Pagels and the empty tomb in the gospel of Mark (2 of 2)
2nd of 2 posts -- click HERE to see first post Pierre Jean Van der Ouderaa, “The Holy Women,” 1893 (Wikimedia Commons). Mark 16 (NRSVUE): When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first … Continue reading ‘After the final no comes a yes’: On new beginnings, Elaine Pagels and the empty tomb in the gospel of Mark (2 of 2)
‘After the final no comes a yes’: An English major-y romp through Wallace Stevens and the empty tomb in Mark 16:1-8 (1 of 2)
1st of 2 posts -- click HERE to see second post The Empty Tomb, St. Elizabeth‘s Catholic Church, Columbus, Ohio (Wikimedia Commons). My inner child was an English major, so I was intrigued to find Wallace Stevens quoted in an book by biblical scholar Elaine Pagels, who is more likely to quote obscure third- and … Continue reading ‘After the final no comes a yes’: An English major-y romp through Wallace Stevens and the empty tomb in Mark 16:1-8 (1 of 2)
‘The word of God … does not sit on coffee tables’: An old English major’s reaction to a New Testament course for lay ministers
Byzantine-era synagogue at Capernaum, 2012 My inner child was an English major, and he's had a run of good luck lately. (I blogged about some of his other recent adventures HERE, reading a French postcolonial author, no less.) Well, my inner English major got lucky again Saturday morning at the first meeting of an adult … Continue reading ‘The word of God … does not sit on coffee tables’: An old English major’s reaction to a New Testament course for lay ministers
Uneasy with St. John’s bias against ‘the Jews’ in an age of religious pluralism? Here are a couple of ways to deal with it
Christ Before Pilate, Hans Holbein the Younger, ca. 1538-40 (Wikimedia Commons) Now comes Jim McDermott SJ, associate editor of the Jesuit magazine America, and suggests -- in the headline, no less -- "The Gospel of John has been used to justify anti-Semitism—so we should stop reading it on Good Friday." To which I say: Amen, … Continue reading Uneasy with St. John’s bias against ‘the Jews’ in an age of religious pluralism? Here are a couple of ways to deal with it
The parable of the mustard seed, the historical Jesus, the kingdom of God and a couple of kudzu jokes (Pentecost III)
Mustard plants in Galilee (I think the sign says 'no trespassing' in Hebrew) Mark 4 (NSRV). 26 [Jesus] also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of … Continue reading The parable of the mustard seed, the historical Jesus, the kingdom of God and a couple of kudzu jokes (Pentecost III)
Casting out unclean spirits in the synagogue at Capernaum and on social media today (Epiphany IV)
Byzantine-era synagogue at Capernaum (security lights are a later addition). Mark 1:21-28 (NRSV): 21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a … Continue reading Casting out unclean spirits in the synagogue at Capernaum and on social media today (Epiphany IV)
‘… and who is my neighbor?’ — a parable for a time of civil discord (as angry Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol)
Screen shot from Washington Post, Jan. 11, 2021. Video by Joy Sharon Yi. I'm sure Kate Woodsome of the Washington Post didn't set out to write a parable when she covered the mob of Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol last week. That's not what reporters do. She's the Post's op ed video editor, and … Continue reading ‘… and who is my neighbor?’ — a parable for a time of civil discord (as angry Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol)
St. Peter’s fish, a surprisingly tasty meal with a 2,000-year backstory in Galilee
St. Peter's Fish in Galilee restaurant | Photo: איתן טל Etan Tal, Creative Commons. While I was working on this week's post about the miracle of loaves and fishes, I got curious about a delicacy served in restaurants around the Sea of Galilee called St. Peter's fish. It looks absolutely disgusting, but it's delicious. Especially with … Continue reading St. Peter’s fish, a surprisingly tasty meal with a 2,000-year backstory in Galilee
D R A F T / Theology? Shmeology. Why the Book of James isn’t an ‘epistle of straw’ — notes & quotes
James Hazelwood, bishop of the New England Synod -- in his chapter on service quotes theologian and futurist Len Sweet ... "... his point is that through the ages, different parts of the Old and New testaments have particular power and resonance. The 16th century saw the book of Romans; in our time it just … Continue reading D R A F T / Theology? Shmeology. Why the Book of James isn’t an ‘epistle of straw’ — notes & quotes
Krister Stendahl — a Swedish theologian on salvation, eternal life and the ‘coughing [of] mosquitoes’
Normally I don't get my spiritual direction and theological tips from the New York Times, not even back in the day when I thought Sunday mornings were for curling up with the Week in Review section instead of going to church. But I was caught up short the other day when I was tracking down … Continue reading Krister Stendahl — a Swedish theologian on salvation, eternal life and the ‘coughing [of] mosquitoes’
Ordinary Time 