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 