https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHnaxA1YZko The morning after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd, Jon Meacham weighed its significance on MSNBC's Morning Joe program. The network's blurb on YouTube is as good a summary as any: "Historian Jon Meacham discusses the new movement for racial justice, and he discusses the verdict in the … Continue reading Jon Meacham: Constitution a ‘Calvinist document’; thoughts on George Floyd murder verdict, civil rights movement
A Lenten meditation on covenants, a Christian nationalist lynch mob, green bananas and a book proposal
Editor's (admin's) Note. Second of ___ Lenten meditations based on lectionary readings on the covenants of Noah, Abraham and Moses. This one takes off from the covenant of Abraham, makes a quick stop in Puritan New England and deplanes in today's central Illinois. Clearing skies over Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, November 2012 Mark 8 … Continue reading A Lenten meditation on covenants, a Christian nationalist lynch mob, green bananas and a book proposal
Noah’s rainbow sign: Good news for the 53rd Sunday in Lent in a pandemic?
Editor's (admin's) Note. First of ___ Lenten meditations based on lectionary readings on the covenants of Noah, Abraham and Moses. This one riffs on Noah the the sign of the rainbow. Rainbow (at lower right center of picture) outside Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Genesis 9 [NRSV]: 8 Then God said to Noah and to his … Continue reading Noah’s rainbow sign: Good news for the 53rd Sunday in Lent in a pandemic?
Of law, gospel, a hungry she-bear and vocation on Elisha and Elijah’s way across the desert to the Jordan River
Road from Jericho (to the left) to the Jordan, the whirlwind and Elijah's chariot of fire. 2 Kings 2 (NRSV): 9 When they had crossed [the Jordan River], Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of … Continue reading Of law, gospel, a hungry she-bear and vocation on Elisha and Elijah’s way across the desert to the Jordan River
Notes on an election-day article about Lincoln, the better angels of our nature and the book of Job
https://www.facebook.com/133051906718090/photos/a.1509816089041658/3741315792558332 On the same day as Tuesday's election, the Jesuit magazine America published an article I thought was singularly appropriate to the occasion. It was what we used to call a "think piece" in the newspaper business, an essay by a divinity student and political activist on what comfort -- if "comfort" is the right … Continue reading Notes on an election-day article about Lincoln, the better angels of our nature and the book of Job
Rethinking grief, detachment, the Book of Job and the engravings of William Blake (!) in a time of pandemic
William Blake, Illustrations of the Book of Job, Plate 21 William Blake has never been exactly my cup of tea. When it comes to English Romantic poets, I'm more of a Byron and Wordsworth guy, and I like cats too much to get much pleasure out of thinking about Blake's tiger "burning bright, / In the … Continue reading Rethinking grief, detachment, the Book of Job and the engravings of William Blake (!) in a time of pandemic
A semi-sympathetic reading of a proto-feminist Jezebel reprinted on the Biblical Archaeology Society’s website
A few days ago I was blogging about the prophet Elijah and his conflicts with King Ahab of Israel. Now comes Janet Howe Gaines, an English professor at the University of New Mexico, with a sympathetic -- well, at least evenhanded -- portrayal of one of the most maligned figures in history, Ahab's queen Jezebel. … Continue reading A semi-sympathetic reading of a proto-feminist Jezebel reprinted on the Biblical Archaeology Society’s website
Ordinary Time 