In the first five centuries following the death of Jesus, the central emphasis of Christianity was less on a fully developed doctrine of redemption from a universally fallen humanity and more on living out the message he proclaimed—an ethical, communal, and transformative way of life rooted in love, justice, and devotion to God. While themes … Read more
War is often dressed up in the language of necessity, honor, or defense—but at its core, it asks us to abandon our humanity. It demands that we dehumanize others, justify violence, and accept suffering as inevitable. For those who look to Jesus Christ as a moral guide, this creates a profound contradiction. His teachings consistently … Read more
It is not you who shapes God, it is God who shapes you. If then you are the work of God await at the hand of the artist who does all things in due season. Offer him your heart soft and tractable, keep the form in which the artist has shaped you. Let your clay … Read more
A poem created from a ChatGPT prompt with an image from Stable Diffusion. In shadows cast by desert suns, A story of a journey begun. Jesus walks the southern line, A refugee seeking a hope divine. Through arid plains, a dusty road, He bears the weight of a heavy load. Innocence draped in tattered shroud, … Read more
Today’s edition of The Guardian had a lead article about how the religious right is fueling the decline of religion in America. I think that’s true but it goes deeper than that. While observing the Easter Vigil on Saturday night and listening to the readings from Genesis about how God created the world in seven … Read more
I’m a fan of Matthew Fox. He and other theologians like Ilia Delio and John Duns Scotus have influenced my thinking too. Today is Easter for many in the world and the familiar greeting among many of the world’s Christians is “He is risen.” He has risen and he was crucified, died and was buried. … Read more
Today is the first day of Holy Week in the Catholic Church and other Christian churches as well. Today at Mass they Passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be read. We will remember how he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on this day on a donkey colt. We will hear how the crowd … Read more
Pope Francis got some flack when he first came to the papacy in 2013 when he said he was not in a position to judge gay clergy. I don’t think he’s changed his view but it certainly seems that the Vatican is hell bent on continuing to make it difficult for Catholic folks who identify … Read more
Earlier today I came upon a quote from Matthew 25 which sums up the Jesus message. “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” ~Matthew 25:35 The Jesus message which is often overlooked is about relationships. Too often the … Read more
Despite voter intimidation, gerrymandering, voter suppression, lies, threats of violence to voters and officials Joe Biden is President-elect of the United States. Today was the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The second Marian Feast in less than a week’s time. You might call December the Month of Mary. How is the opening sentence related … Read more
