A Loophole in the Kingdom
The Beatitudes contain a loophole, an escape clause, by which number of us might gain access to the Kingdom of God.
Salt and Light
Salt has a distinctive flavor. When Jesus tells us that we are to be salt for the earth, he calls us to stand apart.
The 100th Monkey
Both the early Rabbis and Japanese monkeys tell us that even the smallest action of loving-kindness is valuable and important.
Not Slapping Back
Jesus tells us that we are to respond to violence with non-violence. It would be difficult to find a more challenging teaching in the entire Bible.
The Truth of Blinking
The transfiguration of Jesus calls us to wisdom and humility, claiming the truth that we can see and remembering that there is truth to which we are blind.
Jesus Is Not Against the Law
The “antitheses” from the Sermon on the Mount are misunderstood when they are read as Jesus replacing the Jewish Law with a New Law.
Taking the Next Step
God has a plan for our lives, but we do not see that plan all at once. This is why we must be willing to take the next step as God gives us the light to see it.
Knowing Our Name
Our value, if it is to become real, must be claimed. If our dignity is to have power, we must hear our true name.
Behold the Lamb of God
As Lamb of God, Jesus’ sacrifice is effective not because it is bloody but because it is motivated by love. We are called to follow Jesus’ example.
Comfort of Angels (Isaiah 40)
Angels are messengers of God’s presence. They are not intended to be an object of fascination in themselves but a reflection back to the love of the One who sends them.
Teenage Strains in the Gospels
One of the most helpful ways to understand the negative presentation of the Pharisees in the gospels is to see the description as an adolescent reaction of the early church, striking out against its parent, Judaism.
The Grace of Noah’s Flood (Genesis 6:5 to 9:17)
On its surface the story of Noah’s flood is one of destruction. Yet it reveals a God who is willing to change in order to keep the relationship with humanity alive.