In the era, Jesus mourned the relegation of women to service. Related parables are obscure: "Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed 33 pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough." [Matt. 13:33] What should we make of this? First, with water, the mixture becomes dough. Jesus offered the "waters … Continue reading Daughters to the Bride
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Why do bad things happen to good people? The lesson of Noah: God tries to warn them. If they listen, He will grant refuge. The lesson of Joseph and the Captivity: They trade God for worldly authority. The lesson of Saul: They accept the burden of sin for other people. The lesson of Jesus: They … Continue reading It’s Not All Bad
How should we understand God's declaration to Moses, "I am that I am?" [Exodus 3:14] We know that creatures evolve through relation. Mostly they eat each other, but birds also nest in trees. Certainly, nesting birds cannot survive without a tree, and if birds drop the seeds that grow into trees, the converse is also … Continue reading I Am
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan [Luke 10:25-37], few scholars understand Jesus' subversion. A traveler leaves Jerusalem (city of ritual privilege) towards Jericho (where the Israelites entered the Holy Land, losing Moses for direct communion with God). He is beset by two thieves (imperial and royal taxation). A priest (expecting money for service) and … Continue reading The Good Samaritan
In ancient Greece, tyranny was considered an essential social service. The natural world was an unpredictable place, a reality that made citizens unreliable. A tyrant used force of will to ensure that the ambitions of the state were achieved. The method of enforcement was often violence. Advisers were respected according to their success to channeling … Continue reading God and Tyranny
