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Closing in on Justice
CLOSING IN ON JUSTICE The frustrating case of justice delayed, excuses made to slow the pace like cars in both lanes going 15 mph. Never passing, never making room. You imagine my outrage is an...
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Devouring Their Houses
Jesus doesn’t simply criticize the priests for their hubris, he exposes the whole system for its corruption, exploitation, and rejection of the poor. Photo by Phil Kallahar from Pexels of poverty and...
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Being Racist in America
I noticed the truck ahead of me in a Starbucks drive-thru. It’s rear windshield had all sorts of stickers, but three of them stood out: All Lives Matter (to the lower right)Blue Lives Matter (to the...
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Hunger
In Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness, we get a picture of resistance bigger than willpower and faith. A resistance to becoming powerful at all. Resisting temptation and power with JesusLent 1C |...
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The Presence of Peace
The peace Jesus promises isn’t a passive thing done to us, or a weapon to enforce conformity. It is the very love of God and it is already here. God brings to life the peace that is already present....
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Consumed by Hate
In Luke 9:51-62, the disciples continue to misunderstand what Jesus is showing them: God’s love isn’t transactional. It restores us all. satisfaction and the justice of GodProper 8C | Luke 9:51-62...
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What is the Christian response to sacrificing lives to save the market?
Don’t. Ever. [Seriously. Stop trying to come up with exceptions.] The post What is the Christian response to sacrificing lives to save the market? appeared first on Drew Downs.
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Facing What’s Coming
Palm Sunday helps us see that the story isn’t about greatness or even weakness, but of facing an uncertain future through the grace of God. Palm Sunday and the glory of GodPalm Sunday | Matthew...
View ArticleShalom – No Justice No Peace
HI Friends, There’s a word we should get really comfortable with. Shalom. Shalom is Hebrew for peace. It’s also Hebrew for justice. And reconciliation. And hope. And Health. Wellness. Safety. Because...
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We are one
In the Trinity, we have a doctrine of undivided unity. This is actually our roadmap for embodying Christ through the world. The Trinity and our illusion of divisionTrinity Sunday | Matthew 28:16-20...
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For laborers deserve their food
The slogans of our world can help us better understand the mandates of our faith. That we are called to better the circumstances of our neighbors. to understand Jesus we have to trySaint Barnabas |...
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The Best in Christian Witness
The ministry of service, justice, and love has long been far less important to us than power, security and certainty. Anna Ellison Butler AlexanderMatthew 10:40–42 Photo by RF._.studio from Pexels...
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For ever, for ever, for ever, for ever, they shall see God.
Teresa’s story reminds us of the challenge of power. And how Jesus invites us to flip it over. To seek righteousness. Teresa of AvilaMatthew 5:13–16[see page 521] Photo by Felicity Ravelo from Pexels...
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And the darkness will not overcome us
My original homily for tonight was going to be light. In part because this day brings out the heady in me. It has a rich history that I am a geek to share as often as possible. But given the events at...
View ArticleThe Law Doesn’t Convict
We often treat the laws we all live by as neutral and self-enforcing. They are neither. All laws are written, legislated, and enforced by humans. Often with very different understandings of what they...
View ArticleThe Rise of Process over Substance
The decisions of the 2021-22 Supreme Court term have been a nightmare. But they reveal that justice isn’t their goal. There have been many parts of this most recent Supreme Court term that have been...
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Persistence as an act of resistance
Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash We often isolate the need to persist from the experience of oppression. But it is the demand for justice that fuels it. It is easy to root for a widow...
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The Widow and Unjust Judge (Proper 24C)
Jesus tells a parable about persistence in the midst of fear and oppression. A story, not only of angst, but of hope. Photo by Katsiaryna Endruszkiewicz on Unsplash This passage begins with Then Jesus...
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Is there any faith?
Jesus tells stories that engage our assumptions; and drive us to consider what it is that we’re really avoiding. Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash On not losing heartProper 24C | Luke 18:1-8...
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Righteous as a dirty word
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash There is nothing wrong with doing right. Or with being confident that we are right. We shouldn’t think we are righteous. It is easy to offer righteous indignation or...
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