Growing Together
When it comes to our places of belonging, whether they are family or friendships or spiritual communities, inevitably we communicate badly or offend or hurt each other, either intentionally or unconsciously. We are people. Precious and flawed. Each born and grown differently, formed by our personalities and a history of relations, social context, and life […]
To Take Up Your Cross
Today’s passage from Matthew* has often been understood as a call not to life, but to resignation: suffering is all, and the proper response is gritting teeth and bearing pain proudly to pay God back for God’s love. Fake it if you have to, imitate, but keep your joy at bay. As my father was […]
Loving Jesus Behind His Back
Every time I read that Jesus asked his disciples what people were saying about him,* I wonder why he cares what other people are thinking. Why does Jesus want to know what the disciples are saying when he isn’t around? Is he so vain or insecure that what other people think about him matters?” I […]
Was Jesus Prejudiced?
Some say Jesus was perfect, all-knowing and all-loving. If so, what are we to make of his snippy retort to the Canaanite woman who wanted healing for her daughter.* “I only came for the lost sheep of Israel,” Jesus said, and, when she persisted, he added, “It’s not fair to take the children’s food and […]