Pax Christi South

Israel (Dt 4:1, 5-9)began with the conception that God had picked them from all the nations to be his people. I use “his” advisedly because God was a tribal patriarch who gave commandments to the people. Following God’s commandments led to life. Failure to follow God’s commandments led to death. [Much of religion in many traditions is patriarchal.] It does not seem that following commands leads to prosperity (although advocates of the prosperity gospel think it does) Nor does it seem like acting unjustly leads to death. People who feel especially chosen over other peoples will create structures to set themselves apart-circumcision, dietary restrictions, etc… Continue Reading

Azariah is in the fire because he and his kin refused to eat meat sacrificed to idols. Kosher food practices, circumcision, and the Sabbath set the Israelites apart from other peoples. These distinctive practices were seen as signs of faithfulness to Yahweh, the God of Abraham and Moses. The faithful, like Azariah, were willing to die as martyrs for their beliefs which set them apart. Continue Reading

Elisha, the prophet, cures the foreigner’s leprosy (2 Kgs 5:1-15). Leprosy was a curse, a sign of God’s disfavor. It resulted in social ostracism. Naaman seemed to expect more personalized service from Elisha. Elisha told him to go and bathe in the Jordan river. Naaman’s nationalism almost got in the way of his healing. I could have bathed in the rivers of my own country. Fortunately, Naaman rethinks things and does as the prophet bids him. He is healed. Continue Reading

The readings for the Third Sunday of Lent provide opportunities for numerous reflections. We attended a workshop with Sister Miriam Therese Winter. On the way home, we worshipped at the Mary Mother of God Community with Bridget Mary Meehan. Obviously, my reflections today will be influenced heavily by the wonder-full teachings these Spirit-filled women shared with us. Continue Reading

Here Micah consoles the people with God’s mercy (Mi 7:14-15, 18-20). God’s wrath will not last forever. Micah is best known for saying that we are “to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before God.” This is the Lenten sacrifice that God wants of us. Our upbringing so imbued us with the practice of giving up things for Lent that we often fail to realize that God wants us to adopt appropriate attitudes and to act accordingly. Continue Reading

Joseph was a dreamer and his dream got him into a mess with his brothers (Gen 37). We can imagine how Joseph’s brothers felt when he told them about his dream. He dreamed about sheaves of wheat in a field. His sheaf rose up and stood proud and tall while their sheaves bowed humbly before him. When he was naked and cold in the deep dark cistern, Joseph probably wondered why he had shared his dream with them. Genesis reminds us that things have gone badly for the human family. Murder and mayhem erupted. Cain killed Abel. Here we have another story of sibling rivalry. Reuben and Judah have consciences and try to talk their brothers out of killing Joseph outright. It is a story about forgiveness. Joseph does indeed rise up. He will to power in Egypt. Forgiveness and reconciliation with the brothers who wanted to do away with him lies ahead. Continue Reading

The heart is the center of the human being. The heart is where we are most fully human. The Psalmist says, “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” Jeremiah (17:5-10) compares trust in human beings with trust in God. When we place our hopes and trust in human beings, we ultimately end up in an arid desert, a lava waste. There is no real life to sustain us. When we trust in God, we become like a tree by a stream. We are nurtured and we bear fruit. We seek security and freedom but our only true security and freedom comes for trust in God. Continue Reading

Israel (Dt 4:1, 5-9)began with the conception that God had picked them from all the nations to be his people. I use “his” advisedly because God was a tribal patriarch who gave commandments to the people. Following God’s commandments led to life. Failure to follow God’s commandments led to death. [Much of religion in many traditions is patriarchal.] It does not seem that following commands leads to prosperity (although advocates of the prosperity gospel think it does) Nor does it seem like acting unjustly leads to death. People who feel especially chosen over other peoples will create structures to set themselves apart-circumcision, dietary restrictions, and the Sabbath in Judaism. Continue Reading

See how the faithful city
has become a harlot!
She once was full of justice;
righteousness used to dwell in her—
but now murderers!

Your silver has become dross,
your choice wine is diluted with water.

Your rulers are rebels,
companions of thieves;
they all love bribes
and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
the widow’s case does not come before them. (Isaiah 1:21-23)

As I read Isaiah for the second Tuesday in Lent, this part of the extended reading struck me. God is telling us that we have not been faithful. God is calling us “to come and reason.” God is calling us to do justice for the widows, the orphans, and the poor—the defenseless, resourceless non-landed people. Continue Reading

Isaiah (1:10, 16-20) addresses the key biblical concept of justice. Justice means right order, right relationships. The new science tells us that everything is related. Jesus sought justice and, as his disciples, we are to be justice seekers. In the Old Testament, widows and orphans are symbols of “the least among us.” Justice demands that we treat the least among us with the dignity and respect that they are due as sons and daughters of the living God. Continue Reading