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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]