The death of Jesus must not be attributed to specifically to the Jews. When talking about the historical reality of his death, those who were in positions of power and authority in Jerusalem can be held responsible. Some of them, but not all of them, were Jewish leaders in Israel who felt threatened by Jesus’ words and deeds. Thus Vatican Council II, in its attempt to stop much of the anti-Semitic rhetoric which has been use to demonize the Jews,... Read more
Jesus’s fame and popularity among the people of Israel had gone to new heights. After he raised Lazarus from the dead, he entered into Jerusalem with the people showing, “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Jesus’s disciples had to feel the tingling of pride as they saw their Master being glorified by the people. They were with him. They were his closest associates. Surely, the time had come; Jesus had been preaching that the... Read more
“When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers” (Prov. 21:15 RSV). Those who love what is good and true love justice. Sadly, many pretend to be righteous as they promote some sham form of justice which they say must be followed. They say they are for law and order while they use whatever power they have to oppress others. True justice will never be used to harm the innocent. True righteousness will love... Read more
In India, in a situation which contradicts their otherwise outcast social status, Dalits are recruited to play drums for funeral services. As they play their drums, Dalits find themselves joining in with the rest of Hindu society; their beats bring everything together into one glorious albeit brief harmony in which they find themselves at the very center of the religious service. Why are they called to perform this service, why are they allowed to lead funeral rites? Because the drum,... Read more
In the Western tradition, the seven deadly sins are listed as pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth. Each of these sins are deadly, not just because of the injustices involved with all of them, turning those who engage them away from the true good found with God, but also because those who fall for them find them encouraging and developing further sins, further acts of injustices, in their wake. They help form structures of sin which keep those... Read more
“Do not praise a man before you hear him reason, for this is the test of men” (Sir. 27:7 RSV). St. Augustine, in his excellent work, “Of True Religion,” points out that there is a limit to human authority in relation to reason: that a soul which is purified and open to the truth, receiving it, has no human authority over it: “No human authority is set over the reason of a purified soul, for it is able to arrive... Read more
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Ex. 20:16 RSV). Who is our neighbor? Everyone. As we should do to others as we would like them to do to us, we should protect the good reputation of others, not lying about them, because we would not like it if someone would bear false witness against us. “Do not speak evil against one another, brethren. He that speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against... Read more
Perhaps the most dangerous sin of all, pride, can exist in the midst of other sins, or in virtue, making the person dominated by it hold on to the greatness they believe to exist in themselves. Instead of letting themselves grow and be strengthened by the grace of God, they hold on themselves, thinking they need no help, no aid from anyone. Those trapped by pride use a perception of the self which they have created, a delusional perception, to... Read more
Nothing is so quick to turn us away from the good than by seeking praise and honors for doing so, because once we become accustomed to accept such praise as signifying what is good and just, we will find ourselves malleable to the whims of what is temporarily popular. We shall change our ways, we shall change what we do, in order to continue to receive accolades from others. What could be more fickle than that? We might get what... Read more
“He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him” (Prov. 14:31 RSV). God’s image is found among the poor; those who would abuse the poor for their own greedy ends not only disregards God, but fights against him, indeed, ridicules him according to their treatment of the poor (cf. Matt. 25:40-46). This is why it is imperative for Christian believers to take a stand for justice, for the poor and... Read more
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