Health of Jesus VS the Shroud of Turin

Last updated on: April 23, 2020 at 8:54 am By Fellow Dying Inmate

Health conditions of first century Galilean peasants, atrocious, contrasts sharply with the robust figure presented on the Shroud of Turin. Health is a big deal these days. It seems that all our minds are bent on it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of this writing, just under 35,000 Americans have been killed by the novel coronavirus, a slice of the almost 146,000 lost worldwide. Meanwhile incompetent U.S. leadership itches to loosen restrictions and roll back social distancing, the only... Read more

Magdalene in “John”: Herald of the Resurrection

Last updated on: April 15, 2020 at 7:46 pm By Fellow Dying Inmate

Magdalene, as presented in “John,” belongs to the highest status as the one officially commissioned as of the Risen Jesus. Magdalene was special to “John.” But given the Mediterranean cultural world in which the Fourth Gospel originated, it may be difficult to see why any woman would be deemed special. The life of first century Israelite peasants was brutal and brief—even more so for women, people without voice save for that of the significant males of her life. Nothing like... Read more

Resurrection: Lazarus, Beloved Disciple, Believes

Last updated on: April 13, 2020 at 9:19 am By Fellow Dying Inmate

Resurrection, the center of and defining mystery to us Easter People, is the beginning and commissioning to Beloved Disciples. Resurrection may be difficult to see these days in the shadows of global pandemic and grotesque and dangerously incompetent government, but it is here and now. The resurrection is always here, always accessible, the NOW-life that does not pass away, available everywhere and always. This ever-present dawn of glorified scars defines Christianity even though all humankind has access to it as... Read more

Hero of Good Friday

Last updated on: April 10, 2020 at 11:34 pm By Fellow Dying Inmate

Hero of Good Friday, Jesus and his sufferings are presented according to cultural values that clash greatly with Western understandings. Hero—from the Greek ἥρως (hērōs)—is the great champion, the defender, the protector. But what does he champion, defend, and protect? What does he safeguard? Gilgamesh, Heracles, Achilles, Joan of Arc, Oda Nobunaga, Hua Mulan, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Captain America are all culturally-specific heroes, that is, champions, defenders, and protectors. Often what they champion and defend are cultural values—indeed, each hero is remembered as... Read more

Judas—Uncertainties about the Traitor

Last updated on: April 8, 2020 at 2:38 pm By Fellow Dying Inmate

Judas, the infamous betrayer of Jesus, is presented differently in the Gospels and not in ways that give us a clear and exhaustive image of who he really was. Judas and “spy Wednesday” mark some of the darkest traditions we have as Church. Good stories have memorable villains, and as the story of Jesus percolated through history and various cultures, different flavors accrued seasoning the villain Judas. But not all of these were delightful or conducive to good Christian nutrition.... Read more

Resurrection, then Cross: How the Passion Story Evolved

Last updated on: April 5, 2020 at 10:34 am By Fellow Dying Inmate

Resurrection rather than the Cross is Ground Zero for Christianity, and how the Passion Story evolved shows why. Resurrection is the beginning of everything. We Christians are Easter people, not Good Friday people, although you cannot tell that by looking at us. On this Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, we read the unique take “Matthew” gives on the Passion of Jesus, Matthew 26:14—27:66. As far as our Christian tradition goes, nothing is more ancient as the passion story of... Read more

Paternal Dilemma—Gospel Readings Turn to Jesus’ Origins

Last updated on: April 3, 2020 at 12:49 am By Fellow Dying Inmate

Paternal lineage is the chief way how Israelite males derived their honor-rating, but what happens when the public is unsure about it? Paternal lineage granted Biblical males their ascribed honor. The subject of paternal lineage is on display in John 8, where Gospel readings have been drawn the past few days in our lectionary. The chief way you get your honor in the Bible is just by being born. Honor is everything in the Bible. Honor means the claim to... Read more

Raising Lazarus—Going Deeper with John 11:1-45

Last updated on: April 1, 2020 at 10:42 pm By Fellow Dying Inmate

Raising Lazarus from the dead points to something crucial and way beyond the salvation of only one dead man and his two sisters. Raising Lazarus was the final public action of Jesus—at least according to the unknown, anonymous author we call “John” in his theologically constructed narrative. So then, according to Johannine thought, the very last public thing Jesus did was restore life to a beloved friend. This final sign spoke volumes to the Johannine Jesus group. Consequently, the story... Read more

Lazarus Raised: Where is Jesus in Sickness and Death?

Last updated on: March 29, 2020 at 8:19 pm By Fellow Dying Inmate

Lazarus and his rescue from death gives Gospel readers a chance to reflect on the real meaning of eternal life. Lazarus is rescued from death by Jesus in this Sunday’s Gospel, the Fifth Sunday of Lent, John 11:1-45. It is the final sign in the “Book of Signs” (John 1:19—12:50), a section that opens with a wedding and concludes with a funeral. There is so much to unpack from this story, with relevant directions from where we are today in... Read more

Hierarchy of Truths

Last updated on: March 27, 2020 at 2:03 am By Fellow Dying Inmate

Hierarchy exists among the great solar system of Christian truths, and in ecumenical dialogue, Catholics should not insist on those matters beyond those which are essential. Hierarchy and prioritization is on our minds these days. Even in deadly matters—prioritizing who gets a ventilator and a hospital bed, for instance. There are things we do or have in our life that at present we can’t imagine not having, or not doing. These we deem essential. Other significant things we do or... Read more