Today, we share a Facebook Post (and highlights of an ongoing strand from Friday, Sept 12) from Dr. Wes Howard-Brook, former attorney and, currently, a professor of Theology & Scripture at Seattle University. Social media has all sorts of issues, but sometimes it can serve as a really helpful forum for “overhearing” conversations about vital …
Continue reading Wes Howard-Brook on How Empire “Handles” Violence
Seeking the True Joy of Advent Advent 3 Isaiah 35:1-10 Matthew 11: 2-11 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?” Matt 11:7 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and …
Continue reading Wild Lectionary: The Desert Shall Rejoice and Blossom
By Wes Howard-Brook and Sue Ferguson Johnson *NOTE: this piece was originally posted to Radical Discipleship in October 2016. The final leg of the journey to Jerusalem begins with this week’s gospel (Lk 17.11-19). Alert readers, though, will note that Jesus and the disciples have not gotten very far. At the very beginning, Luke tells …
Proper 23(28) C Luke 17:8-11 Psalm 66:1-12 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. (Luke 16.16) The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” (Luke 18.11) By Wes …
Continue reading Wild Lectionary: For What Do We Give Thanks?
By Wes Howard-Brook & Sue Ferguson Johnson (on Luke 14:25-33) *Note: this piece was originally posted to Radical Discipleship during the summer of 2016. It is no mystery who Luke’s audience is in this week’s Gospel (14.25-33): “For which of you, intending to build a tower (Gk, purgon)…” (14.28). Clearly, this is not a building …
By Wes Howard-Brook and Sue Ferguson Johnson, on this Sunday’s Gospel text (Luke 12:49-56) *Note: this piece was originally posted on RadicalDiscipleship.net during the summer of 2016. Jesus, erstwhile proclaimer of peace and love, hopes for fire and anticipates division within households. Was the Lord having a bad day on the Way to Jerusalem in …
By Wes Howard-Brook & Sue Ferguson Johnson, on this week’s lectionary Gospel passage (Luke 12:32-40) *Originally posted in August 2016. In the soporific summertime, it is easy enough to lie back, close one’s eyes, and fall into a tranquil sleep. Indeed, many of us could use more sleep, driven as we often are by the …
By Wes Howard-Brook and Sue Ferguson Johnson Proper 14 (9) C Solomon offered as sacrifices of well-being to the LORD twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. —1 Kings 8.63 What to me is the multitude of your …
By Wes Howard-Brook and Sue Ferguson Johnson, for this weekend’s lectionary Gospel story (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20) *Originally posted on RadicalDiscipleship.Net on June 30, 2016. For Jesus followers in the US, this week’s Gospel offers a powerful counter-narrative to the flag-waving patriotism of the 4th of July. Nearly every detail challenges those of us who live …
By Wes Howard-Brook and Sue Ferguson Johnson, on this week’s Gospel passage (Luke 9:51-62) *Originally posted June 2016 on radicaldiscipleship.net “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” This week’s Gospel offers some of the most challenging, urgently needed by us today messages found …
