I noticed kindness. I grew up under the influence of modern day pharisees in a fundamentalist environment. The homeschooling program my family was enrolled in used the Sermon on the Mount to teach submission to ultra-conservatism - words that should teach freedom were twisted into shackles. As an adult, I retained my faith while walking away from that fundamentalism and conservatism, but the Gospels are still sometimes hard to read without the old filter.
Reading the Gospels at high speed helped to bypass the tortuous parsing of every phrase that was ingrained from my youth and see the wider arch of mercy and grace. As Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." (Luke 4:18-19).
I wonder if ἀνθρακία is also meant to call to mind the "live coal" (ανθρακα) in Isaiah 6:6: και απεσταλη προς με εν των σεραφιν και εν τη χειρι ειχεν ανθρακα ον τη λαβιδι ελαβεν απο του θυσιαστηριου. - Dylan
You might enjoy this book by Domincan Priest, Albert Nolan: Jesus before Christianity. My best friend, a Sister of St. Joseph, loaned it to me. His focus is on the message of Jesus. Unfortunately, he never talks about Jesus as the Son of God.
Whoa! I literally just listened to the 77s version of "Jesus" yesterday. I first heard it when I got the More Miserable album way back when, but didn't realize it was a Lou Reed tune for the longest time. That song speaks for us all.
I started and stopped after a few days. The repetition, the parables. Jesus wasn't just snarky, he was an arrogant prick, a moocher who never worked a day in his life. This is abundantly evident to everyone not baptized in the Koolaid of Christianity. Anyone who has brushed up against cults feels the hair raise on the back of their neck.
I will try again, however.
Raised Catholic and a fan still of the Anglo-Catholics keeping the pre-Vatican II rituals (smells and bells) alive, it is not possible for me to be more than the cliché, lapsed.
No wonder that woke, with its bottomless pit of forgiveness of the wretched and universalized "last shall be first," is so desperately perverted.
I have not, but I am also half-Ukranian so should probably step inside one of these days. I sometimes think I have a relationship with Jesus, it's personal, just not exactly friends. 🙄
I’m sorry it rubbed you the wrong way. Definitely not my experience. Intrigued by your Anglo-Catholic comment; have you attended an Eastern Orthodox liturgy? Hardcore smells and bells.
"“Jesus” is not really a pop song; it’s more of a hymn, more of a prayer. And while it makes perfect sense for a band like the 77s to sing it, the same is just as true for Reed. Jesus is not the property of the faithful; as presented in the gospels, he’s the refuge of all."
Well said-- and a fact that easy for some of us to forget.
I went through a time of deep disillusionment and depression over 10 years ago, caused in part by a forced return from overseas that wasn't my choice or fault. In my own time of reading, I couldn't leave the gospels and psalms. I just read and reread the psalms and the gospels, over and over, for years. It changed me deeply. I really enjoyed my return to the gospels, and am in no hurry to leave again either!
I noticed kindness. I grew up under the influence of modern day pharisees in a fundamentalist environment. The homeschooling program my family was enrolled in used the Sermon on the Mount to teach submission to ultra-conservatism - words that should teach freedom were twisted into shackles. As an adult, I retained my faith while walking away from that fundamentalism and conservatism, but the Gospels are still sometimes hard to read without the old filter.
Reading the Gospels at high speed helped to bypass the tortuous parsing of every phrase that was ingrained from my youth and see the wider arch of mercy and grace. As Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." (Luke 4:18-19).
Amen. I’m with you.
Thanx Joel.
Jesus, help me find my place....😌❤️🩹🎶
Lord, have mercy and
....READ YOUR BIBLE! 📖
Amen.
I wonder if ἀνθρακία is also meant to call to mind the "live coal" (ανθρακα) in Isaiah 6:6: και απεσταλη προς με εν των σεραφιν και εν τη χειρι ειχεν ανθρακα ον τη λαβιδι ελαβεν απο του θυσιαστηριου. - Dylan
Fascinating question.
You might enjoy this book by Domincan Priest, Albert Nolan: Jesus before Christianity. My best friend, a Sister of St. Joseph, loaned it to me. His focus is on the message of Jesus. Unfortunately, he never talks about Jesus as the Son of God.
Whoa! I literally just listened to the 77s version of "Jesus" yesterday. I first heard it when I got the More Miserable album way back when, but didn't realize it was a Lou Reed tune for the longest time. That song speaks for us all.
Dave! You’re exactly right! That means the 77s (or at least Mike Roe) released their cover in, what, 1989?
Good question! I bought that album in the mid-90s but can’t remember when it was released.
I started and stopped after a few days. The repetition, the parables. Jesus wasn't just snarky, he was an arrogant prick, a moocher who never worked a day in his life. This is abundantly evident to everyone not baptized in the Koolaid of Christianity. Anyone who has brushed up against cults feels the hair raise on the back of their neck.
I will try again, however.
Raised Catholic and a fan still of the Anglo-Catholics keeping the pre-Vatican II rituals (smells and bells) alive, it is not possible for me to be more than the cliché, lapsed.
No wonder that woke, with its bottomless pit of forgiveness of the wretched and universalized "last shall be first," is so desperately perverted.
I have not, but I am also half-Ukranian so should probably step inside one of these days. I sometimes think I have a relationship with Jesus, it's personal, just not exactly friends. 🙄
I’m sorry it rubbed you the wrong way. Definitely not my experience. Intrigued by your Anglo-Catholic comment; have you attended an Eastern Orthodox liturgy? Hardcore smells and bells.
"I'm waiting for my man", Lou Reed once sang. Did he mean Jesus?
Maybe so!
"“Jesus” is not really a pop song; it’s more of a hymn, more of a prayer. And while it makes perfect sense for a band like the 77s to sing it, the same is just as true for Reed. Jesus is not the property of the faithful; as presented in the gospels, he’s the refuge of all."
Well said-- and a fact that easy for some of us to forget.
I went through a time of deep disillusionment and depression over 10 years ago, caused in part by a forced return from overseas that wasn't my choice or fault. In my own time of reading, I couldn't leave the gospels and psalms. I just read and reread the psalms and the gospels, over and over, for years. It changed me deeply. I really enjoyed my return to the gospels, and am in no hurry to leave again either!