In our cultural imagination, YHWH often wears the robes of judgment, a celestial critic ready to pounce on the slightest misstep. The tale of Jonah, however, beckons us to question this caricature. This story from the Old Testament presents Jonah as a reluctant prophet. That is, after all, how Jonah ends up in the bellyContinueContinue reading “YHWH: more merciful than we are sometimes able to accept.”
Category Archives: stories
The Confession of Dirk Willems
The Confession of Dirk Willems Source: https://carolpenner.typepad.com What I remember mostis the joy of God’s words on our lips,in our hearts.That good news bubbling out,freely shared with any person we met,old categories of friend and foe forgotten.I remember the power of God changing us,from empty Christiansto disciples full of fire.I confessed my faithand chose baptism,ContinueContinue reading “The Confession of Dirk Willems”
Bible heroes weren’t all moral models
The problem with using the Old Testament stories as morality tales is that even the best of the patriarchs, judges, and kings had serious character flaws. The most obvious example is King David, who, despite his outstanding faith amongst the kings, nevertheless committed rape and murder. If anything these stories show us the pervasiveness ofContinueContinue reading “Bible heroes weren’t all moral models”
Two women in need
Many of the gospel stories have subtexts that will remain hidden to the reader without proper attention to Jewish symbolism. A good example is found in the threefold account of the two women in need from Mark 5:21-43. It begins with a father, Jarius, seeking help from Jesus for his dying daughter. Jesus sets outContinueContinue reading “Two women in need”
The presentation of Jesus at the Temple
The following slideshow features paintings by various Christian artists from various cultures inspired by the story of Jesus being presented at the Temple soon after his birth. The gospel of Luke describes it this way: When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to JerusalemContinueContinue reading “The presentation of Jesus at the Temple”
Eve: the first Pandora
The stories of Eve and Pandora are equated in this 1550 painting by Jean Cousin the Elder, Eva Prima Pandora (Eve the first Pandora). It features a naked woman reclining in a grotto. Her right elbow rests on a skull, indicating the bringing of death, and she holds an apple branch in that hand –ContinueContinue reading “Eve: the first Pandora”
Stories for Mystics
Stories are fairly foundational to different Christian traditions so I think it’s worth reflecting for a moment on the stories that have been most important to Christian mysticism over the centuries. Stories that are most frequently referenced include Jacob’s ladder, Moses and the burning bush, Moses receiving the ten commandments, the throne visions of IsaiahContinueContinue reading “Stories for Mystics”
Thoughts which words can’t express
From the Sayings of the Desert Fathers: One day Abba Arsenius consulted an old Egyptian monk about his own thoughts. Someone noticed this and said to him, ‘Abba Arsenius, how is it that you with such a good Latin and Greek education ask this peasant about your thoughts?’ He replied, ‘I have indeed been taughtContinueContinue reading “Thoughts which words can’t express”
Do not be ashamed to enter the Church
John Chrystotom once said, “Do not be ashamed to enter again into the Church. Be ashamed when you sin. Do not be ashamed when you repent. Pay attention to what the devil did to you. These are two things: sin and repentance. Sin is a wound; repentance is a medicine. Just as there are forContinueContinue reading “Do not be ashamed to enter the Church”
The quick comeback of Amma Sarah
A story is told of Amma Sarah, one of the many desert mothers during the early centuries of Christianity, who refused to be denigrated for being a woman: “Another time, two old men, great anchorites, came to the district of Pelusia to visit her. When they arrived one said to the other, ‘Let us humiliateContinueContinue reading “The quick comeback of Amma Sarah”
Curious Christian 