Joe

Like Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, the coming of the Magi reveals who understands Christmas. But like a magic trick, we get so caught up in what is right before us. Because we are distracted, we miss the bigger picture.

[Read more…] about A Christmas Magi(c) Trick

John’s telling of Christmas seems rather basic at first. There is no pageantry or angels. He offers no narrative or a mention of Mary and Joseph. Just the simple words: “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

[Read more…] about Back the Future with John at Christmas

As the title suggests, this week Luke steals Christmas. This is rather odd because most of us assume that our understanding of the Christmas story comes out of Luke. You know, Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem as Jesus is about to be born. The local inn is already full, prompting the owner to turn them away. Nobody helps them until some soul sends them off to a barn-like cave filled with smelly animals. All of that is part of our romanticized idea of Christmas. It is also not what Luke says.

[Read more…] about Luke is a Grinch Who Steals Christmas

For modern readers, the Gospel According to Matthew opens in the most boring Christmas story imaginable, a genealogy. That’s right, a long list of names you cannot pronounce with many translations having that word beget in between them. In it, the author highlights people and events of significance. There is Abraham and David as well as the Babylonian Exile. But most of the names included are unfamiliar to casual and scholarly readers alike. It’s about as exciting as getting a new pair of jeans for Christmas.

[Read more…] about Matthew’s Christmas Genes (A Genealogy)

What does it mean to rule over the creation? How do we govern all God made (or since Genesis 1 continues, is making)? When the Hebrew word radā translates as dominion, how should we interpret it? It says it twice there the first cosmological myth of Genesis, first in verse 26 and then again in verse 28. So what should we hear?

[Read more…] about The Creation: Dominion Without Domination

In our undignified neoliberal world, charity becomes the theoretical answer to inequality. We present the response of rich fools to the suffering of those around them as philanthropy. But after forty years of neoliberalism, it should be clear that modern charity does not work. Moreover, philanthropy has more to do with image laundering than demonstrated dignity.

Perhaps the ultimate example of this is no one other than Microsoft founder turned philanthropist Bill Gates.

[Read more…] about Why Charity Doesn’t Work