Do you remember the TV show “Touched by an Angel”? I watched it this past Sunday. God had called angels Tess and Monica and Adam to help three people trapped in adultery to face the truth in time for Thanksgiving dinner. “Monica and Tess arrange an accident on a deserted road for Megan andContinue reading “Thanksgiving Turkeys, Jesus Barabbas and Jesus called Messiah”
Category Archives: Religion, Spirituality, Gender Equity, Ecumensim
The G Word, the Sycamore Tree, Jesus and Mary Magdalene
Christians then as today, prejudge this little person according to patriarchal language, sexist attitudes, and the gossip present in the text. They are sure Zacchaeus is an unclean person, a sinner who needs to “turn” and repent. Yet, the name Zacchaeus is a Hebrew name meaning “clean, pure.” This little person encountered Jesus in Jericho* and agreed to house him over night.
People assume this little person is male. However, my experience leads me to believe, this person was female. Even though this rich “little” person may have collected rents and taxes as a property owner, she may not have cheated anyone except herself and her own family. People assume, because she collected taxes and she was rich and was only willing to give half of her wealth to the poor, she was “cheating” and exploiting the poor, unjustly. Peter and the other disciples had sold all their property for the sake of the Kingdom (Luke 18:28-29) and this little person had clearly not.
Was Mary Magdalene the Woman who loved much?
Originally posted on iconandlight:
St. Gabriel the Fool for Christ of Samtavro in Georgia Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword. Epistle of Paul to the Romans: 8, 35 Love dominates all rules and laws. Denounce a man with…
Mary Magdalene: The Burning Bush
This past Sunday, the scripture lesson focused on Exodus 3, Moses and the Burning Bush. As the story goes, Moses encounters a burning bush tending a flock of sheep in the wilderness. Through the encounter, Moses hears God’s voice. God wants Moses to return to Egypt and free the Hebrew people who are slaves ofContinue reading “Mary Magdalene: The Burning Bush”
Is Mary Magdalene Moses’ hand or fiery pillar in the Exodus Story?
This week’s Scripture Reading came from the Book of Exodus. The Egyptian King was worried about national security. He had allowed more Hebrew people into the country than he and his government could control. Egypt’s enemies were threatening war and the King was afraid the Hebrew people would multiply, rise up and flee the country to sideContinue reading “Is Mary Magdalene Moses’ hand or fiery pillar in the Exodus Story?”
Mary Magdalene and Hurt Feelings!
What do you do when people you love ignore your hurt feelings? This is an age old question. In this painting by Luca Signorelli, Mary Magdalene is depicted as a very rich person holding an alabaster jar. Her face tells onlookers her feelings have been hurt. Recently, a man I love very much hurt myContinue reading “Mary Magdalene and Hurt Feelings!”
I know Jesus is alive!
In the aftermath of World War II, Crete was full of hatred and anger. The country had been invaded by the Nazis and the Cretans vowed they would never stop hating the Germans. In The Ecumenical Affair a young Canadian woman and an older Greek man find themselves alone one hot July night. “Tell meContinue reading “I know Jesus is alive!”
Jesus the Rock and Jesus the Son of God
When Simon crosses the Lake …and climbs into the boat with Jesus those in the boat worship him and say “Truly you are the Son of God.” Do you see what I did? I used a few words and arranged them in an ambiguous way. I did this to prove a point. The disciples callContinue reading “Jesus the Rock and Jesus the Son of God”
Is the Woman Caught in Adultery Mary Magdalene?
My recently published book “The Ecumenical Affair” gives the Woman Caught in Adultery a voice. An affair is not breaking news. And yet, when I finally decided to publish my book, the publishing company that recruited me and convinced me to self-publish, rejected my manuscript. They did not like that the story takes place atContinue reading “Is the Woman Caught in Adultery Mary Magdalene?”
Mary Magdalene, Little Children and Jesus
When I was a little child I saw Jesus as a man who took children on his knee, like Santa Claus. When I asked my brother to remember how he saw Jesus as a child, he said he couldn’t recall how he saw Jesus. But he remembers seeing the lady Sunday School teacher as God.Continue reading “Mary Magdalene, Little Children and Jesus”
Linda Vogt Turner 