People—What Do We Mean By That?

April 16, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Most people misuse the term people by way of spurious familiarity. Many people think and talk about familiar things in spurious ways. We get lulled into perilously imagining that we are so familiar with what we communicate about. Since we thoroughly understand it, we assume that no further reflection or clarification is needed. But quite often we are clueless on the issues we think we understand, and worse, in the business of pooling ignorance. Many people, for instance, imagine they... Read more

Dawkins & the Eucharist

April 15, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Dawkins is a silly atheist turned into something serious by Catholic fundamentalists. Richard Dawkins is no big deal, folks. Really. But he made Catholic news this week. We like making mountains out of molehills, especially the nonscholarly types among us, whether they be conservatives or liberals. Roman Catholics are required to believe that communion wine actually is literally the blood of Christ, and the wafer literally is his body. Not symbolically but literally. Not a metaphor but literally. That way... Read more

Lowlife Jesus

April 12, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Lowlife Jesus sounds blasphemous, but that’s because the truth hurts our mental idols disguised as piety. You called Jesus a lowlife? How dare you say that! Jesus isn’t a lowlife! Jesus is great! But is that true? What do you mean by “great”? I think, to be honest, people mean to say “GREAT is Jesus” instead of “JESUS is great.” In other words, they should confess, “What I already deem to be great, that I label ‘Jesus.’” And, “I have absolutely zero... Read more

Mercy Time

April 11, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Dialogue may be impossible with bullies or addicts who haven’t yet hit rock bottom, but mercy never is. (Mercy, dear readers. The days ahead are uncertain for me. No medical insurance and my legs swell with fluid. This blogpost that follows isn’t directed to only one specific U.S. Catholic, but many. I am talking to many people here. Not all, but many. Be advised.) Mercy keeps me going. I would be dead without many Catholic brothers and sisters living in... Read more

Faithful Yet Clueless: A Resurrection Reflection

April 6, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Easter Sunday’s Gospel presents faith or “being faithful” in a very different way than most American Christians understand it. What does it mean in Easter Sunday’s Gospel reading (John 20:1-9) when the Narrator comments parenthetically, “For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.” Hold up… one verse before, we read this— John 20:8 Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw... Read more

Eastertide Resources on the Resurrection

April 4, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Messy Inspirations offers several challenging resources about the Resurrection throughout Eastertide. The Eastertide proclamation is one of Resurrection—Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen, but, what does that mean? All week long and throughout Eastertide, Messy Inspirations will explore this fascinating topic, the core of our Christian faith. Happy Easter to all of my readers! Here’s a preview of what is coming up— Defining Eastertide Resurrection, the center of and defining mystery to us Easter People, is the... Read more

Jehovah the Hutt & Why Jesus Had To Die

April 3, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Is your God a bloodthirsty sadistic Jehovah the Hutt?—your view of Jesus on Good Friday tells the tale. Before reading about Jehovah the Hutt, watch the following video for context— I love Star Wars. There are so many characters and themes to be mined for fun and deep spirituality. Even if you haven’t watched any Star Wars movies or related shows, you might be familiar with Jabba the Hutt. This vile gangster is a disgusting slug who just wants his... Read more

Suicide, Judas, and The Way

April 1, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Suicide is something we all participate in, whether we know it or not. These days, suicide is on my mind. Yesterday and today, Christian themes turn to Judas, of whom “Matthew” claims was a suicide (Matthew 27:3-10), in disagreement with “Luke” (Acts 1:18). More on Judas, here: Suicide is on my heart because the wife of a former student committed suicide recently. Please, if you ever consider taking your own life, reach out. There is help. You are irreducibly unique, unrepeatable,... Read more

Evolution of the Passion Story

March 28, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Christians, evolution is real, and pietism drove it to develop the Passion Story in Mark’s Gospel. Evolution and Gospel stories go hand in hand. Christians need to make peace with evolution, not only the biological variety but also the kind evident in the New Testament writings. It is especially apparent in the reading from the Common Lectionary for Palm Sunday, the Passion According to “Mark” (14:1—15:47). To see what I mean, check out the video presentation here— Evolution... Read more

Parenting Biblically: Joseph and Mary Raise Jesus

March 25, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

This is a meditation on Biblical parenting and what it meant for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Biblical parenting? Don’t look for parenting in the Bible. Why? Because the Mediterranean cultural world of Scripture really offers no “parents.” So there really is no biblical “parenting,” but instead culturally-specific “fathering” and “mothering.” When you look at biblical examples of fathers and mothers, understand that their roles rarely ever touch. This is very different compared to American parenting. Parenting? Or Fathering & Mothering?... Read more