My Apology to Fr. Richard Rohr – Bradley Jersak
Dear Fr. Richard, It’s been a full 7 years since I met you face-to-face in Albuquerque. You’ve done so many interviews that this may not ring a bell, but you were in fine form that day. Your five-minute description of contemplation is GOLD: Anyway, it came to my attention that in a Q&A with you a […]
“Kyrie, eléison” (“Lord, Have Mercy”) Bradley Jersak
JEWISH & CHRISTIAN ORIGINS OF THE WORD ‘MERCY’ Following their Jewish forbears, whose hymns proclaimed, “Your mercy endures forever!” the first Christians crafted a simple and beautiful prayer, “Kyrie, eléison,” which translated is “Lord, have mercy.” To get a feel for the meaning of the word “mercy,” we think of how, in Hebrew, it doubles […]
Jesus: Monarch or Thief? Bradley Jersak
“King” Jesus Is our Lord Jesus Christ a king? The Bible certainly says so when it tells us “Jesus is Lord,” that he is enthroned in the heavens, seated at the right hand of his Father, and that he reigns in the world. The Gospels tell us that Jesus preached the “gospel of the kingdom,” […]
Confessions of a Write-Off
I was a write-off I know, I know. We don’t like to descend into the dehumanizing “worm theology” of those degrading faith traditions that spout our “total depravity.” I firmly believe we’re all precious children of our heavenly Father and no matter how disordered, we still bear the image of God. By using the term […]
Q&R: Did Paul Silence Women? 4 Views
Question I am reading 1 Corinthians 14:34-36, where Paul says that women should not speak in church but just ask their husbands questions afterward at home. (What if their husband is not so bright?) Does this still apply today? And why? Response Glad you asked. Let’s start by reading the passage: First, let’s dispense with a […]
“The Cross of Jesus Christ is the Epicentre of Reality” – Bradley Jersak
“The Cross of Jesus Christ is the Epicentre of Reality” – Bradley Jersak I occasionally make the assertion that the Cross of Jesus Christ is the epicenter of reality—attempting to recall the precision and poetry of early Christian theologians who used the Latin phrase axis mundi (axis of the universe). Lately, I’ve become aware of […]
The Parable of the Sheep & Goats – Matthew 25 – Bradley Jersak
Matthew 25:31-46 – Feast of the Final Judgment AN UNNERVING PARABLE The Gospel reading for the feast of the final judgment—the parable of the sheep and goats—is an unnerving passage, and it’s meant to be. It rattled Jesus’ opponents, surprised his disciples, and ought to deeply unsettle us. Christ’s words here are surprising, containing deep […]
Q&R: How does God’s will prevail without violating ours?
Question I’ve been in sort of a debate over the choice to follow/believe in Jesus. My friend argues that our choice determines our destiny, i.e. heaven or hell. I argue that God’s will ultimately prevails over our individual choice. How would you address the subject? Just curious. Response Great question, my friend. I would put […]
Q&R – If we’re forgiven, why the last judgment?
Question “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” – 2 Corinthians 5:10 I wanted to ask how is it that we will be judged as believers if we have already been forgiven for […]