An English version is available here. Durante las recientes elecciones presidenciales, observé con consternación el recuento de los votos electorales. Tratando de lidiar con el estrés de esa noche, me puse a cocinar vigorosamente (al menos de acuerdo a mis…
The moment the Church has been working for
Objectively speaking, there has been very little in the political world that one might call good about the months leading up to the election. Now that the election is over (sort of), for Christian leaders everywhere there is at least…
The deeper truth behind end-times speculation: Be ready!
The Gospel reading for the first Sunday of Advent (Matt. 24:36-44) is one I remember from the days I clutched a Scofield Reference Bible. Along with Scofield’s infallible notes I carried around a copy of Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great…
Becoming human despite our fear
In the past month we have seen one set of fears replaced by another, which has made the deep division within American society even more visceral. President-elect Donald Trump recognized the fear in many Americans and leveraged that fear for…
Fidel is dead, but I won’t dance in the streets
For many of my compatriots, belonging is measured by the intensity of righteous indignation generated toward Fidel. If I don’t join them in dancing in the streets, then I must truly be an apologist for Fidel. But regardless as to how justified my hostility toward Fidel may be, I refuse to base my actions and responses on hatred.
Jesus, Trump and the American Dream
The election is over and the season of recrimination begins. Donald Trump will be president, some say, because rural white America is a sinkhole of fundamentalist racism. Others blame the outcome on the aloof arrogance of a latte-swilling “coastal elite”…
At Thanksgiving, the bigger person
This is not a call to loosen our belts, to push away from the table or to count calories this Thanksgiving. This is not an endorsement of products marked with claims of half the fat, low fat, skim or light….
Putting an end to prayer vigils
Jewish synagogues have been defaced with swastikas. Latina women have been threatened. Muslim women have been forced to remove their hijabs. On Veterans Day, Marie Boyle, a U.S. army veteran from the Philippines, was told to “Go back to Mexico.”…
Recovering the soul of the Church
Jesus and his disciples were truly the “silent majority” in ancient Roman-occupied Palestine. It was inhabited mostly by Jews who were allowed to exist but had no political power and paid taxes from which they did not benefit. They were…
Keeping awake to the power of kindness, civility and nonviolent protest
One of my favorite cartoons depicts two little creatures watching the ark pull away from the shore. One remarks to the other, “Oh, shoot. Was that today?” Apparently they are the only ones who miss the departure. The Gospel reading…
Sanded glass churches
On our family beach trip this past summer, our grandchildren discovered sea glass. For our five preschoolers, it was like finding treasure. In fact, that’s what they called it: “Let’s go find some more treasures!” You probably know that the…
When hatred hits home
On Thursday, Nov. 10, members of my community in Greensboro, N.C., gathered at Greensboro’s Koury Convention Center for the 50th annual dinner of the National Conference for Community and Justice. The NCCJ works to end bias, bigotry and racism in…