Love Your Enemies
by Herb Montgomery “Love your enemies and‚ pray for those persecuting you so that you may become sons of your Father, for he raises his sun on bad and good and rains on the just and unjust.” (Sayings Gospel Q 6:27-28,…
Is Transformative Justice Enough?
BY HERB MONTGOMERY “Those who are well have no need of a physician.” (Mark 2.17) This week, we continue exploring the passage that we looked at last week. Last week we said that the inclusive table of Jesus made room…
Jesus—Liberator of the Oppressed, Physician of the Sick
BY HERB MONTGOMERY As Jesus was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in…
Jesus, the Meek, and the Golden Rule
Jesus' non-exclusive, non-homogenous, non-kyriachical, shared table. BY HERB MONTGOMERY Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5) As we look at the “blessings” of Matthew 5 this week, know that they do not say that any state…
Letting Go of Three Types of Fear
BY HERB MONTGOMERY “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) I have recently gone through a paradigm shift in the way I look at Jesus and I believe…
No Such Thing As “Dogs and Pigs” . . . Only “Children.”
How “Listening” is the Cure for our Blindspots BY HERB MONTGOMERY “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” (Mark 7:28) This week, I want to place some puzzle pieces on the table for you…
Baltimore, Black Lives Matter, and Jesus
BY HERB MONTGOMERY “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34 Before you imagine that Jesus is endorsing taking up a sword here,…
The Seven Last Sayings of Jesus; Part 9 of 9
Part 9 of 9 by Herb Montgomery The Gospel of an Unstoppable Liberation “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.” (Acts 13:32-33) I want…
The Seven Last Sayings of Jesus; Part 8 of 9
Part 8 of 9 by Herb Montgomery It Is Finished “When Jesus had drank the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30) The parallels between John’s telling…
The Seven Last Sayings of Jesus; Part 7 of 9
Part 7 of 9 by Herb Montgomery I Am Thirsty Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” (John 19.28) As we continue in John’s telling of the…