Last time, we saw how Jesus turned the idea of religious perfectionism on its head, arguing that if we truly want to be like God, we have to guard not just our actions, but the thoughts, feelings, and intentions that lie behind them. So, we can’t pat ourselves on the back if we don’t murder … Continue reading Fulfilling the Law (Part 2)
Many of the biggest debates in any society revolve around the question of the law and how it should be applied. Is law about punishing crime or maintaining justice? Must we stick to the letter of the law or can we judge the intent behind it? Do extenuating circumstances matter when deciding a question of … Continue reading Fulfilling the Law (Part 1)
If there’s been one constant in the years I’ve been writing this blog it’s me starting a post with some variant of “These are anxious times.” While there has been a different edge to such anxieties in our post-2015 world — both in terms of the anxieties that have given strength to far-right sensibilities and … Continue reading Change We Can Trust: A Reflection on Psalm 146
There’s a popular conception out there, as prominent in the Church as outside of it, that Christianity is about “going to heaven when you die” — that, if you ‘believe in’ Jesus, you’re on the 'right team' and when things get sorted out, you’ll be sorted accordingly. These days, this black-and-white, team mentality has turned … Continue reading This One’s for the Losers: A Reflection for All Saints Day 2024
Over the last two posts in this series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we’ve seen how the sermon begins with the Beatitudes, a collection of apocalyptic Wisdom sayings that overturn the general ways things work in human societies. Rather than it being the world’s ‘winners’ who are blessed, Jesus insists it’s those who are … Continue reading Salt and Light
Matthew Root 