Amy Jill Levine and Peter Haas, my Jewish teachers in graduate school, taught that one of the best ways to understand the TaNaKh-- especially the Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy) and the Nevi'im (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve [Hosea to Malachi])--is to focus on who speaks for God in these traditions.
In the Torah (Law), God speaks through Moses. In the Nevi'im (Prophets), God speaks through Elijah and the rest of the prophets. For Sunday's lection on the Transfiguration, God tells Peter, James, and John to listen to Jesus. God speaks through Jesus.
Dear Friends, please take note. None of these three spokespersons of the Most High are Christian! Not one! Those of us who take pride in calling ourselves Christian should stop thinking that we have exclusive access to God.
God speaks through anyone God chooses. Don't ever forget: God spoke through Balaam's donkey. God especially speaks through those whose lives proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, liberation for the oppressed, and God's Jubilee of justice!
These days, God speaks most loudly from under the rubble in Gaza.
God speaks through anyone and anything God chooses. God always has. God always will.
*art, "The Transfiguration," JESUS MAFA, 1973 (from the vanderbilt divinity library digital archives).
#ChooseJustice
#LoveGodServePeople
#PeopleAndPlanetFirst
#ClemencyForMaryJane
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