Clarion: Journal of Spirituality and Justice

Biblical Judaism, Zionism and the Palestinian Question by Ron Dart

It has been impossible to ignore the wanton violence in the Gaza in the last few weeks. How does the contemporary Jewish state justify its treatment of the Palestinians? The Jewish Tradition is complex, but the modern secular state of Israel should not be equated, as some do, with Biblical Judaism.

Biblical Judaism, for the most part, is a prophetic religion. Most of the books in the Jewish canon reflect the vision of the oral, major and minor prophets. The heart and core of Biblical-prophetic Judaism is about justice, mercy and peace. It is about caring for the homeless, marginalized, oppressed and foreigner. Jewish prophets dared, again and again, to criticize the Jewish nation for failing to live up to such ideals. Prophets, in short, were not uncritical Jewish nationalists.

The Passions by Archbishop Lazar Puhalo

Do not forget that the word "passion" means suffering, not sin. A greater part of the duty of the priest is to help heal human suffering. Sometimes, the passions lead us into sin just because of the bitterness that the passions cause. Open your heart to the suffering of others and see human suffering at the root of almost all sin. You cannot deliver people from sin unless you strive to heal their inner human suffering, the pain that is endured in the mind and emotions. (Archbishop Lazar)

From Person to Thing - by Al Sergel (Response by Adit Gamble)

Matthew 4: 1-11

“To love means to empower.”
“Communion makes us vulnerable."
-from Becoming Human by Jean Vanier

Just as there is daily bread, there is daily choice.

At the root of choice is to love and trust God or not. As well, do justly and love our neighbor or not.

When we love we create bonds – we enable communion. When we don’t, we inevitably create walls moving people from subject to object: from a person to a thing.

Gate and Scale by Adit Gamble

Corrupt scales versus Justice
Filthy rags versus Perfection
Broken bloody gate
Who else would allow anyone to pass?

Preciously accurate scale,
Who else would absorb the cost, the weight?

We might call you broken
But you are brilliant, shining, shining and strong
Indestructible gate that broke Himself for you
Scale that was keenly, strongly and perfectly made,
that refused to measure against you.

Jesus is the indestructible gate, that desired to be broken to allow all men entry.
Jesus is the perfectly accurate scale that refused to keep a count against you.

... and you know how much He despises corrupt scales
Keep in mind, His scale is perfect love...

Living Scale that knows the absolute, true and perfect count.
Scale that counted the cost...
Scale that refused payment... to be evened out.
That equals forgiveness
and surrender
even though it contained all power

Only asks one thing:
Come through this way.