Detroit Churches Pray for ‘God’s Bailout’ (NYTimes)

PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE S.U.V.’s sat on the altar of Greater Grace Temple, a Pentecostal church in Detroit, as congregants prayed to save the auto industry.

DETROIT — The Sunday service at Greater Grace Temple began with the Clark Sisters song “I’m Looking for a Miracle” and included a reading of this verse from the Book of Romans: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Pentecostal Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, who shared the sanctuary’s wide altar with three gleaming sport utility vehicles, closed his sermon by leading the choir and congregants in a boisterous rendition of the gospel singer Myrna Summers’s “We’re Gonna Make It” as hundreds of worshipers who work in the automotive industry — union assemblers, executives, car salesmen — gathered six deep around the altar to have their foreheads anointed with consecrated oil.

While Congress debated aid to the foundering Detroit automakers Sunday, many here whose future hinges on the decision turned to prayer.

Outside the Corpus Christi Catholic Church, a sign beckoned passers-by inside to hear about “God’s bailout plan.” Roman Catholic churches in the Detroit area distributed a four-page letter from Cardinal Adam Maida, the archbishop, offering “some pastoral insights and suggestions about how we might prepare to celebrate Christmas this year when economic conditions are so grim.”

In the letter, Cardinal Maida acknowledged that “things in Michigan will probably never be the same” but encourages the region’s 1.3 million Catholics to maintain their faith. “At this darkest time of the year, we proclaim that Christ is our light and Christ is our hope,” he wrote.

Last week Cardinal Maida gathered 11 Detroit-area religious leaders, representing Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations, to call on Congress to approve the $34 billion in government-backed loans that the automakers have requested.

At Greater Grace Temple, an 8,000-member Pentecostal church in northwest Detroit, the Sunday service was dedicated to addressing the uncertainty facing workers whose livelihood depends on the well-being of General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler.

“We have never seen as midnight an hour as we face this coming week,” Bishop Ellis said, referring to the possibility that Congress would soon vote on a deal to give the carmakers enough money to stay afloat into next year.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but we need prayer,” he said. “When it’s all said and done, we’re all in this thing together.”

Greater Grace, the largest church in Detroit, invited officials from the United Automobile Workers union to speak before Bishop Ellis gave his sermon, titled “A Hybrid Hope.”

The S.U.V.’s on the stage, a Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Escape and Chrysler Aspen on loan from local dealerships, were all gas-electric hybrids, and Bishop Ellis urged worshipers to combat the region’s woes by mixing hope with faith in God.

“We have done all that we can do in this union, so I turn it over to the Lord,” General Holiefield, a U.A.W. vice president for Chrysler, told the crowd. A vice president for the parts suppliers, James Settles Jr., asked those present “to continue your prayers, so we can see a miracle next week.”

Bishop Ellis encouraged the congregation to pray, not that Congress would “do the right thing” and approve loaning money to the car companies, but that Detroiters would “make it” through these tough times.

“We’ve got to keep the faith,” said Mike Young, 47, who works for the Dana Corporation, a parts supplier, and has spent more than three months of this year on furlough. His factory, in the suburb of Auburn Hills, builds drive shafts for Chrysler, which has said it would soon run out of money without billions of dollars in aid from Congress. “But you can’t count on that,” Mr. Young said. “All my hope is in God.”

A version of this article appeared in print on December 8, 2008, on page A19 of the New York edition.

Worshipers at Greater Grace Temple, a Pentecostal church in Detroit, prayed on Sunday for an automobile industry miracle.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/us/08pray.html?scp=3&sq=detroit&st=cse

This is serious business.  People are counting on the auto industry to make it.  This ain’t no joke.  These problems are real.  Let’s all pray that everything goes well for auto workers.
-russ.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and the Plain

This is not very spiritual.  It’s my term paper for my Synopic Gospels class.  It’s not that bad.  It is definately something I can go back to and work on. Let me know what you think.

The Beatitudes

            The sermon on the mount and the sermon on the plain are two of the most influential Gospel passages in the Bible.  There are striking differences between the two, yet there is also a deep sense of connection between the beatitudes of Matthew and the beatitudes of Luke.

              It has been discussed that Matthew was written for a Jewish audience.  Matthew shows Jesus as a Jewish messiah, teacher, and personification of Torah law calling his disciples to a higher righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and pharisees.  The sermon on the mount shows this by framing Jesus’ teaching within old testament writing. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary says of the sermon, “Biblically, one can consider it to be eschatological, ethical, legal wisdom, or law as instruction (Torah) in view of the kingdom, not coercively but eschatologically enforced, a fusion of several OT genres.” (Brown 640)

            The phrase, “blessed are,” is a phrase commonly used in the old testament especially in the books of Wisdom and Psalms. (The New American Bible 1014)  Persons who are considered blessed or happy are mentioned all through the book of Psalms. (Karris 868)  Psalm 1:1 reads, “Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked.” Psalm 32:1-2, “Happy those to whom the Lord imputes no guilt.” And in Psalm 41:1, “Happy those concerned for the lowly and poor.”  These verses show a strong similarity between Jesus sermon and Old Testament teaching.  It is done to portray Jesus as the fulfillment of the law.

            The setting is very important to the sermon.  Jesus is giving this sermon on top of a mount.  The Collegeville Bible Commentary says, “In the Bible and in other religious literatures, the mountain is frequently a privileged place for revelations of or from God.” (Karris 869)  There seems to be a working parallel between Jesus and Moses.  The sermon is to be seen “as a definitive interpretation of the Torah delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai.” (Hare 34)

            The similarities between Moses delivering the law to the people from Mount Sinai and Jesus teaching the beatitudes to the disciples and the crowd are obvious.  But most commentaries consulted do not say Jesus is like Moses. In fact, they point out that Jesus is not to be considered a “new Moses.”  The New Century Bible Commentary says, “The suggestion that the mountain indicates a ‘new Sinai’, and that Jesus is here presented as a ‘New Moses’ may be implicit; but no features from the account of the giving of the Law in Exod. 19, as they are developed for instance in Heb. 12.18ff., appear here.” (Hill 109)  The commentary goes on to say that the authors could have gone further in their comparison of Jesus to Moses, but such a comparison would be so strong that it would change the entire Gospel.  Another commentary says, “Although the Moses typology is not pressed by Matthew, because he regards Jesus as far greater than Moses. (Hare 34)  Jesus is beyond Moses.  This would be consistent with the idea discussed in class that Jesus fulfills the law so radically that it does not look like the law anymore.  Another commentary says, “While there may be an allusion to Mt Sinai and the giving of the Law, Jesus is not the new Moses here. (Meier 38)  The commentary continues, “The disciples who come up to receive Jesus’ instruction stand in the place of Moses and his close companions, while the crowds at a distance might represent Israel of old.” 

            These commentaries all suggest that Jesus is not bringing the Law to the disciples and the crowds as Moses brought the Law down from Mount Sinai to the Israelites.  They suggest that Jesus himself is the Law.  In Exodus 19 God says to Moses, “I am coming to you in a dense cloud so that when the people hear me speaking with you, they may always have faith in you also.” (NAB 74) God is commissioning Moses to act on his behalf just as Jesus is commissioning the disciples to act on his behalf.  This validates the commentary from John Meier.  It also corrects the Jesus comparison, not to Moses, but to God.

            The New Jerome Biblical Commentary offers their definition of a beatitude, “In form, a beatitude is an exclamation of congratulations that recognizes an existing state of happiness, beginning with the Hebr noun ‘asre’ or the Gk adj. ‘makarios.’ (Brown 640)  The idea of an exclamation that recognizes an existing state of happiness is consistent with the idea of Jesus fulfilling the Mosaic Law.  Jesus authorizes the teaching that has always been present through the beatitudes. 

            The Collegeville Bible Commentary breaks up the beatitudes into sections.  The first section deals with the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Those described here look to the future for fulfillment. (Karris 870) The poor in spirit will have the Kingdom of Heaven.  The mournful will be comforted.  The meek will inherit the land. The hungry and thirsty for righteousness will be satisfied.  Karris also says that the first beatitudes spill into the present.  He writes, “By living out the values of the Kingdom of Heaven here and now, they anticipate and share the happiness that a fuller form of life with God will bring.” (Karris 870)  This idea of the Kingdom of God being something lived in the present and something anticipated in the future is consistent with the idea of constant metanoia discussed in class.  “Jesus’ declaration of happiness makes these people happy right now.” (Meier 40) The Kingdom of Heaven is to be lived in the present as it is awaited in the future.  Meier continues, “He gives them unshakable assurance that the future kingdom is already their possession. (Meier 40) Living out the Law of God in the present brings comfort to the people and they will also be comforted in the end the comfort is constant like with metanoia. 

            Another commentary says of the first section of beatitudes that they are a proof of Jesus’ commitment to the needy.  It reads, “The original beatitudes about the “poor,” the “mourners,” and the “hungry” express Jesus’ mission to the needy in Israel and the dawn of a new era of salvation history.” (Brown 640)  For Matthew, Jesus’ ministry includes but is not confined to the needy.  This is emphasized by generalizing the groups.  The poor become the poor in spirit. The hungry and thirsty become the hungry and thirsty for righteousness.  These changes may have been done to include all persons in the beatitudes, but there is also a real element within this spiritual element of inclusion.  Brown writes, “In the Bible economic destitution is an evil to be corrected and wealth is not an evil in itself.” (Brown 640)  Brown cites Deuteronomy 15:11 as an old testament passage that both suggests it is not sinful to possess wealth, but the wealthy must care for the poor.

            Another commentary suggests that the poor in spirit are those of are economically and socially depressed and have trust only in God because they have nothing else. (Hill 110)  Similarly, another commentary says, “The poor in spirit are those who bow humbly before God in total trust, who are willing to await everything at God’s hand.” (Meier 40)  The words, in spirit, radically change the concept of the poor. Yet what does not change is what is needed.  Whether it be the economically depressed of the spiritually bankrupt, salvation is needed all the same. “God is the source of all their happiness.” (Karris 870)

            The second group of beatitudes deals with the actions of the person.  They include the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.  Jesus gives a blessing to these groups. (Karris 870)  Like the first set of beatitudes the second set has both a primary subject and a secondary or generalized meaning.  For the merciful, Jesus is literally talking about those who show mercy to others.  Brown writes, “This refers to the pardoning of one’s neighbor, to love, esp. of the needy, and even of one’s enemies.” (Brown 640)  Brown continues to say that this means an absolute opposition to vengeance.  The pure of heart means, “close to justice and includes covenant fidelity, loyalty to God’s commands, and sincere worship.” (Brown 640)  It also is a reference to those who are ritually impure and need to be cleansed.  The peacemakers are a reference to the Old Testament term salom, which is a total well-being. (Brown 640)  Peacemaking includes loving your neighbor which makes this beatitude close to that of mercy. (Brown 640)  Peacemaking also refers to those who bring about peace by overcoming evil with good. (Hill 113) The persecuted for the sake of righteousness implies that persecution has been felt.  So, one can assume that this beatitude was a construct of the early church. (Hill 113)  Hill goes on to say that it probably includes both Jewish and Christian martyrs in the early days of the church and the Kingdom of Heaven will be theirs for their sense of righteousness.

            The last beatitude has to do with persecution because of Jesus.  It reads, “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (NAB 1015)  This one connects the disciples and the crowd to the prophets of the Old Testament. (Karris 870)  The final beatitude is a culmination of all the beatitudes.  Meier writes, “The disciples of Jesus who practice justice, mercy, and peacemaking must expect the same fate, the fate of the persecuted prophets. (Meier 42)  Again, this is Jesus showing himself as the fulfillment of the law.  The people will be persecuted for following Jesus, just as people in the Old Testament were persecuted for following the law.

            Luke’s beatitudes are much different than Matthew’s. The first difference is the location being on the plain and not the mount.  According to Karris, “But instead of staying on the mountain to deliver his discourse, Jesus comes down from the mountain like Moses descending to deliver the law to the people.” (Karris 949)  Karris cites Exodus 34:15 as a connection to the Old Testament. The last part of the verse says that someone will come to invite the people and they may take part in his sacrifice. (NAB 89)

            Karris suggests that the difference between Matthew’s sermon on the mount and Luke’s sermon on the plain is “that Matthew’s beatitudes suggest what Jesus’ disciples ought to be, whereas Luke’s describe what they actually are.” (Karris 949)  Matthew’s first beatitude says blessed are the poor in spirit, which can be seen as a call to humility.  Luke’s first beatitude says blessed are you who are poor; the poor being the economically depressed.  The hungry and thirsty in Matthew are hungry and thirsty for righteousness.  The hungry in Luke are hungry. Luke is more literal with his beatitudes.  “The ‘poor’- without the qualification of ‘in spirit’ (Mt) – are the really poor in the literal sense.” (Fuller 1003)

            All the commentaries consulted agree that though Luke is more literal, the poor are poor, the hungry are in need of food, etc., Jesus’ sermon on the plain is not confined to the poor, the hungry, the weeping, or those who are hated because of Jesus.  Luke’s beatitudes include a larger audience.  One commentary reads, “Luke is careful to point out that that the poor in question are disciples; and close behind the poor of Yahweh with all the religious association of the term.” (Fuller 1003)  Another commentary states that God’s fulfillment in Jesus is an invitation to all to become the “poor of God.”  And only persons who believe God’s kingdom depends on Jesus can become “the poor of God.”  And the rich are those who do not want to commit themselves to Jesus. (Brown 694) Another commentary says, “Luke’s own readership included wealthy and middle-class citizens of the Empire. To be “poor” involves a state of dependence, which is what both sets of beatitudes are aiming for.” (Karris 949)

            The last commentary continues to summarize the Lukan beatitudes through the last one just as Matthew’s beatitudes are summarized through the last one.  It says that it is no enough to be poor or hungry or hated, one is fortunate to be treated badly, because the prophets in the Old Testament were treated badly for obeying God.  And Jesus himself was treated badly for doing the will of the father. (Karris 949) Luke’s audience is brought into the lives of the prophets just like in Matthew’s beatitudes.

            What Luke’s beatitudes have that Matthew’s does not are consequences for those who have.  They seem to be words of caution to people who are not poor, or hungry, or weeping, or hated.  It is an invitation to correction as one commentary puts it.  It says, “A social class is not being condemned.” (Brown 695) And that, “the woes are addressed to would be disciples who have possessions. They are challenged that wealth, stomachs filled with select food-stuffs, carefree time, and being held in high esteem by the right people are ephemeral when compared with following Jesus and his kingdom message.” (Brown 695) 

            The sermon on the mount and the sermon on the plain are very different from each other.  Mathew and Luke are writing to different audiences.  In this situation differences are not just understandable, but are expected.  Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience, so naturally there will be much comparison to Mosaic Law.  In Matthew, Jesus gives his sermon on a mountain top just as revelations from God have always been given.  Luke is writing to a Gentile audience, so there will be a strong case made that the Gentiles are just as good as the Jews.  Both groups of people are on even ground.  This may be why Jesus gives his sermon on the plain, to emphasize equality of Gentiles to Jews.  The Gospel if Reversal.  Jesus is stepping down from the Mosaic position to reach the Gentiles.  Matthew’s first beatitude is to the poor in spirit; an invitation to all people to humility regardless of economic situation.  Luke’s firs beatitude is addressed to the poor, those who do not have money. The kingdom of God is there’s.

            Greater still are the similarities in the two sermons.  Both have a clear audience in mind, yet, write in a way to invite all people to hear God’s word.  Both show Jesus as the solution to their problems.  Both address the imminent persecution all will face for believing in the word of Jesus.

            Both sermons are relevant to this day.  Matthew’s call for all to be poor in spirit is very important to a world where wealth is not as rare a possession.  Luke’s specific address to the poor is very important to a world where well over half the population go hungry.  As a Redemptorist seminarian I study to preach the Gospel to the poor and abandoned.  The literal poor can not be forsaken. Nor can the need to reach the figurative poor be taken for granted.  God’s Message is for all to hear.  The two sermons together, make sure all hear Jesus’ message of grace and constant conversion.

 

Works Cited

 

Brown, Raymond E., S.S. Fitzmyer, Joseph A., S.J. (emeritus), et al. The New Jerome

            Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. 1990.

Fuller, Reginald. Johnston D.D., Ph.D., L.S.S., Leonard S.T.L., L.S.S., et al. A New

            Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture.  Thomas Nelson and Sons. London,

            Wisconsin. 1969.

Hare, Douglas R. A. Interpretation A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching:

            Matthew. John Knox Press.  Louisville, Kentucky. 1993.

Hill, David. The Gospel of Matthew. Wm. B. Eerdmans. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1987.

Karris, Robert J. O.F.M. The Collegeville Bible Commentary. The Liturgical Press.

            Collegeville, Minnesota. 1992.

Kilgallen, John, J. A Brief Commentary on the Gospel of Luke. Paulist Press. Newy

            York. 1988.

Meier, John P. Matthew. The Liturgical Press. Collegeville, Minnesota. 1990.

New American Bible for Catholics (NAB). World Bible Publishers. Iowa Falls, Iowa.

            1991.

 

Brian Johnson vs. Chuck Berry?

I hate it when people use the phrase, “I can believe it.”  But, dude, I can believe it.

Amry Infantry Stock Booming, Yes Sir the War Market is Quite Bull(y)ish!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081202/ap_on_re_us/meltdown_choosing_war

On Location The H8 Protest in New York City

Last Saturday I went to City Hall for the H8 protest.  It was a pretty impressive size group.  I think I heard there over four thousand people there.  It was cool to be part of something that was nation wide.  My personal feelings about the atmosphere is mixed.  I got off the subway at the City Hall Station.  People were immediately corralled into sectioned off groups.  My section was way in the back. There were speakers set up so we got to hear everything.  Finally after a while the cops had pity on us and connected our section with the section in front of us.  I moved up as far as I could get and still couldn’t see anything.  I noticed the cops weren’t too worried about the level of dissent.  They were letting people out of their section to cross the street.  So I left my section.  I walked all the way up to where the stage was, noticed an opening in the first section and recrossed the street.  All the cops were like, “whatever, dude.”  So I did get to see the last few speakers.

I thought people were enjoying the event a little too much.  The subject at hand was a denial of basic civil/human rights to tax paying citizens of our country.  Everyone should be really pissed off!  Lots of people seemed preoccupied with the signs.  As I got closer, it seemed as though this was less and less the case, so I think it may have something to do with the proximity of the stage.  But, I say again, it shouldn’t have been that calm.  Their was no tension in that crowd.  No real sign of serious dissent.  The people simply were not pissed off enough.  I am not advocating violence at all, but for god sakes, how about a little civil disobedience.  The event was neat and proper and there were no mishaps and it ended on time.  I guess I don’t know what I was expecting.  Hopefully people there were moved to take an active role in politics.  Maybe someone saw this on the news and had a revelation.  I just thought people would be more angry.  It was nice and sunny for the first half.  Who can be angry on a nice sunny day in New York City.  And the signs were lovely.

Just Say No to Joe!

So this is what went through my mind when I heard Joe Lieberman was going to keep his chairman role in the homeland security committee. I’ll break it down by hundredths of a second.

0-.33: Enraged beyond belief. “WHAT THE HECK! WHY IS HE BEING REWARDED FOR SUCH TREACHERY THAT GOES WAY BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION!!!”

.34-.66: Attempt to understand. “Well done Democrats. Reach a hand out to Joe. We are one party of understanding compassion and love. It is right to keep Joe as a brother. Sure he messed up. But, don’t we all make mistakes?

.67-1sec: Realization of the situation at hand. “NO! This is bullshit! He’s burned us too many times!

I trust the Party to do the right thing, but come on, this guy needs to burn for what he has done. Not only is he not a Democrat anymore, (remember) looking at his views, he couldn’t possibly be considered a Democrat. Bad move Harry. I do not concur. Thank you Daily Kos for keeping things in perspective…

Democrats let Lieberman keep committee chair (AP)
Joe Lieberman Can Still Sit in His Favorite Chair (New York Magazine USA)
Democrats give it all to Lieberman (Salon)

Way to Go Samantha!

Samantha Ronson rocks! I’d be pissed off too if some animal rights terrorists threw flour on my hot girlfriend’s fur coat. Samantha Ronson is awesome. She is super hot. And PETA can piss off. Anyone who thinks I’m wrong is a hater and they need to stop sippin on that haterade!

http://celebrity.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=celebrity.blog

SAMANTHA! I LOVE YOU!! lol!

Thanks, Kerry.

Kerry Wood will most likely not return to the Cubs next Year.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081113&content_id=3677970&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Making Sense of Prop 8

I’ve been wanting to say something about Prop 8 in Cali, but just didn’t know how to go about it. So, I’ll let Keith do the talking. Special thanks to my friend Kyle for facebooking this video.

I couldn’t have said it better.
Good night and good luck.

Change Has Come

I’m not gonna give you the usual forced eloquence of my very mediocre blog entries. I will simply say that today is definitely different. November 5th is the first day of a brand new world. Where people have genuine interest in the political process. Where peace has a fighting chance. Where we truly are our brother’s keeper. Today the world is brighter. Today the dreams are manifest and God’s presence on earth could not be more real. The wrong begun eight years ago has been made right. The end of tyranny is within our grasp and we will soon be free. Free to live a life without fear, in authentic holiness and righteousness. A promise has been made to all Americans. It is beyond the promise of tax cuts, civil liberties, and health care. It is the promise to be present. The promise to walk together and witness to one another. It is exactly the type of promise that we need, that we can not afford to break. And luckily through God’s divine grace, this type of promise is impossible to break. And it is a promise well received all over the world; from Grant Park in Chicago, to a bus in Jamaica, Queens to a grade school in Japan and every place else. Faith is restored not just in America but in the idea of faith itself. And we are that much closer to a more perfect union.