Speakeasy Theology

Raw, unscripted reflections on the texts for this coming Sunday.How can we rejoice that Christ is “king” given all of the evils that have been done and all the goods that have been left undone in his name by those in authority? We can rejoice because it is Jesus who is king, no one else, and because his rule is true, fitted to our nature and accomplished not by violence but by gift. We can rejoice because through his death he made it possible for us to die to the lust for control, to make peace with our frailty and the impermanence of our way of life, and so to reign with him in gentleness, compassion, and absolute humility. So, as I tried to say last Sunday, when all the world is breaking apart, we can rejoice that Christ is crowning. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cewgreen.substack.com/subscribe

Raw, unscripted reflections on the texts for this coming Sunday.Many of us fear the so-called “Second Coming,” the End of All Things, dreading what it will mean for us and for those we love. Virtually all of us have been taught to think of the End as an event that lies in the near or distant future—one more thing that will happen at some point on the timeline. But in truth God is nothing but good—infinitely better than good. And the appearing of God is not one more thing that will happen. God’s coming is already happening—even now, even here. Today is the Day of the Lord. And you are its light. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cewgreen.substack.com/subscribe

Unscripted reflections on the texts for this coming Sunday. These two widows—the widow who gives her last coins, the widow who gives her last cake—enact for us the truth of the cross, embodying the wisdom of the God of Jacob, and revealing the blessedness that belongs only to the poor in spirit. They teach us that the only way in which we can help anyone, including ourselves, including God, is by owning (!) the fact that all we have to give is nothing—and that this is the very best news, because our God, the God of Jacob, is, as the Psalm declares, the God who creates from nothing. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cewgreen.substack.com/subscribe