Tag Archives: Afghanistan

Jesus Addresses the Graduates

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c. J. Patrick Mahon

A creative writer posted a daily reflection on the Creighton web site in which he featured Jesus as the commencement speaker at Creighton. I liked his creativity and decided to write my own Jesus commencement speech. Conservative Catholics have tried to block Secretary Sibelius from speaking at Georgetown’s commencement and also Desmond Tutu at Gonzaga’s commencement. Not truly understanding Jesus’ message they would probably picket his commencement address at U. S. International University. The university president and the board of trustees ignored the massive campaign from the Catholic League to prevent me from being with you today. To find out why read on.

President Smith, members of the board of trustees, distinguished faculty, parents, students and graduates. I am so glad you invited me to address you today. Many of you are scratching your heads and wondering— Why would they ask a bearded guy in long robes who was crucified as a common criminal 2000 years ago to speak to you today? Continue reading →

Putting away our Strange Gods

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The Beauty of God's Creation

“Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you
and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” (Joshua 24)

When I first read this passage from Joshua, I was distracted by all the tribal implications of what Joshua was doing—commanding allegiance to the God who, as the Israelites believed, had selected them from all the peoples on the earth. I was thinking of how tribal monotheism has accounted for so much murder, conquest and mayhem in our world as it evolved during the agricultural era. It was during the agricultural era that land became the god—land, possessions, title deeds, armies to protect possessions, and warfare over land. And as I write this I think back to Francis of Assisi who told the bishop, “If we have possessions, we will have to have weapons to protect them.” Continue reading →