Jesus and the Reign of God: A Challenge to church and society.Liverpool, Jan 15th, 2012.

Palestinian life under the Roman Empire

The context of Jesus life and teaching

The Roman Empire

The Land

Galilee

Galilean Fishing Industry

Economic Effects of Roman Occupation

Taxes: Direct 25% of produce, indirect 5% from customs, tolls and VAT! Role of Tax-collectors Mk. 2:13; Lk 19: 1-10 Plus Temple Taxes, Priest’s Tithe and 2nd

Tithe for Jerusalem. Cf Josephus, Antiquities 17, 8,4; 17, 11, 04.

Roman control through Debt and Patronage

Latifundia the creation of large estates with resident Stewards and absentee Landlords cf. Good and Bad Stewards in Lk 12:42; 16:1-9 and greedy landowners Lk 12: 16-21.

Emergence of new landless day- labourers. Cf. parable of workers in the vinyard Mth 20: 1-15

Sepphoris and Tiberius

The Jewish Leadership Herod Antipas in Galilee The Sanhedrin in Jerusalem The people are “sheep without

shepherds” Jn 10:11-13 Solidarity with the masses is the only true

power. Cf the tradition of the Prophets Jer 2;50, 5:17; Is 56:11 – “greedy dogs!”; Ez 34:3; Psalm 53

Jesus developing practice Critique of the Temple – centre of sacrifice and

redemption, ideological control, bank and marketplace. A challenge to the temple was a challenge to massive religious and political vested interests.

Parable of the Good Samaritan Lk 10:29-37 The curses on the rich Lk 6;24-26

Parables of the Alternative Kingdom

To groups to provoke, raise awareness. the starting point of a

process not the end. To see the point was

to see the world differently

The filthy Rich and the dirt Poor Lk 16:19-13

Jesus reversal of the Great Tradition

Either something is wrong here or something is wrong in paradise

Abraham who the elite had used as the symbol of their class and who in a certain sense legitimated their rule (Lk 3:7-9) in Jesus story restores true kinship and hospitality to the destitute.(Lk13:28-29)

Workers in the Vineyard : Solidarity Lost and Oppression revealed. Mth 20:1-16

experience of the people a renewed perspective,

“the kingdom of God”, subjects of their own

history to provoke collective

reflection, discussion and debate,

starting from the conflicted reality we find ourselves in .

 

The Whistleblower and the Talents Math 25/Lk 19

The Unjust Judge and the Widow

Characteristics of the Reign of Abba

Jesus God is Free from convention Free for sharing –

shared table Free for the new, for

potential

God’s Kingdom is: Shared joy Inclusive table fellowship Shalom of creation Limitless giving Generosity expressed in

Lk 15 open banquet& lost sheep; Mth 20 the unemployed workers who all get paid

Logic of the kingdom A movement of communion starting from the

poor. Lk 6: 38 “give and there will be gifts for you, a full measure, pressed into your lap; because the amount you measure out, is the amount you will be given back.”

A particular exercise of authority: enabling power at the service of the masses. A basic equality based on justice and compassion

The Big Society It is always a risk

when the community of the kingdom of God finds common cause with a political great plan .

When you sup with the devil you need a long spoon!