Special Lenten Class on Peace
Father John Dear invites us to continue our study of peace with a 3-week Lenten class presented on Zoom through the Beatitude Center. On February 21 and 28 and March 6, at 5pm MT, he will walk us through his book, The Gospel of Peace, with each week focusing on one of the gospels.
Read his full invitation below:
Dear friends, Blessings of Christ’s peace to you!
As we begin Lent, I’m offering a 3 week class on Wednesday afternoons on my new book, The Gospel of Peace: A Commentary on Matthew, Mark, and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence, for those who would like to go a bit deeper into this work.
During these three zoom sessions, we will explore Jesus’ practice and teachings on nonviolence in each of the synoptic Gospels. On Wed. Feb. 21st, we will begin with Matthew, and focus on the Sermon on the Mount as the centerpiece of the text, as Jesus’ basic campaign platform of visionary nonviolence. Everything in the rest of the Gospel will need to be understood within the framework of Mt. 5-7.
On Wed. Feb. 28th, we will turn to Mark who describes Jesus in non-stop, public, nonviolent resistance to every form of systemic injustice, violence, and empire. On Wed. March 6th, we will conclude with Luke, who shows Jesus proclaiming his nonviolent revolution in the synagogue at Nazareth, then launching a grassroots movement of nonviolence from Galilee to Jerusalem by sending 72 disciples in pairs ahead of him “as lambs into the midst of wolves,” to proclaim the coming of God’s reign of peace here on earth now. As they approach Jerusalem, Luke’s Jesus breaks down sobbing because they “refused to learn the things that make for peace.”
Each session will start at 4pm Pacific/ 5pm Mountain/ 6pm Central/ 7pm Eastern time. Together, we will reflect on the Gospel “things that make for peace.” Since Jerusalem has become the world, we will try to learn them, take them to heart, and do our part to carry on Jesus’ grassroots campaign of transforming Gospel nonviolence. Join us!
To register for this and other upcoming zoom sessions, visit www.beatitudescenter.org
You will be sent a zoom link for the event on the Wednesday before the event, so be on the lookout, and a recording link afterwards. If you have questions, email Kassandra at beatitudescentermb@gmail.
Scholarships are available.
See you then! God bless you all! — Fr. John