As published in The Journal, August 18.
Enormous change is happening in our understanding of the message of Jesus, which presents significant challenges for all Christian churches, but maybe most of all the Catholic Church. For most its history the institutional Church kept strict control of its interpretation of the Jesus story, and of the dogmatic teaching they derived from it. People who deviated from this teaching were banished, or at other times were put to death.
On that fateful day in 2013, when Jorge Mario Bergoglio walked out on the balcony as the newly elected Pope, I knew almost nothing about him, but the fact that he was from South America gave me hope of a change after the long years of authoritarianism coming from the throne of Peter. My enquiries with Jesuit friends produced mixed reviews. But we quickly saw indications of somebody different. He dressed more simply, he stayed in the guesthouse rather than taking up residence in the Papal quarters.
My friend, Peter Keenan, has recently written a fascinating trilogy on the Birth, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. The last one of the trilogy, under the above title, has just been published by Columba Books.
I publish here the press release that goes with the publication. It makes for a fascinating read.
The Resurrection of Jesus the Jew – Press Release – The Resurrection of Jesus the Jew
How are we to understand the resurrection of Jesus?
