Andrew McGowan
@praxeas.bsky.social
Teacher of students, baker of bread, writer of books. Anglican, Australian in the USA. Early Christianity specialist. On Quinnipiac land at Yale. Opinions my own. Weekly lectionary comments at abmcg.substack.com
The US armed forces are being paid for by a wealthy individual rather than the state. What could go wrong?
October 25, 2025 at 12:20 AM
The US armed forces are being paid for by a wealthy individual rather than the state. What could go wrong?
“And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted.”
September 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
“And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted.”
Lectionary for Proper 20: Why praise “dishonesty”? The steward is not pilfering, like some modern “manager” fudging expenses or stealing stationery. Would ancient readers have thought the owner was more hard-done-by in this transaction than the debtors were by the whole system? 1/4
September 16, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Lectionary for Proper 20: Why praise “dishonesty”? The steward is not pilfering, like some modern “manager” fudging expenses or stealing stationery. Would ancient readers have thought the owner was more hard-done-by in this transaction than the debtors were by the whole system? 1/4
Lectionary for 6/22: "Legion" - there are other ways a large number could be conveyed—a crowd, a flock—without using this loaded term current in occupied Judea. A man (Luke 8:26-30) has also been invaded by an army sent unsolicited, purportedly to bring order, but in reality to cause chaos. 1/3
June 19, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Lectionary for 6/22: "Legion" - there are other ways a large number could be conveyed—a crowd, a flock—without using this loaded term current in occupied Judea. A man (Luke 8:26-30) has also been invaded by an army sent unsolicited, purportedly to bring order, but in reality to cause chaos. 1/3
Occasional reminder that the heart of all this mess is the assertion by the owners of capital that they can and must control everything.
June 16, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Occasional reminder that the heart of all this mess is the assertion by the owners of capital that they can and must control everything.
[John 16:12-15] exemplifies implicit Johannine trinitarianism. Jesus says not just that there is more to be revealed, but that the disciples cannot receive more now. The difficulty is not just about the curriculum; something will have to change for this truth to be received. 1/3
June 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
[John 16:12-15] exemplifies implicit Johannine trinitarianism. Jesus says not just that there is more to be revealed, but that the disciples cannot receive more now. The difficulty is not just about the curriculum; something will have to change for this truth to be received. 1/3
Lectionary Easter 7: What is the unity that Jesus prays for in the Gospel? It is not just “that they may all be one” as the truncated ecumenical motto suggests, but “one as we are one.” It is a misunderstanding to read this as simply “closeness” as though the call were an appeal to stick together /1
May 29, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Lectionary Easter 7: What is the unity that Jesus prays for in the Gospel? It is not just “that they may all be one” as the truncated ecumenical motto suggests, but “one as we are one.” It is a misunderstanding to read this as simply “closeness” as though the call were an appeal to stick together /1
The White House also posted this on X. They have made it impossible to tell satire from reality, partly because they don't know that difference any more than the difference between good and evil. And they are smirking because people don't seem to have a clue what to do. Time, surely, to stand up.
May 3, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The White House also posted this on X. They have made it impossible to tell satire from reality, partly because they don't know that difference any more than the difference between good and evil. And they are smirking because people don't seem to have a clue what to do. Time, surely, to stand up.
I’m just curious why no one has pointed out the correlation between the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company in 1986 and increases in autism?
April 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I’m just curious why no one has pointed out the correlation between the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company in 1986 and increases in autism?
Arma Christi IV: Maundy Thursday. Jesus' action with his own bowl and jug is the opposite of Pilate's. It is not just that he is kind where Pilate is cynical. His demonstration of loving service is not just an act of love but an act of power, and of responsibility. abmcg.blogspot.com/2025/04/arma...
April 18, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Arma Christi IV: Maundy Thursday. Jesus' action with his own bowl and jug is the opposite of Pilate's. It is not just that he is kind where Pilate is cynical. His demonstration of loving service is not just an act of love but an act of power, and of responsibility. abmcg.blogspot.com/2025/04/arma...
On the Arma Christi (first of a series): "the crowds that meet and accompany Jesus as he enters Jerusalem are not content to speak or shout his praises with words, but ....make their concrete statement about the claims he has on them, as on us. abmcg.blogspot.com/2025/04/arma...
April 14, 2025 at 11:32 AM
On the Arma Christi (first of a series): "the crowds that meet and accompany Jesus as he enters Jerusalem are not content to speak or shout his praises with words, but ....make their concrete statement about the claims he has on them, as on us. abmcg.blogspot.com/2025/04/arma...
They can collect us both now.
March 13, 2025 at 2:38 PM
They can collect us both now.
The “ordo amoris” looking a lot like “libido dominandi”…
March 1, 2025 at 12:28 AM
The “ordo amoris” looking a lot like “libido dominandi”…
February 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
From heads of churches in Jerusalem re Gaza
February 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
From heads of churches in Jerusalem re Gaza
What an embarrassment for the Felon:
February 12, 2025 at 5:39 PM
What an embarrassment for the Felon:
Every higher ed class has to address the crisis in the USA, regardless of topic. Last week in "Sacrifice" (in the Bible & early Christianity) we considered how "sacrifice" is used in relation to lab animals, and the heinous way apes were treated in experiments for Musk's Neuralink project. 1/3
February 11, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Every higher ed class has to address the crisis in the USA, regardless of topic. Last week in "Sacrifice" (in the Bible & early Christianity) we considered how "sacrifice" is used in relation to lab animals, and the heinous way apes were treated in experiments for Musk's Neuralink project. 1/3
Hold the line, Google Maps:
February 9, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Hold the line, Google Maps:
“…Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture”
February 8, 2025 at 4:10 PM
“…Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture”
Now tell me that Trump doesn’t believe in affirmative action:
February 7, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Now tell me that Trump doesn’t believe in affirmative action:
The Big Lie in plain sight- Musk and Flynn using illegal means to track funding for social services then claiming the funding is illegal.
February 2, 2025 at 5:57 PM
The Big Lie in plain sight- Musk and Flynn using illegal means to track funding for social services then claiming the funding is illegal.
Vile, cruel, vicious man.
January 30, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Vile, cruel, vicious man.
“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26)
January 30, 2025 at 4:22 PM
“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26)
Feast of the Presentation, Luke 2: 22-40: It makes little sense (in Luke’s perspective) for Mary and Joseph to “redeem” Jesus, for this child will always belong to God. The story centers on Jesus’ presentation by his parents in a place he seems already to belong, and which will continue to be his.
January 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Feast of the Presentation, Luke 2: 22-40: It makes little sense (in Luke’s perspective) for Mary and Joseph to “redeem” Jesus, for this child will always belong to God. The story centers on Jesus’ presentation by his parents in a place he seems already to belong, and which will continue to be his.