May 5, 2025: Jesus is the exact opposite of a violent authoritarian



Dear friends, Easter blessings of Christ’s peace!

     Recently, my friend Congressman Jamie Raskin invited me to join him in Los Angeles for an evening event. He told us that the Constitution is under attack, that the president does not have the power to do the things he is doing, that we are slipping deeper into authoritarianism and fascism every day, and that we have to take to the streets full time to speak out for democracy, justice, and sanity. It was a sobering clarion call to action.

   Like so many, I am appalled and depressed by the daily attacks on democracy and ordinary sisters and brothers by the Trump administration, but I know that just being depressed isn’t enough. As followers of the nonviolent Jesus, we are called to gather with friends, pray, discern, organize, and step out publicly and speak out. He is trying to send us out as lambs into the midst of a culture of wolves and proclaim justice, disarmament, compassion, and peace for all—the coming of God’s reign right now, a new culture of nonviolence and justice.

  To understand how the nonviolent Jesus dealt with the horrific authoritarianism, systemic violence, empire, and insanity of his own day, I invited my friend theologian Brian McLaren to walk us through the nonviolence of Jesus as he responds to the violent authoritarians of his time.

     “Jesus was the exact opposite of a violent authoritarian,” Brian told me on a recent episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast.” I was so moved by his insights I wanted him to take a deep dive and teach us more. Please join me on Saturday May 17th to hear Brian McLaren speak on Jesus’ response to the horrors of his day that we might be inspired to stand up and do what we can today.

     Brian is a hugely popular speaker and works with Richard Rohr’s Center for Action and Contemplation, and offers the podcast “Learning How to See” and co-hosts “Southern Lights.” Some of his many best-selling books include Faith After Doubt; Do I Stay Christian?; Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart; Finding Our Way Again; Everything Must Change; A New Kind of Christianity; Naked Spirituality; and Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road? Hope to see you then.

To register, visit www.beatitudescenter.org.

The program will begin 11am Pacific/ 12pm Mountain/ 1pm Central/ 2pm Eastern time. You will receive the zoom link a few days beforehand, and a recording link afterwards. If you have questions, email Kassandra at 
beatitudescentermb@gmail.com. Scholarships are available.

God bless you and us all, Fr. John

PS. And check out last week’s episode on “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast” about Pope Francis (and my essay about him at 
www.wagingnonviolence.org) and this week’s episode with Kazu Haga on his new book, Fierce Vulnerability. You can also watch me speak on Pope Francis on the podcast, “Rebel without Applause,” on YouTube, here.

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