The Gospel According to Tomàs

It was a sin for Levi to collect taxes for the occupying Roman power. His company would be anathema to the Jews. In calling Levi, in giving him a vocation, Jesus is calling a sinner to leave behind his former self to follow him [ … ]

Saint Gregory, one of the Cappadocian Fathers and a central figure in fourth-century theology, explores what it means to bear the name ‘Christian’. Drawing heavily from the writings of Saint Paul, he lays out a vision of spiritual transformation in which the believer becomes an ‘alter Christus’ – another Christ [ … ]

The image of children in these Bible verses is curious. We could read the lines as suggesting childishness, with one group of children expecting to amuse another and reacting peevishly when those others do not move according to the music they play. We could more broadly read these verses as suggesting a disconnect between various children, a failure of communication, recognition, response, which is emblematic of Christ and his followers and those who reject him …