July 7th, 2026

Dear Friends, Blessings of Christ’s peace!

     This Saturday, July 11th, I’ll welcome scripture scholar John Dominic Crossan and Michael Okinczyc-Cruz to the Beatitudes Center to speak with us about their new book, Jesus and Justice: Organizing for God’s Reign on Earth Then and Now. Join us!

     Their new book presents the life of the historical Jesus “as a bold and transformative call to action,” inviting us to actively follow “his nonviolent and revolutionary example.” They say that Jesus organized “a grassroots movement of poor and marginalized peasants to confront the Roman Empire’s economic, political, and ideological domination—an imperial system with striking parallels to today’s corporate-driven global order.”

     Together, they argue that Jesus’ message is “a radically anti-imperial vision of God’s reign as a collaborative, egalitarian and justice-centered alternative to systems built on scarcity and oppression.” Their talk will offer a powerful spiritual and theological framework for confronting contemporary injustice, i.e. the American empire of the Republican Party and the Heritage Foundation.

     Their presentation will encourage us as followers of the nonviolent Jesus to keep on publicly resisting the ongoing fascism, racism, war-making, corporate greed, and global destruction that has become our country. Don’t miss this great opportunity. Bring your friends and questions!

To register, visit www.beatitudescenter.org

The programs 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!–Fr. John

PS:  And don’t miss best-selling spiritual writer Joyce Rupp on Sat. July 25th!

My new book, Universal Love: Surrendering to the God of Peace, is available at a 30% discount at Orbis at 1-800-258-5838 or go to orbisbooks.com, and give the code “JDT.”