I wholeheartedly applaud his determination to make people look at the need to show compassion – and to allow compassion to overrule hard reason.

I think Marilyn makes a very good point when she observes that words may well be ‘another example of things that are indifferent in themselves, but become good or bad according the use that is made of them.’ A link from Orthodox Wiki suggests that the apparent racist overtones to his homilies against the Judaizers are due to poor translations – who knows? I guess context is invaluable with something like this.

These resources have inspired me to look up where the references to the ‘disciple whom Jesus loved’ appear and to ponder on the reluctance of the author of he fourth gospel to name him/her.

Also, given that I’m reading one of Charlotte Bronte’s books at the moment, I’ve been thinking about women writers’ recent need to use male psudonyms, and from there wondering whether Mary Magdalene’s writing was a source for the writer of the fourth gospel.

Was Mary Madgalene “the same disciple that bears witness of all this and has written the story of it”? (John 21 v. 24- Latin Vulgate translation, school edition)

I pray that Mary’s example of unselfish humble service will be the model that they consider when making their decisions.

Thanks for this.