Parable Draft #1

If you are a part of a corrupt and exploitive system, do you have an obligation to try to stop it? Can you break free of it? These questions were most likely responses to Jesus’ message of fairness and equality in the times of Ancient Israel. During that time period there was incredible exploitation[1], and everyone involved-the exploiters and the exploited were encouraged by Jesus to stop the cruel cycle. We see this message through a parable, The Parable of the Talents.

In the parable a rich man goes off on a journey. Before he leaves, he gives out money to three of his servants. To one servant the master gives five talents. To a second, the master gives two talents, and to a third the master gives one. These servants are not lowly ones whom the master wants to test. We know this because of the amount of money the master gives the servants. A talent was worth more than a thousand dollars. This amount of money was too much for the master to waste on a test of loyalty.[2] So the servants were already in the master’s inner circle. We can assume that they got in the good graces of the master by emulating him and his ways. The ways of the master was exploitation of neighbors. He “harvested what he did not sow, and gathering where he had not gathered seed.” So both the master and his three trusted servants exploited those around them. We also know that the servants were expected to return the talents one hundred percent.

Jesus answers the question of how to escape and stop a system of exploitation through the actions of the three servants. The first servant, who received five talents, doubled them. The second servant, receiving two talents, doubled them as well. Both of these servants most likely doubled their talents by means of exploitation, not attempting to stop the cycle of exploitation, but rather using it for selfish gains. The third servant did not double his talent, but rather buried it in the ground. In the times of Ancient Israel burying money in the ground meant that you gave up responsibility for the money. The third servant did not give into the cruel cycle that the master employed, but rather washed his hands of the system by burying the talent in the ground. One the master’s return the first two servants gave him his talents in addition to what they earned for him. The master reacted with gratitude promising more responsibility for them in the future. The third servant presented the talent that the master gave him, and explained why he did not double his talent. He said he knew of the master’s unfair ways and did not want to participate in them any longer.

The third servant already participated in the system of exploitation; this is how he gained his master’s trust. But sometime the servant realized the evil in exploiting others. This is why he no longer gave into the system by doubling his talents. The master then threw the servant out.

Jesus’ message was to not give into systems of violence, but to stand up against them. He tells his audience, the poor and exploited this through the example of the third servant. His audience who deal with the unfair treatment from people like the master in Jesus’ parable daily felt as if they were trapped in their submissive position. Jesus wanted to show them that they were not trapped, but like the third servant, they could fight back.

---

[1] Norman K. Gottwald, Social Class as an Analytic and Hermeneutical Category in Biblical Studies (Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 112, Spring 1993), 3-22

[2] Walter Herzog, Parables as Subversive Speech: Jesus as Pedagogue of the Oppressed, 158

Herzog

Homework: Using your notes from the articles provided in class, update your Herzog/Interpretation DP that you started in class on Tuesday/Wednesday. Use a different colored font in this DP so I can see that you've added to and edited your work.

Herzog questions the prior interpretations of the parable. Many allogorize the master as being God due to his authority and station of power. But Herzog denies this simile because in the parable of the talents, the master exploits his neighbors for personal gain. Herzog also explains the context of the time in the parable. During this time, if a man went on a long journey, then this would mean he is wealthy. Herzog also explains that the man was not testing his servants because a talent is too much money to risk, therefore the servants already proved to be trustworthy. The master gained his wealth and the servants gained his trust in the same way, Herzog explains: as the third servant tells the master exploits others and takes what is not his-the servants-his 'inner circle" did the same thing. By emulating the master, they gained his trust. This leaves the final actions of the third servant confusing. Because he already exploited others to gain the rank of the master's inner circle-he must have had a change of heart, realizing that exploitation is wrong. Herzog also explains the expectation of the master, when he left money for the servants it was expected to be given back in full. Herzog also explains that when burying money this means that the third servant wasn't responsible if it got stolen. The consequences for the third servant was banishment, and he knowingly accepted it-removing himself from the cycle of injustice and exploitation.

Parable Documentation

Matthew 25:14-30

1- Read the parable. re-read it until it is clear what it is about. Pay attention to what it is about and details. Summarize the facts.\

A master went on a journey. He gave talents to three servants-the amount based on the ability of the servant. One servant got 5 talents, one got 2, and one got 1. The servant who recieved 5 talents doubled the amount to 10. The servant who got 2 talents doubled the amount to 4. The servant who got 1 talent buried it, and made no profit. The master returned and called the servants in to settle. The first two servants showed the master their profit and he told both that they would be rewarded with much responsibility. The servant who made no profit told the master he buried it and said that the master took what wasn't his. He was thrown out and the master told him that he was lazy and selfish. The master aslo said that he should have put the talent into the bank so he would gain interest.

2- Put it into context based on what in known about ancient Israel.

Ancient Israel was made up of 3 systems. The household, the city, and the kingdom-in that order. The master was master of 1 system, the household and therefore had power over the three servants. He left on a long journey, most likely one of importance because he expected to be gone long-handing out responsibilities. The talents he handed out were part of his distribution of responsibility. Firstly what is a talent? A talent is worth thousands of dollars, and he left hundreds of thousands of dollars in the hands of his servants. It can be assumed then, that he was not testing the servant's loyalty or honesty because it is too great of a sum of money to risk. At the end of the parable we learn that the master exploits other people around him, his neighbors-taking what they planted and planting in their land. Before we find that two of the servants doubled their amount of talents. How did they do this? Did they exploit others as their master did. If so, their motives were surely to gain more power, because on the master's return they received more responsibly. The third servant, the one who called the master out in his exploitive actions buried his talent. In ancient Israel if a man buries money, they are not responsible if it is stolen. The servant, maybe a just and conscience man washed his hands of the "dirty money." Dirty because of the ways in which it was obtained.

3- Who is the audience? Why did Jesus tell this parable to certain people at this certain time?
We know that Jesus told this parable with the intent of teaching about the Kingdom of God because the parable before this one is explaining that, and this one opens with also it is like a master... We also know that Jesus is telling this parable from a Temple to both the rich and the poor. The audience that Jesus' message is directed to are the people being exploited like the master's neighbors and the people doing the exploiting, like tax collectors and soldiers.

4- Determine who is the main character and analyze his actions. Why did he do this? Character sketch.
The main character is the third servant who buries the talent. He is a round character who changes. We only see him post change, but with the knowledge that he worked for the master before tells us that a change happened. The change is that previously, before the master's journey, he worked for the master and helped in the exploitation of the master's neighbors. But in burying the money he rebels against the master by doing nothing. He does this because he knows that the terrorizing of the master's neighbors is wrong and stands up against it. His actions are the basis of Jesus' message and the conflict occurs because of his actions.

5- What is the main focus, purpose, theme. What is the is he trying to convey to his audience?

The main focus or purpose of the parable is to show the exploited or the morally conscience people that they can stand up to what they think is wrong. The third servant believed that his master's means of success was wrong and therefore when offered to become apart of it, refused-burying the money. Although the third servant was low in power and position and was vulnerable to exploitation himself he took a stand and buried the money. But because he acted alone and did not band together with either the other servants or the neighbors he was exploited and thrown out. Jesus' message is to have the power to stand up but have the smarts to gain power in numbers.

6- What is the moral of this parable? Write conclusion.
The moral of this parable is to stand up against what you see as wrong, as the third servant did. And to do it with a support system.

7- Relate to current events.

The main point in the journal: Social Class as an Analytic and Hermeneutical Category in Biblical Studies was that to understand any parable to our best abilities is to know which social class we belong to. Gottwald says this is a difficult thing to do because once we become associated and belong to a social class we take responsibility for that social class and it's actions. Gottwald also says there are two social classes the exploited and the exploiter and in the Parable of the Talents the master and his three servants were the exploiter, taking advantage of their neighbors, the exploited. Then the third servant puts himself into the class of exploited by calling out his master.

Final Reading Strategy

1- Read the parable. re-read it until it is clear what it is about. Pay attention to what it is about and details. Summarize the facts.
2- Put it into context based on what in known about ancient Israel.
3- Who is audience? Why did Jesus tell this parable to certain people at this certain time?
4- Determine who is the main character and analyze his actions. Why did he do this? Character sketch.
5- What is the main focus, purpose, theme. What is the is he trying to convey to his audience?
6- What is the moral of this parable? Write conclusion.
7- Relate to current events.

Research Article

Pojman, Louis. "Justice as Desert" QUT Law and Justice Journal.
http://bar.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/QUTLJJ/2001/7.html

Interpretation Methodology

1. Read the parable with these questions in mind:
>Who's the main character?
This is the character that changes during the story.
Identifying the protaganist and antagonist will help do this.
>What was the message of the story?
>How is it significant to Jesus' audience?
Researching the time period will help to understand the message.\
2. After reading the parable, answer the above questions, re-read the parable if need be.
3. Try to unlock the deeper meaning of the parable by asking relevant, unusual questions that begged to be answered.
> Example "out of the box" questions: Why was the beaten man that the Samaritan
helped naked?
Why did the Samaritan help, while the \
priest and the Levite did not?
Why was the man beaten in the first place?

System Examples

The elite people who have the power to help the man with Parkinson's do not make an attempt to help either due to his or her greed and selfish agenda or because of his or her fear in getting punished by the system. The people with power and the people benefiting from the system are one in the same. These people do not want to jeopardize their comfortable positions by resisting the system, or they do not look beyond their comfort to recognize the cruelty the system is inflicting on others. I believe that the man should receive his home back and only have to pay what was left of the mortgage. It is easier to act morally correct when not affiliated with the system because you have not conformed to the corrupt ways of the system and the system has no leverage on you.


Humans are inherently greedy, and when they get power they automatically want to sustain this level AND gain more power. This human nature I believe is due to he comfort and security power instills in humans. To have power is to be in control, and it is better to be in control of your life and of things that effect you than to be reliant on others. The danger in relying on others goes back to the natural greed in people: relying on someone gives them power, and it turns into a cycle of power hungry antics. We see this acted out in Stanford's experiment. The police officers were given power, to keep this power, they enforce it through terror. The prisoners were given a role of reliance. They conformed to this role because this is what they have been taught to do.

The Wicked Servant

"A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link"

A system is made up of many small parts. The individual parts work on different tasks and have individual agendas that in theory relate to the system's larger goal. The sum of all these parts add up to the system, which is only as beneficial, and ethical as it's parts. Systems, particularly those that claim to be beneficent, are in reality self-serving, and unethical due to selfish members of the system, and the initial reason that the system was set up. The wicked tenant was the weak link in the client king's system. Initially it was a system of terror and manipulation, but the client king was trying to change it into a morally correct one. Since King is law (Rex Lex) all members of the system should have followed his example. Yet the servant did not, attempting to gain power when the Client King showed mercy, and in turn showed weakness. The servant was thinking selfishly when the system's success relied on him acting selflessly. In Hurricane Katrina the beneficent system that was set prior to the tragedy did not end up serving the people. This is because when the system was set up the primary intention behind it was not to help people in times of crisis but rather to use it as a campaign and popularity device. State of emergency declarations was not addressed in this plan to save face. When a concrete crisis occurred, the plan did not hold because the initial intention and priority of the system was not to help people in need.

As a table, generate one original, insightful idea about systems that helps us understand how and why they often cause so much harm.

A system is not a concrete item but rather a theoretical idea of how many people function together. The intention behind systems is to include and benefit all that are apart of it, but in reality systems only benefit an elite few. People are so willing to join systems because an illusion of complete inclusiveness is set up by the system for the purpose of marketing. For example Saint Mary's has a pamphlet of marketing illusions portraying the school as benefiting all. In reality the school excludes students. Because of this illusion, members of a system begin relying on it to fulfill it's promises. Systems harm it's members when it does not meet these expectation.

Homework: Read Parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:21-35. Answer the following four questions in prose format (each answer should be about 100 words). 1) Who is the story about? Who is the main character? The King or the high level servant? Why? 2) Why does the King decide to forgive the debt? 3) Why does the servant not follow the example of the king and forgive the debt? 4) If the Kingdom of God is like this parable, then what do we learn about the Kingdom of God?

The story of the Unmerciful Servant was told by Jesus to teach Peter about the Kingdom of Heaven, so the story is about the Kingdom of Heaven. The main character in the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant in the king. The king is a round character, changing from the beginning of the story to the end. At first, the king is harsh and terrorizes his servant who owed him money. But after the servant asked for mercy, the king had pity on him. But when the king found out about the servants terrorizing of another, he tortured him. The King went from being terrorizing, to understanding, back to terrorizing.

The King decides to forgive the debt because he became sympathetic to the servant. At first the king threatened to take the servants wife and children away. But the servant pleaded with him, promising that with patience, the king's debt would be repaid. This is when the king took pity on him. The reasons behind the king's actions was because the king wanted to set an example to the servant. Just as the king took pity on the servant, he wanted the servant to take pity on others and treat them with the same manner.

The servant does not follow the king's orders because he has promised the king he will pay him back. When he came across a lower level servant who owes him money, he treats him without sympathy because of his responsibility to pay the king back. The money he has the potential to acquire from the lowly servant could be put towards his debt to the king. The higher level servant, although having been treated with kindness from the king, has seen his wrath and does not want to face it again. Therefore he does not consider the King's kindness but his cruetly, and demands repayment.

In the Kingdom of God you get what you give. "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" relates to this. This means the way you treat others is the treatment you will in turn recieve. Just as the higher level servant treated the lower level servent with cruelty and unsympathetically, he was then treated the same by the King. But, at first the higher level servant was treated with kindness when he asked for it, and without his kindness. This also tells us that the Kingdom of God gives when asked and gives without question.

Executive Summary

Didn't the UN create the State of Israel? Why not a state of Palestine too? Why doesn't it now?

The UN did create the State of Israel after Britain gave up responsibility for it. The proposition declared that two states would be created, one Jewish and one Arab. But the state of Palestine never seceded due to the nonstrategic placing of the borders. The places the UN reserved for Israel was heavily populated with Arabs. The UN now can't create a Palestinian state because the US keeps the issue off the agenda.

Why is Israel so often criticized in the UN? Aren't other countries just as guilty of human rights violations?

Israel is so often criticized because they are considered to be forcefully occupying Palestine, so their attacks on civil ins directly go against universal law. Israel also considers themselves a "Western State" thereby comparing themselves to high standards, such as the standards the United States has. If the U.S. attacked civilians daily they would be harshly criticized as well.

What is the role of the UN in the Middle East these days? Why isn't the UN in charge of the overall peace progress?

Currently the UN has no role in the Middle East. This is due to United States. Israel and the United States have economic and political relations. This began when the United States accepted Israels demand that the UN stay out of the Oslo peace conference. In later peace negotiations the UN was said to be irrelevant because they were not needed in the Oslo peace conference. The United States continues to prevent the UN from involving themselves in the Israeli and Palestinian problem, vetoing bills that would help and changing the itinerary of meetings.

#3: Great Britain gave up their responsibility of the issue over to the UN due to the growing violence of underground Jewish groups. The UN agreed on a proposal to partition Palestine, which the Palestinians rejected. Israel declared independence and created their own state which Arabs invaded.

#4:In 1967 both Arab states and Egypt, Syria, and Jordon were planning on attacking the new state of Israel. But critics say that these countries did not make the first move towards violence. The 6 Days war occur ed and Israel captured more land and defeated all enemies.

#5:In 1973 Egypt and Syria had a surprise attach against Israel. This caused the Israeli leaders to realize the need to negotiate with the Arab leaders due to the strength of the attack. Both the PLO and Arab leaders showed first signs in the want to settle disputes.

#6:In 1987 Palestinians were tired of living under Israeli occupation and broke into rebellion. The Israeli government was divided-their Prime Minister who eventually sympathized with the Palestinians and Defense Minister. More Israelis eventually decided that there was a need for peace with Palestine. The Oslo peace agreement was signed by both Palestinians and Israelis in America.

#7:Oslo peace agreement did not work due to an assassination of Israeli Prime Minister and a series of suicide bombings. Clinton tried a final attempt at peace, bringing both Palestinian and Israeli leaders. This did not suceed.

Tenant Farmers

Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants illustrates the action he thought must be taken against oppressors. The "wicked" tenant farmers in the parable were oppressed by the rich man. He took their land and hurt their way of life by creating a vineyard-a commercial crop that did not provide sustainable food for the tenants. In response to the brutality the tenant farmers retaliated by refusing to give up what little they had. This eventually lead to violence and murder. ALthough the parable included violent acts, Jesus did not endorse this idea. He, rather showed that violence only led to a cycle of more violence. He illustrated this through the final actions of the rich man-killing the tenant farmers. Jesus' true message is that you should stand up to your oppressors. During the time Jesus told this parable, the Jewish people were being oppressed not only by the Romans, but by the Jewish high priests too-their own people. Just as the tenant farmers were being oppressed by the rich man- a devout Jew. Jesus' true message is shown through the verses 10-12. "The stone that the builders reject shall become the head corner stone." The tenant farmers were rejected by the rich man, just as the Jewish people were being rejected. In response to this, Jesus was trying to teach the ignored Jewish people to stand up for themselves. You can determine this by the want of arresting Jesus. By standing up for themselves, through non-violent acts, the oppressed can become the "head cornerstone."

Letter to Senator

When making your decision about the Acts, "Education for All Acts," "Global Child Survival Act," "GROWTH Act," and "Jubilee Act" please consider the 10 million children who die before they reach the age of five, the 3 billion people who live off of two dollars a day, and the little help we as a nation are to them. Now please act in support of these bills.
America as one of the most developed nations has done a horrifyingly poor job at sending aid. In 2003, America sent eight dollars a person to foreign aid whereas Luxembourg sent $357 per person. Thirty-six cents of every U.S. dollar sent was phantom aid, that is aid that gave no benefit to the poverty stricken people. As a nation, we spend $50 billion on cigarettes, $11 billion on perfume, and $17 billion on pet food. We should be ashamed at where our priorities lie and work towards change. You can start by passing these bills.

What should we do?

Global poverty is an issue that is not addressed. To help ultimately prevent it, we as a class should help educate and enlighten people. A website said that all major progress in the world has had the support of students. Before this class I had, truthfully, zero knowledge about any type of solution to global poverty or specifically Africa, and very little knowledge about the actual problems. But learning about firstly, the problems and secondly and most importantly a solution has given me hope and motivation. These in turn has helped me to take action. So as a class I believe we should start by spreading knowledge. Because how can anyone solve problems when they do not know them in the beginning. Then we should take action by contacting our representative and pressuring them with our opinions towards change. If we decide to raise money, we can do so by foregoing "luxuries" such as buying water when you can walk to the water fountain, or drinking soda. The money we get from that should be put into reliable charities or organizations who will use it well and effectively. But in the short-time we have together as a class, I believe our efforts are best used educating others.

Mustard Seed

The mustard seed is a weed. As a seed it is small and overlooked. Yet when it grows, it becomes huge and aggressive -"Once sown it is scarcely possible to get the place free of it"-Pliny the Elder. Farmers therefore hate it because it sucks up all the nutrients in the soil from their other crops. There is a comparison between the mustard seed to the Kingdom of God. Like the mustard seed, the KOG may be unwanted because it sucks up our attention from all else. Like the seed, it starts small, but grows into an intrusive, consuming aspect of peoples lives.

Executive Summary on Africa

Developed countries need to give more of their income towards aid for poor countries and make sure the aid they give is real aid.
The Real Aid packet focused on the actual amount of money developing countries receive from the world. The term “real aid” refers to money that goes directly to the countries without any expectations or attachments for the citizens receiving the aid. In contrast “phantom aid” is money that never materializes for poor countries, but is instead directed at other purposes within the aid system. Phantom aid includes money that is not targeted at poverty reduction, tied to goods or services from the donor country, or aid that is poorly coordinated. In 2003, at least 86 cents in every dollar of U.S. aid was phantom aid. This is due to it being so heavily tied to the purchase of U.S. goods and services and because it is so badly targeted at poor countries. At least 61% of all money donated is phantom aid. And real aid in 2003 accounted for just US$27 billion or only .1% of the combined donor income.
The reason for the high percentage of phantom aid lies in the process of assessing the aid given by countries. The donors aren’t held responsible for the promises of aid they have made. Therefore many goals adopted by countries are very rarely met. Such as the “Pearson report” a target adopted by the UN that expected .7% of countries income to go towards foreign aid. But of all the countries that adopted it through the UN only five: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Luxemburg reached the target. None of these countries are part of the G7, which are the seven most developed countries in the world.
To address this problem, we as a class do not necessarily have to use any money at all. We should rather write numerous letters notifying our statesmen and representatives that we are aware of our country’s poor action, and to put pressure on them to work towards change. If we do donate money towards developing countries, we should heavily research the organizations that we are donating to in order to make sure they are using the money most effectively and to avoid turning our money into phantom aid.

Portfolio 2: Singer on Poverty

1. Are we obligated/have a duty to give to poverty?
-This speaks to the question of the lawyer. "Who's my neighbor?" The same person who believes that some people are not their neighbor would ask if they had an obligation to give to poverty.
2. Why should I give up my luxuries?
-This question relates to the logic of, "What would I get out of helping others?" Martin Luther King said the correct question was, "What would happen to them if I don't help?"
3. What are considered luxuries?
-Singer said that any unnecessary things such as buying juice when you can drink out of a water fountain is a luxury and we should give those up. 2 silver coins was a acknowledged luxury of the Samaritan, and he dutifully gave them up to help the beaten man.
4. What do we owe as individuals?
-As said before you owe as much as you can offer without putting your life in jeopardy. Instead of buying name brand sodas, buy generic. The Samaritan offered as much as he could, he also did not offer more than necessary. Knowing the beaten man would be better soon, he did not pay for a month's rent, rather a couple of days.
5. Do you recognize that the poverty situation is an unfair bad thing?
-Like the Levite and the priest acknowledging is the first step in helping. The Levite and Priest did not acknowledge the beaten man as their neighbor, so they did not help him. In today's society if people do not recognize that poverty is bad, then what motivation do they have to prevent it?
6. Why should distant people matter as much as those close?
-In Jesus' story Jesus purposefully said the beaten man was naked. This was because you then could not determine what class he was from. The Levite and Priest, not knowing this ignored him and failed to help. The point Jesus was making is that it does not matter what class, location or person is suffering, you should always help.
7.Is doing nothing as bad as harming someone?
-Simply ignoring a beaten man or a struggling nation is as bad as intentionally inflicting pain. The Levite and Priest's lack of action is equally as bad as a group practicing genocide. This is because the Levite and Priest were capable of helping the beaten man.
8.Where should we devote energies?
-We should devote our energies to opportunities that present themselves. The beaten man was an opportunity to practice compassion, and the Samaritan recognized this. A drowning person in a well is an opportunity and it is morally right to help this man. Even if it is no benefit to you.
9. Should I let my emotions dictate if I help?
-Yes, you should. The Samaritan could relate to the beaten man because he was an outcast as well. Therefore he acted with sympathy and compassion towards him. Today, we should find similarities in the poverty stricken people and therefore become moved to help them.
10. Shouldn't we all have equal access to world's resources?
-Yes, seeing that everyone is our neighbor and therefore everyone is human, we should treat everyone equally. Although the radio said that equality might jeopardize our resources.

Portfolio 2: Good Samaritan Interpretation

Through criticizing the lawyers question, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus was criticizing that the society he lived in was capable of assuming that there are categories of people-neighbors versus enemies. Asking "Who is my neighbor?" implies that there are people who aren't your neighbor. And if you view people as non-neighbors you therefore treat them without the dignity of humans. Jesus' solution is that society regards everyone as neighbors and treats them equally as such. Jesus explained this through his parable of the Good Samaritan. He showed examples of the inhumane treatment of people towards one another through the Levite and the Priest. Jesus then showed an example of his solution through the Samaritan.

John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus was said to become a great prophet that would pave the way for the Lord, Jesus. Both his father and the prophet Isaiah said that John would prepare the way for Jesus, to make Jesus' radical teachings less shocking because they were faced with John's previously.(Luke Chap 1) In John's teachings, he said to not fall back on the faith you were born into, but rather solidify your belief through good deeds. (Luke Chap 3) Jesus, too, called out hypocrites saying that good actions were the true example of devotion. John welcomed all and preached equal opportunity. In 1st century Palestine outcasts, such as tax collectors and soldiers could approach John with questions of salvation. John told all, from farmers to soldiers that they should give what they could, and not abuse their power. In Jesus' teachings, he too welcomed the castaways. In John and Jesus' time soldiers and tax collectors were hated due to the misdeeds of them. Many tax collectors took more money than necessary. But both John and then Jesus accepted them.

Refugees

Refugees like Jesus and the ones we saw in the UN video were forced out of their homes due to religious, racial or nationality reasons. They left in a state of dismay and confusion and the experience had a resounding effect on their lives. Jesus' past experience of being a refugee in Egypt caused him to reach out to the people who could not themselves. Because his family fled from persecution he knew the feelings of terror and helplessness that the people his mission focused on felt. Jesus centered his mission on the lowly and the suffering people. People who like him and his family were trapped, having little options. Jesus’ option was to run or be killed. Being presented with such an ultimatum causes some to resent the people who put them there. Being a refugee also gave him the passion to speak out against authority because his family fled due to Herod, a strong leader. Being forced out of his home, he and his family probably questioned the reason why, leading them to question and resent the government. Growing up in a household that challenged the government may have harbored strength inside of Jesus to not hesitate to examine people in charge’s authority and actions.

Portfolio 1: Who's Your Momma?

The impression of Mary that I've gotten is that she is the epitome of a devout, righteous person. Mary’s claim to fame is that she’s Jesus’ mother, so that makes me think she is very maternal and vulnerable yet strong-willed. I say these things because the mothers I have known including my own have had a exposed, persona yet when faced with hardships they acquire more strength and courage than I could imagine. She was born without original sin and that leads me to assume that she’s never sinned in her life. Therefore I feel as though I will never fully know who Mary is, because I cannot relate to her.

These passages tell us that Mary is a woman of immense faith, almost a blind faith. Her proclamation shows both a woman of unquestioned faith thats seems niave yet coveted by all spiritual people,  , and strength. It takes a 
strong person to proclaim belief in something uncertain so wholeheartedly. Mary belongs to the lower class and was treated like any woman, with no rights and as property. Her community would have shunned her with news of her pregnancy out of wedlock. Yet she accepted the Holy Spirit and all the consequences because of her faith and strength.

God chose a woman like Mary because of the two qualities I described above. He would have wanted a blind follower, someone who believes so deeply that they have no reservations, and he wanted a person of strong character to handle the social pressures of a virgin pregnancy and a radical son, like Jesus. 

"A Family of Freedom Fighters"

Rahab who is an ancestor of Jesus lived in Jericho, during the time when the Israelites were planning on their conquer of the holy land. Rahab lived on the outskirts of Jericho because of her place in society. She was a prostitute and therefore shunned in the city. When two spies were sent from Joshua into the city, they came upon Rahab in need of help. She in turn sheltered them, and knew much about the Israelites activities. When the king found out about the spies he ordered Rahab to turn them in, she hid them on her roof and told the king the spies had come and gone, their identity unknown to her. Before the spies left, Rahab requested that her and her family be saved when the Israelites came fighting for the city. They said to hang a scarlet string (speaks to the lambs blood of the Israelites in Egypt) from her window so the warriors would know not to harm the residents. When the warriors came to take the city, Joshua sent the two spies to rescue Rahab and her family. From then on they all lived among the Israelites.

In Biblical times Israelites had problems with foreigners, specifically foreign women. They viewed them as only seducing Israelite men into worshiping other gods. (handout) But Rahab was a exception to this stereotype. Although a prostitute and a Canaanite, Rahab recognized the Israelites God as God, "Yahweh your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below." (2:11b) She also proved to be trustworthy and helpful, when hiding the spies. Jesus too was an exception, he challenged traditions and concepts. The Bible, especially the Book of Joshua, neglects to include many women. The women who do get mentioned, such as Rahab represent an exception. Rahab is mentioned in the Old Testament as well as in Jesus' genealogy written by Matthew, because of the dangerous acts she made that contributed to the Israelites conquer. Rahab and Jesus committed dangerous acts towards freedom. Rahab lying to the king to save the spies in anticipation of the freedom of the Israelites. Jesus committed dangerous acts daily. Welcoming outcasts, such as prostitutes and lepers. Preaching such radical ideas in hopes that they would lead to freedom of spirit, that the high priests challenged him and called him blasphemous. Rahab is included because of her exceptions to stereotypes and her fight for freedom that Jesus duplicated in his life.
Cites: Bible.com
Jewishencyclopedia.com
Joshua Handout

Portfolio 1: What I think I can Achieve

I feel like I am capable of earning an A in this class. That is dependent on a very big amount of effort on my part. I usually participate in discussion often but not consistently, but now I will do my best. I try to show insight,   but honestly, depending on the teacher, I sometimes just do the bare-minimum. Mr. Sutphin isn't a bare-minimum teacher. Sometimes I depend upon the teacher, but I will do my best not to. If I don't put this great effort, then I am positive that I can achieve an B. But since, it's the beginning of the year I declare that I can fulfill the requirements of an A grade.
 

Portfolio 1: Who is Jesus, Really

 I think Jesus taught about change. Whether it be a change of opinion, or a change of actions. Jesus taught to change people's opinon of others, to let go of stereotypes. He taught this through his Good Samaritan Parable. In the Parable citizens thought highly of as upright people- a priest and a rich man (Levite) ignored the helpless man. But a Samaritan-a person not regarded as honorable, helped the beaten man. Jesus taught
by example of how to change actions. When society was banishing 
taxcollectors, Jesus invited one to eat with him.  He accepted Mary Magdelene as a follower despite her past as a prostitute, a profession regarded as the most unholy. Through his acceptance of her, Jesus taught that repentance is effective. Jesus taught  that instead of acts of banishment and ignorance to act with acceptance. 
I believe that I am trying to be a follower of the teachings I just described. I am trying to change my stereotypical opinions of others, especially since this summer. During a trip to LA, I met this kid named Andy. Andy was from a place I can't remember the name of, but he told me it's in the middle of nowhere.Andy told me a story about a time he was called a hick just because he came 
from a small town. Andy is the furthest thing I've met from a hick. When being honest with myself, I know that I am one of the people that assume, if you live anywhere near the south, you have certain beliefs which usually don't coincide with mine, and I title them "hicks". But since I met Andy, I try my best to no longer do that. I am also trying to change my indifferent actions towards others, mainly by taking interest in their life.

Portfolio 1 : Why We Tell Stories

The story that my family tells about me again and again takes place when I was a little over the age of three. My grandpa used to babysit me while my parents were at work. One day while I was at my grandparent's house, my grandpa forgot to give me lunch. Eventually I became aware of my hunger and I asked my grandpa for "yunch." Being a little girl I could not pronounce my "L's" and this thoroughly confused my grandpa. "Yunch?" He asked, "What is that?" I continued on asking for yunch and my grandpa continued to be baffled. Until finally I took my grandpa's hand, led him into the kitchen, stood him in front of the refrigerator and pointed, "YUNCH!" This cleared up the confusion and subsequently I received my lunch.
Stories are told for a number of reasons, to teach, to entertain, to leave a legacy. I believe that my family tells this story for entertainment. The situation in itself is amusing; my grandpa, a stoic old man and me, a young playful kid attempting to coexist. And I believe my family likes the thought of this a lot. Sometimes they don't bother telling the whole story, but just say the word, "yunch." Which is met with much laughter. When they do tell the entire story, they add voices and movement-efforts that show that they treasure the story.