"Among you stands one whom you do not know" - said the Baptist of Jesus; and he hardly knew Jesus himself. How Jesus' mission leaves out all traces of vengeance and nationalism, though throughout history, religion has succumbed to what Ivan Illich describes as ‘the troubled legacy of Christendom ... the terrible perversion that comes of love and truth when these are underwritten by institutional power.’ 

A talk for The Third Sunday of Advent, 17 December 2023. 

Referencing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaiah 61.1-11, John 1.6-8, 19-28.

Find the text to this and all my talks at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/johndavies-talks⁠⁠⁠⁠.