It’s time for some poetry

I love when I get to roll out something new (and free) to you, O readers. This month we started a brand new weekly email newsletter, Poem for the Week. Each email (here’s a sample) features a new poem along with commentary from our poetry editor Jill Peláez Baumgaertner. You can sign up here—and please share that link with the poetry lovers in your life! The email arrives every Saturday morning, and we hope it will provide an enriching weekend reflection.

But if you only opened this email for thoughtful new essays, fear not. Phil Christman writes about the ways God expresses approval through MAGA’s disapproval. James K. A. Smith offers a double book review on two titles that explore the role of slavery in Augustine’s theology. Our editors, in light of new data on opinions about deportations, reflect on the theological significance of neighborliness.

Plus scroll down for even more great content, like a Screen Time essay on Steven Soderbergh’s Black Bag or a podcast interview of bishop and author Andy Doyle.

Jon Mathieu
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Reviled for Jesus’ sake

“God has been subtly, unmistakably saying yes to certain brave Christians, some of them mainliners. The form of that yes is MAGA’s no.”

by Phil Christman

Is slavery integral to Augustine’s theology?

Toni Alimi and Matthew Elia each make the case that slavery is integral to Augustine’s theology. Their books demand a reckoning.

by James K. A. Smith

Who are our neighbors?

“Faith groups—led by a coalition of Quaker meetings—are suing the Trump administration to prevent immigration raids in houses of worship.”

from the editors

In the Lectionary for May 25 (Easter 6C)

Again and again, God comes near and changes everything.

Black Bag’s committed spies

In Steven Soderbergh’s latest movie, two MI6 agents have the audacity to put their marriage first.

by Kathryn Reklis

Madang podcast: Andy Doyle, author of Unabashed Faith

“We’re in a post-Christendom that is saturated with connectivity. How do we form practices of resistance in this reality?“

hosted by Grace Ji-Sun Kim