The the Cure Waits for the Kingdom

In this episode of The Bible as Literature, Fr. Marc Boulos delivers a powerful Mother’s Day homily and biblical reflection on the meaning of Baal, husbandry, empire, and the anti-imperial function of scripture. Beginning with the Semitic root ב־ע־ל / ب־ع־ل (b-ʿ-l), Fr. Marc explains how the biblical attack is not against the husband or father, but against the corruption of husbandry into domination, ownership, kingship, and institutional power, what he calls “Baalism.”Drawing on examples from Roman slavery, Baalbek, St. George, Ezekiel, Luke 9, Isaiah, Nahum, and the Qur’an, this episode explores how scripture dismantles empire and restores humanity to its proper place as caretaker of the land rather than master over it. Fr. Marc argues that the earth functions as mother, not as a goddess, and that Elohim alone is Father, King, and Lord.The second half of the episode turns to Luke 9:6 and the Greek verbs διέρχομαι, εὐαγγελίζω, and θεραπεύω, showing how the apostles do not possess healing as power, but cross through the land as slaves bearing witness to the coming judgment and kingdom of God. Through Hebrew and Arabic lexical correspondences, Fr. Marc demonstrates how biblical language functions not as abstract philosophy, but as enacted decree.This episode challenges modern assumptions about power, property, fatherhood, rights, religion, and institutional life, while presenting scripture as an ancient anti-imperial witness against tyranny and domination.Luke 9:6Εξερχόμενοι διήρχοντο κατὰ τὰς κώμας εὐαγγελιζόμενοι καὶ θεραπεύοντες πανταχοῦ“Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and serving everywhere.” ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★