A subversive message of peace

For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes McEntyre's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

Not long ago I had a small epiphany at the airport. I was removing my jacket and boots, attempting to unzip my carryon and extract a laptop while checking my pockets for metal and nudging gray plastic bins toward a conveyor belt. I was trying not to hurry the person in front of me or delay the person behind, who waited grimly with shoes in one hand and an iPad in the other.

I started to laugh. Our collective efforts to prevent hijacking by removing belts and forfeiting sequestered tubes of toothpaste suddenly seemed absurd. The tactics of trained terrorists are unlikely to be defeated by these departure-lounge rituals.