tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9479398.post1601070885196900983..comments2024-03-28T11:33:16.271-05:00Comments on Adventus: December 4 2014: What Wondrous Love is This?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9479398.post-42799181601519340002014-12-05T08:37:38.096-06:002014-12-05T08:37:38.096-06:00The Gospel narratives pushed blame for the executi...The Gospel narratives pushed blame for the execution off onto the Jews, the better to avoid being persecuted by Rome as trouble-makers (I mean, look what they did to Jesus!).<br /><br />Most present-day Christians don't think about it much, and wind up being supporters of Rome all over again by tacitly accepting that it was the Jews who killed Jesus (though they'd never say so in broad daylight). I found it difficult to explain to my congregation that it was Roman power (state authority, IOW) that executed Jesus, not religious jealousy. They were on the side of the former, and quite familiar with the latter, so it was a tall hill to get over.<br /><br />And yes: Advent especially should be about disruption (to use a favorite buzzword), not about complacent and comforting repetition. And thanks for the Leonard Cohen, too.<br /><br />Used him at a funeral I had to do awhile back.....<br />Rmjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06811456254443706479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9479398.post-46591694681416948872014-12-05T08:21:55.344-06:002014-12-05T08:21:55.344-06:00OT, but our local news station mentioned something...OT, but our local news station mentioned something about people being upset with protests in New Orleans interfering with their Christmas tree lighting ceremony. While I understand that people like their traditions and ceremonies bring comfort and joy, am I the only one who finds it ironic that people are upset about protests against "the police killing someone who really was a criminal anyway" as they prepare to celebrate the birth of someone whom they (at least on paper) believe to have been killed as a criminal by state authority?<br /><br />Meanwhile, I just can't get some song lyrics written by a fellow Jewish boy out of my head:<br /><br />And Jesus was a sailor <br />When he walked upon the water <br />And he spent a long time watching <br />From his lonely wooden tower <br />And when he knew for certain <br />Only drowning men could see him <br />He said "All men will be sailors then <br />Until the sea shall free them" <br />But he himself was broken <br />Long before the sky would open <br />Forsaken, almost human <br />He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone <br />And you want to travel with him <br />And you want to travel blind <br />And you think maybe you'll trust him <br />For he's touched your perfect body with his mind. alberichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03852752646926946626noreply@blogger.com