Promoted from the comments in response to the post Recantation:
Blogger Tobias Haller said...
Greetings in Me.
After careful consideration, I realize I ought not to have placed myself in conscientious objection to the wisdom of the Scribes and Pharisees. They sit in Moses' seat, after all, and I'm just a Galilean Carpenter. I deeply regret that I may have offended them and caused any unrest among the people. Nothing was further from my mind. Special apologies to the Governor of Judea, under whose excellent guidance the peaceful reign of Caesar can continue uninterrupted by zealotry. I am very sorry if anything I said was taken in the wrong way, leading to suggestions I was attempting to usurp any kind of earthly authority or rule. I was speaking metaphorically. I'm particularly concerned that last week's demonstration and donkey-ride may have given people the wrong idea. I tried to hail a taxi, but people insisted I use the donkey. I didn't mean anything by it.
Can I go now?
J.C.
Excellent Tobias --- maybe the pastor was also doing satire.
ReplyDeleteThis is satire? (snicker snicker)
ReplyDeleteHeh heh heh. Excellent!
ReplyDeleteI am surprised he waited this long! I wonder if the last deposition had something to do with it?
ReplyDeleteI said WHAT???
ReplyDeleteOh.
You meant that Other JC.
Thanks for the "promo" dear Mimi. I almost signed it "J.C. Davidson" -- I live on Davidson Avenue and always thought it a wonderful surname for the one to whom they cried out "Hosanna to the son of David..."
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the other JC, JCF. Paleographers would note the absence of extra exclamatory punctuation, were there any doubt. A study of ancient Greek and Aramaic emoticons would make for an interesting analysis. There was that one that looked like a little fishy... ;-)
Speaking of recantations, there was an interesting doc on the English Bible on "Secrets of the Dead" on PBS last night. Thought they did a good job with Cranmer's recantation and un-recantation. It is so horrible to think that the Church of Christ should put people in the position of denying their consciences in this way. But then, it just goes to show the imperfection of the church, still.
I meant to add, I'm really sorry for Fr Steve. I know the kind of pressure he was under, and find it appalling that a pastor cannot speak his mind on an issue such as this. How long, O Lord?
ReplyDeleteI almost signed it "J.C. Davidson"
ReplyDeleteNow THAT, Tobias, would have been decidedly over the top.
I want to make it clear that I have great sympathy and compassion for Fr. Steve. I fear that his worst punishment may be that he has to live with himself.
I'd add that I may not have had the courage to make the original statement, but once I had done the deed, I believe there could have been no turning back.
ReplyDeleteYes, I felt sorry for Steve too. It's a sad and hard case. But, that Tobias... well said, very well said.
ReplyDelete"I fear that his worst punishment may be that he has to live with himself."
ReplyDeleteThose of us who take upon ourselves the robes of the heirarchy--have to also take unto ourselves the shame of those who also robe themselves thusly. It ain't fun. It is part of the reason that I am not working in my church. It does require the laity to step up to the plate as they did for Luther in the 16th century. Luther was spirited out of Worms and protected by like minded rulers so that the Church would not imprision him.
If we are going to renew the church, the laity has to be the group that goes to bat for the clergy or just this same think is going to continue to happen. The LAITY must organize to make their wants known--not just blog about it.
RE "I almost signed it "J.C. Davidson..."
ReplyDeleteOld Swedish joke this one. Patro-nymicons are the rule here (as in Hebrew and Arabic and Spanish and Slavic languages...).
In the olden days there used to be Metro-nymicons also...
Oh God, that's brilliant!
ReplyDeletePoor Cranmer. That was a sad case.
ReplyDeleteGöran, will you think I'm stupid if I say that I don't get the joke?
PJ, he dashes these things off. And look at the brilliant fish emoticon. Is it Greek or Aramaic?
I had to come back and reread... this is so great.
ReplyDeleteI like, "Greetings in Me".
ReplyDeleteThe joke is really about a well known and much beloved Chrismas hymn (or Advent, really) by one Abbé Vogler (Knight of the Papal Spur) begining "Hosiannah, David's son, blessed be He (Him?)..." thus the play upon the patronymicon: Hosiannah Davidson.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the question...
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't think you are at all stupid ;=)
Link about Abbé Vogler:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Joseph_Vogler