Nobody really visits here, but what the heck. I write for the base newpaper every once in a while, and I might as well post what I have written here cause it is easy to do.
VOXAIR submission
Padre Bob Granholm
Renowned religious leader is fawned over by a well-known call-lady in public setting
It had all the markings of a scandal. It was a scandal. “Renowned religious leader is fawned over by a well-known call-lady in public setting” is how the website headlines read. When asked, the owner of the establishment where this was alleged to have occurred, a local community council member, expressed his shock and outrage over the incident: “She embarrassed everyone- she was crying, kissing him- why, she even dumped a bottle of expensive massage oil over him. The smell filled the room. We all just wanted her to go away!”, he reported, speaking on a talk-show program. “This guy should not have tolerated this. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying it! We all wondered how he knew her- maybe he should be more careful. It wasn’t so long ago that others fell from power over slipups like this.” he said, referring to the ex-governors’ recent divorce and remarriage to an exotic dancer.
What wasn’t so well reported was the response of the religious leader to the accusations. Far from denying things, he used the whole incident to make a point about abstract theological concepts. Those talking with him about the event had trouble really understanding what he was saying. Well, as one news organization says: “We report, You decide”, so here is what the Jewish Rabbi named Jesus had to say when he appeared with Greta Van Susteren, On the Record:
“After the woman poured oil on me, and washed my feet with her hair, I turned to the host and said "Simon, I have a story to tell you." "Tell me, Rabbi," he said.
"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him fifty thousand dollars, and the other five hundred dollars. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled.” “You have judged correctly," I said.
Then I turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your guest house, and you did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Then I said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" I said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."*
So Jesus seems to be claiming that he can do what really only Jews think God can do- forgive sins. And he equates the forgiveness of sins with extravagant expressions of love- and suggests that, despite her background, she can have peace. We are all still scratching our heads over that one.
*Luke 7: 36 ff
VOXAIR submission
Padre Bob Granholm
Renowned religious leader is fawned over by a well-known call-lady in public setting
It had all the markings of a scandal. It was a scandal. “Renowned religious leader is fawned over by a well-known call-lady in public setting” is how the website headlines read. When asked, the owner of the establishment where this was alleged to have occurred, a local community council member, expressed his shock and outrage over the incident: “She embarrassed everyone- she was crying, kissing him- why, she even dumped a bottle of expensive massage oil over him. The smell filled the room. We all just wanted her to go away!”, he reported, speaking on a talk-show program. “This guy should not have tolerated this. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying it! We all wondered how he knew her- maybe he should be more careful. It wasn’t so long ago that others fell from power over slipups like this.” he said, referring to the ex-governors’ recent divorce and remarriage to an exotic dancer.
What wasn’t so well reported was the response of the religious leader to the accusations. Far from denying things, he used the whole incident to make a point about abstract theological concepts. Those talking with him about the event had trouble really understanding what he was saying. Well, as one news organization says: “We report, You decide”, so here is what the Jewish Rabbi named Jesus had to say when he appeared with Greta Van Susteren, On the Record:
“After the woman poured oil on me, and washed my feet with her hair, I turned to the host and said "Simon, I have a story to tell you." "Tell me, Rabbi," he said.
"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him fifty thousand dollars, and the other five hundred dollars. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled.” “You have judged correctly," I said.
Then I turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your guest house, and you did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Then I said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" I said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."*
So Jesus seems to be claiming that he can do what really only Jews think God can do- forgive sins. And he equates the forgiveness of sins with extravagant expressions of love- and suggests that, despite her background, she can have peace. We are all still scratching our heads over that one.
*Luke 7: 36 ff
