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From Tuesday's Irish Times:
Jesus would not be protesting against the Israeli occupation of Palestine, any more than he protested against the Roman occupation of Palestine. That was Barabbas. One can imagine Jews, Muslims and Christians hating Him, plus the abortion lobby, feminists, most of the Left, the American Right. He would hideously embarrass the Church of England hierarchy. His views on divorce, homosexuality, defence and capitalism and his predilection for the company of drunkards, gluttons and corrupt officials would outrage all the columnists - one can imagine it so easily.
Thomas Carlyle imagined the Second Coming thus.
The Israeli embassy in Dublin has apologised and taken down a post on its Facebook page that said that if Mary and Jesus were alive today they would “probably end up being lynched in Bethlehem by hostile Palestinians”.
By 3pm it had 20 “Likes”, though several comments expressed distaste for the post. Among them was one saying: “Have you no regard for honesty whatsoever? If Jesus Mary were alive today, they would be protesting against the Israeli occupation of Palestine, along with all the Palestinian Christians currently living in Bethlehem.”
Jesus would not be protesting against the Israeli occupation of Palestine, any more than he protested against the Roman occupation of Palestine. That was Barabbas. One can imagine Jews, Muslims and Christians hating Him, plus the abortion lobby, feminists, most of the Left, the American Right. He would hideously embarrass the Church of England hierarchy. His views on divorce, homosexuality, defence and capitalism and his predilection for the company of drunkards, gluttons and corrupt officials would outrage all the columnists - one can imagine it so easily.
Thomas Carlyle imagined the Second Coming thus.
Mostly, Jesus would be amazed at how many people feel qualified to speak for him.
ReplyDeletewould he be amazed? another qualified speaker.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone noted the Israeli embassy's attempt to exploit their stereotype of the Irish people here? They didn't post a nativity scene - they chose an image of the Blessed Mother and of Christ as an adult - apparently appealing to some kind of pervasive Catholic identity. That's kind of racist.
ReplyDeleteIt ought to be noted that the Israelis have forgotten what body it was that originally arrested and condemned Jesus - a self-governing, autonomous Israelite State represented by the Hasmonean assembly, i.e. the Sanhedrin, and supported by groups like the Zealots and leaders like Yeshua Bar-Abbas who wanted to create a State of Israel, expelling the Samaritans and other non-Jews.
That said, the sins of the father are not visited upon the son, and Jews are in no way identical to Israelis or Zionists; I don't want this to seem like the same old "Jews killed Jesus" thing - after all, Pilate had the final word. My sole assertion is that it is strange that Israel should want to claim Jesus as one of their own when He Himself repudiated everything they stand for, from violence to political radicalism right down to Jewish identity. He was above it all.
'Mary and Jesus'is the wrong order I noticed.
ReplyDeleteto S.B: Israel wanting to claim Jesus as one of their own is news to me. to P.E.V: Think what Edward Norman would say.Thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteEdward Norman would have fun with this story in his dry way.
ReplyDeleteMostly I agree, but for the life of me I have never found out what Jesus' explicit views on homosexuality were.
ReplyDeleteWell He was a 1st century rabbi and we would have heard had He said something heterodox on subject, or at least St Paul would have heard. Actually Jesus did not say much about moral rules. What sins did he condemn?
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd been there to comment.I'd have expressed alot of distaste. The pot callin' the kettle black..., again. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteto P.V.E, "Mary and Jesus in the wrong order I see." Well what would you expect? The sillies. And "Jesus didn't say much about moral rules. What sin did he condemn? Ahem, I'm not well versed in scripture, but if what you've said is so.. then ahem are we supposed to be ..Catholic?
ReplyDelete