Category: Blithe Spirit

The good and the bad, emphasis on Trib and Sun-Times

Another case of pity the poor preacher . . .

This time about Jesus busting up families and burning up the world in Luke 12:

“I came to spread fire on the earth. . . Do you think I came to bring peace. . . ? No, I tell you, but division instead! From now on five in one house will be divided, three against two and two against three. Father against son . . . and son against father. . . .

Same for mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, etc.

I say pity the preacher because he’s tempted — and sometimes well advised — to give this the Mrs. Grundy treatment, softening the impact of these ancient Middle Eastern (ancient? listen to the Ayatollah) constantly in-your-face, devil-take-hindmost language.

At same time, he’s supposed to be true to the message, not play it down, even when it’s dramatically, almost melodramatically, presented. Not easy.

In any case, Jesus as Prince of Peace or meek and humble of heart does take a licking as going concept, not to mention effeminate sentimentalism as in some holy cards.

Basketball coach with prostitution problem quotes Pope Francis

Quoting him to his purpose, of course, like the fellow in Shakespeare who quoted Scripture to his purpose?

Pitino, who met the pope last month on his trip to the United States, invoked Francis in his post. “The Pope on his recent visit was asked many controversial questions,” Pitino noted. “He would often answer, ‘We will let God judge.’ There can be no better advice regardless of what religion you are than his words. Let’s not try to justify, but let the Lord judge!!”

The devilish follow-up by the writer:

Nobody asked the pope whether he provided prostitutes to high school students. But journalists question whether Pitino knew of or endorsed such a scheme to entice recruits.

Oh, and that Shakespeare fellow quoting Scripture? Why, the devil, of course.

Mack the knife Machiavelli, the honest criminal

Shakespeare knew there was bad in everybody, “made no ideological exception,” wrote Wyndham Lewis in his 1950 autobiography Rude Assignment.

He had “no appetite for . . . useless and degrading performance of a series of . . . tricks” by rulers. As opposed to Machiavelli, who glorified the “heroic man — a ‘Prince’ — a model for other ‘Princes,’ a paragon.” (403 of the 1966 collection by Raymond Rosenthal, A Soldier of Humor and Selected Writings (Signet Classic)

Machiavelli did much in the cause of dictatorship with his articulate defense of it. (405) No one had argued it was the people’s own good that someone should rule over them, they just said they liked power. Shakespeare knew as much as Machiavelli about it, but did not endorse it.

M. became the go-to guy for despotism if not for despots such as Frederick the Great, a disciple who objected to his candor. M. was an honest criminal, admitting everything, and is so admired by the student who turns to him with respect. (406)

At McDonald’s a song about Subway

Other day at McDonald’s (Sunday before mid-morning mass), it was “Please don’t sleep in the subway, darling” on the overhead. Nine o’clock or so, beautiful.

Dining with me, other tables, were Mexican families, including one with boy and girl who were as cute as singer Petula. Father in baseball cap kept his smiles to a minimum, mother had softer demeanor, two kids were relaxed.

Sunday morning breakfast, Foster & Bryn Mawr.

Jesus quick on his feet

Luke 11.15 and following has him giving as good as he gets. Better. His opponents shot at him for casting out devils. By Beelzebul, they said.

But they do it, He asks by whom? If someone does it by the Kingdom of God, then God is here, the age of the Messiah has dawned.

More: He gives analysis of demonic behavior. The backslider ends up worse than before.

24 ‘When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting-place, but not finding any, it says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” 25When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. 26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.’

Jesus talk is direct, even harsh. He was to submit to awful death, but as a preacher he took no prisoners.