This idea of a new pope has really got me thinking…
Now while not a member of the Roman Catholic Church (even though some seem to think my membership would be fairly solid), the Intramuralist promotes great respect for all faiths. I appreciate Catholic tradition, and like-faith or not, there is zero doubt the pope has significant, global influence. Hence, I will be watching which color of smoke blows over the Vatican as the next wise leader is selected.
Thinking about this process, my mind has focused on the role of a priest — not necessarily a Catholic priest — but a leader within the Christian faith. What is a priest called to do?
Different denominations may assign different duties. Varied religious rituals may be a part of the process. Yet time and time again, as I study ancient historical documents, one role stands out that seems to stand for all time. It is the responsibility of the priest to differentiate between the holy and the common.
The holy and the common…
The sacred and the secular…
As a culture, I don’t think we get that.
Friends, please take that as no judgment. I include myself among the “we” who doesn’t get it. We live in an age where all things go, where all is accepted, where tolerance trumps intolerance — well, except, arguably, if you’re tolerant of the reality that some things are actually holy.
Last weekend, “Saturday Night Live” ran a new skit, entitled “Djesus Uncrossed” — a sarcastic spin of the Oscar-nominated “Django Unchained.” In the SNL skit, Jesus is resurrected, but — and that’s an incredibly huge “but” — instead of returning to save the souls of sinful men, Jesus Christ takes vengeance upon his one-time accusers. The skit then features approximately 2 minutes of bloody gore, similar to “Django Unchained.” In pops the narration: “He’s risen from the dead … and he’s preaching anything but forgiveness.”
The public dialogue since has been fascinating…
There have been claims of outrageous blasphemy.
There have also been numerous retorts to “lighten up”…
Can’t a guy take a joke any more?
I wonder…
I wonder if the joke was on Muhammed, the historic leader of Islam, if that kind of joke would be asked to be tolerated? Can’t you take a joke any more? … especially in light of the fatal September Benghazi attacks, when the American government actually paid to put commercials on Pakistani TV, apologizing for any offense to Muslims for an unrelated, anti-Islamic 13 minute movie trailer by 1 American citizen…
I wonder if mocking Muslims would — could — be considered a joke… I wonder if they would have been told to lighten up.
Great questions, friends. Truthfully, I don’t know all the answers. But what I do know is this…
2 things:
- The creators of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” are not “priests.”
And (2) They have no idea of the difference between the holy and the common.
Respectfully… always…
AR