Clerical Gossip | Catholic Culture

by Fr.Jerry Pokorsky ( Bio – Article – Email ) | January 16, 2023

Significant archaeological find: A transcript of a meeting dated around AD 30 where rabbis conversed over martinis was recovered.

“What do you think of a man named John the Baptist? He is the son of Zechariah, a queer priest who died many years ago. It must have been a long time ago, I only vaguely remember the story, but I know that Zechariah received a vision during a temple service and lost his speech in the months before his son John was born. There was something very strange and my son John disappeared.”

“When he was young, he was the pious type, and he was serious about the law and the prophets. I think he was more serious than most rabbis.”

“When Zechariah and his wife died, John seems to remember drifting into the desert and disappearing for years. It is a little controversial in: Did the reclusive Essenes, who live by the Dead Sea, send him a package?”

“He’s quite the spectacle. He’s said to eat locusts and wild honey and wear the skin of a camel. Frankly, if it were only for his own safety, I’d call him Herod’s.” Let him be put in one of the prisons.It is certain that he lacks the tact necessary to deal with the people around the synagogue.He does not amuse Pilate’s soldiers.And yet the people People come from all over the world to hear the sermon.”

“They think he is a prophet. The centurions and lower classes lurking in Jerusalem are always looking for fresh meat for entertainment, rounding up the usual suspects and crucifying the raucous, and John will be their next celebrity. it is.”

“But he’s an unwilling celebrity.”

“But who ‘must multiply’? I want a name. He also said he was not fit to untie men’s sandals. John and his successors, like us, Imagine a desert nomad in flea-infested camel hair at one of our banquets, and he wouldn’t sit at the head table even if we asked him to. You must refuse.

“The chief priests of Jerusalem sent a delegation of scribes and Pharisees to investigate the man. I am glad they did not send me. Included were the usual weasels who found a reason to piss off the pilgrims.Do you know what John did?He looked at them with ferocious and determined eyes and called them “vipers” in front of everyone. I heard they called it ‘a herd’! I wanted to see their faces! Well said, uncle.”

“He sure sized them up right. The poor guy said something about the ‘coming wrath.’ He’s right about it too, but not in his way of thinking. These guys have a long memory, and I’m afraid John himself will learn something about “anger” before it’s all over. . But it has nothing to do with God’s wrath. He will never know what hit him. “

“Collections? No, no changes to collections. More people are showing up on the Sabbath, but they’re stable. Mostly transients and riffs. I expect them to raise donations in a significant way.” No, not even the tax collectors bother them.”

“But the newcomers speak warmly of John, and are convinced that he is up to something good and noble. They say he preached things like ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’ say. Good idea, that. ”

“He dipped them in water in the Jordan River and called it ‘the baptism of repentance.’ He must spend his time in formation with the scribes and Pharisees.”

“He actually accused Herod of sinning with Herodias. That is a division!

Caiaphas would be furious. He warned us to keep our religion within the walls of the synagogues and temples. In the Annual Meeting the scribes said that if he said it once, he said it dozens of times: We must be careful, and if necessary, “than the whole Jewish nation It’s better for one man to die.” “

“Is he already in prison? When did that happen? Well, the priests won’t help. Neither. I am all the more grateful that I was not able to satisfy my curiosity by visiting him.”

“Still, there are some disturbing words he said. What do you think he meant when he said, ‘He must increase and I must decrease?’ Decrease. That way he will throw sand at Herod and teach him to ignore the wise advice of Caiaphas. Herod’s wife, Herodias, denounced their illegitimate marriage, which infuriated her. That lack of discretion would cost him his head. “

“What do you think he meant when he said to his followers? This is what I heard just the other day: ‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.’ He claims that the mysterious man was “before” him and “ranked” above him, and that he, John, had this mysterious stranger baptized with water “so that it might be known to Israel.” I said I did. And most disturbing of all, he called the mysterious man the Son of God!”

“The last time there was talk of a Messiah around here, Herod’s father killed 40 boys in Bethlehem so that no one could reach his guard. Don’t mess with Herod’s son, old block It’s a tip from

“Now that John is in prison, with a little luck, nothing will happen. I hope the annual High Priest Chisleu Appeal achieves that goal.”

Father.Jerry Pokorsky Priest of Arlington Diocese and Finance Manager of Lincoln Diocese. He is trained in business and accounting and also holds a master’s degree in theology and a master’s degree in moral theology. Father Pokorsky co-founded both his two organizations, CREDO and Adoremus, which are deeply involved in full-scale liturgical renewal. He is a regular contributor to many Catholic websites and magazines. See full bio.

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