FROM CHRISTIANANSWERS.NET
The world again has a man in the position of “Vicar of Christ,” so it is biblically imperative to examine the true office of the Vicar of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ entrusted the universal care of souls into the safekeeping of the Divine Person of the Holy Spirit. Concerning this Third Person of the Trinity who was to be His substitute, the Lord promised that,“when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit convicts of sin as He makes the sinner realize his lost condition and convicts him of his need of Christ's righteousness. He it is who brings a soul dead in sin to life. Time for me to jump in. As a 16 year old, the person I looked up to above all others was Thomas Conlon. Three years my senior, Tom commanded your respect with a gentle smile and an aura of kindness that sapped the rage from our hardcore neighborhood sociopaths, if only for 5 minutes. Tom, his father Mike and his mom Mary lived in the same building as my family, and their door was always open to me. I visited often, sometimes just to hear Mike say, Jeffrey, lad, don't count your Macfinleys before they hatch. Naturally, I never did, at least I don't think I did. A year later Tom became Father Tom. An unforgettable moment for anyone who knew the Conlon Family. First time I saw him in Black and White, the tears ran down my face. Two years later those tears formed a lake in my heart when word came that Father Tom had been killed during a missionary trip to Africa. I tell that story so you know where I stand when I say all that follows. Devout followers of the Catholic Religion who choose to regard the Pope as the Vicar of Christ don't need my permission or anyone else's. But if you regard the Vatican's Highest Ranking Holy Man as a SUBSTITUTE for Christ, you elevate him to a position no flesh and blood person merits while diminishing Jesus Christ. My imagination is immensely fertile, but on my best day I could not imagine Jesus travelling the world, offering words of sorrow and remorse for the sick and sickening behavior of more depraved priests than there are sheep in New Zealand while offering Cardinal Law Leona Helmsley comfort in the form of 6 room apartment in the Vatican attended by servants along with the peace of mind in knowing he was not subject to extradition from any country in the world. I prefer to think Jesus would have handled this with heavenly insight and all the justice in his heart. There is a story in the Gospel of Mark. Picking up in the middle it reads... taking the child in his arms, he said...whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes not me, but the one who sent me. (see firedoglake.com) The perfect lead-in to The Pro-Bullying Legislation Very Thinly Disguised as Anti-Bullying Legislation AKA The Jesus Never Said It But He Would Have If He Could Have Legislation. Unanimously supported by both declared and undeclared sadists who strongly believe their interpretation of an Omniscient God represents badly needed oversight in those cases where Jesus blew it. Let's look at potential situations that fall into one of two possibilities-- BULLYING ACCEPTABLE BA BULLYING NOT ACCEPTABLE BNA Dan says: Jesus' sandals were old and dirty. Dan's pelvis is crushed by bullies. JUDGE: "This is mocking our Lord" so it's BA Dan says: Jesus' sandals were unbuckled. Dan's jaw is broken in 3 parts. JUDGE: "Republicans should know his sandals had no buckles." Even so, BA !! Joe says: (Dan can't talk) Jesus hated The Last Supper. DAN'S legs are snapped. NOTE- The Judge is about to say BA when Prosecution says, "Approach please" The judge signals both lawyers to approach bench. JUDGE: (to Pros) "This is just more mockery." PROS: Not really your honor. The 4 Gospels are in agreement on only 25% of their writings. But they all agree Jesus hated his lamb served cold. JUDGE: The lamb was cold? PROS: It was nippy that night. The lamb could have been 45 degrees. DEF: Let's get real. The pita was toasted so what's the difference? JUDGE: The defense makes a strong point. PROS: Not really your honor. Jesus loved the way Mary's cousin Adele made lamb. DEF: I never heard of Adele. JUDGE: Me neither. PROS: Well... you guys were never invited to dinner. JUDGE: True enough. So how did this Adele babe cook it? PROS: On a very large very hot flat stone. She seared the lamb then put leeks on top, and TOPPED THAT with a mixture of prunes, apricots and her secret ingredient that's really tasty and opens the arteries. JUDGE: You're kidding... what was it? DEF: I must object! JUDGE: You shut your pie hole. I have an aortic aneurysm. (To Pros) What was it? PROS: CINNAMON! JUDGE: Damn... I love that shit. I want a copy of that recipe. I could live another year. DEF: OBJECTION !! Come on Judge...you were this close to saying BA. We're not talkin' about The Last Lunch... this was Our Lord's JUDGE: Did you just say LAST LUNCH? It don't really bother you at all that Jesus ate cold lamb and missed out on his beloved leeks apricots and prunes. Probably messed up his evening bowel movement, too. (To Cops) Lamar, you and Titus, pick up the 4 bullies down at the school. LAMAR: I could drop off our friend here and mention that Last Lunch comment? JUDGE: No. Get him home safe. That's what Jesus would do. In Memory of Father Tom Conlon . |
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