March 18, 2006
My good friend the cynic Ian Cutler who is writing a book on Jesus sent me this statement -- he gave me permission to put it on my blog...
...for all to consider.
Mythology
Given the fantastic legacy of epic and heroic figures that made up the real and imaginary worlds of Greco-Roman history and literature, why is it that the myth the Western world chose to claim for its own is the rather dull and disagreeable tale of Jesus of Nazareth, albeit embellished with miracles and apocalyptic prophesies.
--Ian Cutler
CORN BEEF
the Hebrews have it right
to
begin the week
on Sunday
ah
SUN DAY
when the sun rises
over the horizon
and we arise
from our slumber
yes
the Hebrews have it right
to make Sunday the first day
and
Saturday
the last day of the week
the day when the week ends
and our labors end too
ah
SA TUR DAY
die tür day
le jour de la porte
the day when the door closes
on our labors
and
SATURN
falls from the sky
A NOTE ON CORN BEEF
The title of the above meditation on the way the Hebrews have it right by making Sunday the first day of the week, and Saturday the last, may seem incompatible with the seriousness of the meditation. Therefore, it is necessary to explain what inspired the meditation and how it received this incongruous title.
Earlier today the author was driving home casually (in his Acura Legend) after an excellent golf game at Westwood Country Club, where he has just shot a decent 82 (two shots below his present handicap), when suddenly he remembered that the preceding week he had won a gift certificate playing in the American Cancer Society Fund Raising Golf Tournament at the Park Country Club (a rare occasion for him, because normally the members of the Park Country Club do not allow Hebrews to play on their course, but once a year make an exception for this worthy cause).
Earlier today, then, the author of the above meditation was on his way home feeling rather good about himself and about his golf game, when he remembered the gift certificate he had won the preceding week for being closest to the pin on hole number six (a 175 yard par three, which the author was delighted, not only to have been the one closest to the pin, but to have performed that feast with only a six iron. At least that's what the author told the members of his foursome who inquired what club he had used for such a superb shot).
The gift certificate was worth $10 for the purchase of corn beef at Ralph's Jewish delicatessen on Klein street. A minor detour, thought the author, to swing over there from here and exchange the certificate for a couple of pounds of Ralph's delicious kosher corn beef. But as he turned left into Klein street from Eisenberg Avenue, the author suddenly remembered that today was Saturday, but because the Hebrews begin the week on Sunday and end it on Saturday, and since Saturday is the Sabbath, the day of rest for the Hebrews, Ralph's Jewish delicatessen would undoubtedly be closed, and therefore today the author could not exchange his $10 dollar gift certificate for corn beef. Disappointed as he was for going home corn beefless, as it were, the author nonetheless felt exhilarated by this detour, futile as it may have been, that had inspired him such a profound meditation on theology and mythology.
