by Nestor Ravilas
I was in a classroom and challenged. The teacher stood feisty waiting for more responses. I was in a retreat mode; even John 1:1 was already offered to prove the divinity of Jesus, but to no avail. Most of the first chapter of the Gospel of John is not part of the gospel story, the teacher insisted. It was the author’s introduction of the gospel story which technically started in verse 19. Thus it was alien to the sacred story which was entrusted and eventually become the guiding light of the emerging community inspired by the incessant retelling of this story.
Jesus is totally annoying at times. He would suddenly burst on things out that would completely addle one’s mind. No wonder that the Jesus of faith is gaining more popularity than the one who actually walked our planet. Among his peeving gibberish is the demand to sell out one’s possessions and give to the poor. What the hell was that? It only confirms the rumor that he was miserably broken, not even owning a pillow to lay down his tousled head, thus having found the temerity to call for such renunciation. It looks more like a classic resentment of a poor man’s misery over the fruits of the hard works of wealthy people.
Burn After Reading 