I had plenty of time to think during a 2.5 hour (not counting intermission) performance of Handel’s Messiah this evening.
“He was “de-spis-ed, rejected” belted the mezzo-soprano with the word “despised” enunciated in three uniformly emphasized syllables.
Why, I asked myself, is Jesus today, so despised and rejected? Not, do I mean, despised and rejected by the Jew, Muslim, or Atheist, but seemingly despised and rejected by Christians in this country that was, according to lore, founded on Christian ideals.
Today Senate Republicans rejected a bill that would ban torture.
Today Senate Republicans rejected Jesus Christ.
Torture is an inherently immoral and cowardly act, and we don’t need the Vatican to tell us that, even though it has. We don’t need the Geneva Convention to tell us that, even though it has.
Today Senate Republicans rejected the grace, love, compassion, humanity and, especially, courage of Jesus Christ.
Yes, Courage. Jesus would never have condoned tortured for his own security, or that of his followers. Of this there can be no doubt.
King of Kings, Lord of Lords – the supposed guiding light for every Republican Senator – disgraced, dishonored, blasphemed; the very essence of His life mission, and death mission, despised and rejected.
Shameful.
Hypocritical.
Cowards.
