Readings, August 19, 2007

Jeremiah
Chapter 38 4 1 "This man ought to be put to death," the princes said to the king; "he demoralizes the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such things to them; he is not interested in the welfare of our people, but in their ruin." 5 King Zedekiah answered: "He is in your power"; for the king could do nothing with them. 6 And so they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah, which was in the quarters of the guard, letting him down with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud. 8 and Ebed-melech went there from the palace and said to him, 9 "My lord king, these men have been at fault in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah, casting him into the cistern. He will die of famine on the spot, for there is no more food in the city." 10 Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Cushite to take three men along with him, and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he should die.

Catholic Fundamentalism Interpretation

Leading political figures wanted to kill Jeremiah for telling the truth about what The Programmer had programmed.  "Telling the truth is demoralizing the soldiers and the people.  He cares about the truth more than us.  So, he is trying to destroy our people, not help them."

The King answered, "Do what you want with him." because the king could not control his own princes.  So, they lowered Jeremiah into a cistern in the guards' quarters where he sank into the mud.

Ebed-Melech went to the king, and told him, "These men have been at fault in all they have done to the prophet, throwing him into the cistern.  He will die of famine on the spot, because there's no more food in the city."

Then, Zedekiah ordered that Jeremiah be brought out of the cistern before he shoud die.  Zedekiah had, in this instance, chosen to be on the side of The Programmer and His one-man staff of programming assistants on earth.

Catholic Fundamentalist Interpretation

We are being watched by a huge cloud of saints and angels, so we should get rid of every burden and sin that clings to us and focus on running the race (uploading ourselves into The Program) that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, The Program in perfect, loving, human form Who perfected faith.  For the sake of joining with The Programmer, he endured pain, despised shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of The Programmer.

Consider how he endured such pain and agony from sinners to keep you from getting tired and losing heart.  In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of dying or shedding blood.

Gospel
Luke
Chapter 12 49 1 "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! 50 2 There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

Catholic Fundamentalist Interpretation

"I have come to set the earth on fire (fire separates energy from ashes) and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized (with My Own Blood), and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished. (I have had to program the entire Roman Empire, Pontius Pilate, the Jewish priesthood, etc., etc., etc., etc.) 

"Do you think I have come to establish peace on earth?  No, I tell you, but I must separate those who will download The Program from those who won't.   From now on, a family of five will be divided three against two and two against three. . ."  The divisions Jesus reports are generation against generation, he does not have children fighting, or parents fighting, but warring between the generations.  Implies that one generation will be saved, but not the other.