The Silent Debate Between the Pope and the Rabbi

Source:  http://psalm46-11.blogspot.com/
Several centuries ago, the Pope decreed that all the Jews had to convert to Catholicism or leave Italy. There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community, so the Pope offered a deal.

He'd have a religious debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in Italy; if the Pope won, they'd have to convert or leave.

The Jewish people met and picked an aged and wise rabbi to represent them in the debate. However, as the Rabbi spoke no Italian, and the Pope spoke no Yiddish, they agreed that it would be a 'silent' debate.

On the chosen day the Pope and Rabbi sat opposite each other.

The Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. 
The Rabbi looked back and raised one finger.

Next, the Pope waved his finger around his head. 
The Rabbi pointed to the ground where he sat.

The Pope brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine. 
The Rabbi pulled out an apple.

With that, the Pope stood up and declared himself beaten and said that the Rabbi was too clever. The Jews could stay in Italy.

Later the cardinals met with the Pope and asked him what had happened.
The Pope said, 'First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up a single finger to remind me there is still only One God common to both our beliefs.
Then I waved my finger around my head to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also right here with us.
'I pulled out the wine and wafer to show that God absolves us of all our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin.
He bested me at every move, and I could not continue.'

Meanwhile, the Jewish community gathered to ask the Rabbi how he'd won.
'I haven't a clue' the Rabbi said. 'First, he told me that we had three days to get out of Italy, so I gave him the finger.
Then he told me that the whole country would be cleared of Jews and I told him that we were staying right here.'
'And then what?' asked a woman.
'Who knows?' said the Rabbi. 'He took out his lunch so I took out mine.'




----- Waiver. -------------------
When I posted this, I did not intend to condone the injustices done by Christians to Jews. It just shows that the Church is also human - capable of sin, errors and mistakes.

Judeo Christian family of the People of God.

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We are family - starting with the Jewish people. As the Pope said, "They are our elder brothers."  Muslims on the other hand are not in the picture because their cult was fabricated.

The pastoral method of Salesians vs Jesuits. A metaphor for Obama's ways.

The Salesians focus on poor youth and are more pastorally oriented. The Jesuits on the other hand are on the leading edge of everything in an attempt to glorify God there. In other words, Jesuits are like superheroes - individuals who excel, the creme de la creme. Salesians are regular guys, like grunts, working together to accomplish a mission. These are two different spirits, two different ways of doing things. As a Salesian, achieving 70% with the community is much better than achieving 100% by oneself. Jesuits are the opposite.

America is my opinion is more like the Salesians. It takes time and effort to move as a country. But that is what makes us great. It would be easier to have a dictator mandate decisions and directions, but that is more appropriate to third world countries where the populace is uneducated, undisciplined or uncontrolled. America is not a third world country but Obama treats it like one by circumventing established procedures, disrepecting the spirit of the law, abusing executive privilege and coercing the Judiciary to implement his personal agenda.

Smoking while praying Vespers. Jesuit vs Franciscan

A Jesuit and a Franciscan were praying Verspers on their own. The Jesuit was smoking while doing so. At the end, the Franciscan asked, "Did your superior allow you to do that? My didn't" The Jesuit responded, "How did you ask for permission?" The friar said, "Can I smoke while I pray?" Then the superior said, "Of course not, prayer is a holy activity." "That's your mistake right there" said the Jesuit. "You should have said, "Father, may I pray while I smoke?"