Monday, January 31, 2005

 

Guest Blogger: Matthew Subotnick

Generation Whatever at 30

Today's topic: The Messianic Age

I turned 33 last week. My wife turns 35 in March. 2 kids, mortgage, I'm working in insurance, of all things. I feel old.

It's times like this when a man turns to Good Ol' Tyme Religion (reinvigorated with the remake of Battlestar Galactica - there's a morality play if ever there was one, another topic, another time).

I've actually been pondering this one for a bit, with the holiday season recently past. You see, Hannukah, (yes, I'm one of those) is about a religious zealot, spouting off treasonous rantings, (his home-schooled boys who were given an "A" in guerrilla warfare,) and how they went on a nice little blood-bath through the countryside, killing anyone who disagreed with them, including the cops, the judges, any and all politicians, oh, and more than a few of the more prominent jews of their day. We sing songs about them, play-act with them as heroes as children, and they were the "Freemen" of their day.

The Battle Cry was "Who is for God, with me!"

For their terrorist activities, sedition, and fanaticism they were rewarded with one of the great miracles, a holiday, and eight days of trying to keep up with the Joneses.

And it makes me wonder if we are too far gone for a messianic age.

When most jews I know enjoy a good pepperoni pizza, put up Hannukah bushes, or in the case of so many interfaith homes, Christmas trees, what would happen if there was a Mattithias or Elijah, or Moses, whoever coming out to publicly proclaim they've spoken with God, he has commanded us to rise up and take arms against, well, everybody.

Or forget the armed conflict scenario, as that also involved a government ban on practicing our religion.

How about the one that really makes me worry - the coming of the messiah (for you not of the covenant, call it the second coming)?

What if someone just came out and said the Messiah is coming? Would anybody really listen? Are we too far jaded, too far gone? Can we accept what for all monotheistic beliefs is a fundamental tenet of faith - that there will be a day when everything as we know it changes, when a Messiah will come - or have we seen so much, or been inundated by so much, that if this message should ever come, it would get lost - or ignored - in the static.

Every Passover we put out a place setting and glass of wine for Elijah, the prophet, the harbinger of the Messianic age, and every year we sing a very nice song, and pretend we are praying for his arrival. We even make a point of unlocking and opening our front door for him.

But I strongly doubt if someday a man walked in to our home, plunked down, started nibbling at some matzoh and said, get ready................

How many of us would call the cops, if not dash for the .45 under the bed?

Things like 9-11 and the Tsunami and in my youth, Mt. St. Helens, remind us that we are at the mercy of life, and looking at my young my children I am reminded that for all my education, effort, and desire, there are some things I will never be able to protect them from or prepare them for.

Like all philosophical ramblings I am left with far more questions than answers, but I'll end this with one final one:

Is there room for a belief in everlasting universal happiness and peace for all?

posted by Dan 11:51 AM
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