Jesus was a hunk

Or so says Andrew Greeley... While that could very well be true I think the years Fr. Greeley has spent writing his trashy novels may have corrupted any pastoral and theological sense he, at one time, may have had. It seems he feels the need to spice Jesus up a bit in his newest book: Jesus: A Meditation on His Stories and Relationships with Women.

The reviewer, Susan Hogan/Albach, says in her article that:

"The book reads like an adolescent fantasy about manhood and priesthood (priests represent Jesus). It's salvation through titillation. Women are portrayed as shallow -- a mindless mass of bodily desires who fall all over Jesus like Brad Pitt groupies."

Ms. Hogan/Albach then goes on to explain that Fr. Greeley has a very nontaditional view of the sisters of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Apparently it seems likely to Fr. Greeley that the sisters were teenagers infatuated by Jesus' good looks and charming manner and Martha's complaints about her sister were nothing more then a jealous snit because Mary was getting all the attention. Fr Greeley is quoted as saying:

"If we accept that Martha and Mary were both teenagers, the squabbling between them becomes understandable. It is also not unlikely that they both had crushes on him."

I guess being God Incarnate was only incidental to the women followers who were more impressed with Jesus' suave manners and good looks. Apparently not being content with reducing the holy women to nothing more then horny teenage girls vying for the attention of "Jesus the hottie" Fr. Greeley goes on to give us this titillating nugget:

"Jesus was the "most attractive man" Mary of Magdala ever encountered, Greeley says, and it's possible that Jesus fantasized about "making love" with her."

Eh! --- so what if Jesus warns In Matthew chapter five that anyone who "looks at a woman with lust" has already sinned. I suppose this little indiscretion just makes Jesus all the more likable, more approachable--- more like us--- this Jesus is much more meaningful to our world today--- way more then that stuffy old Jesus in the bible…

Comments

[Paul K.]

Oh, my word - Fr. Greeley has really outdone (undone?) himself. Ugh. Perhaps, in his confused state, he has come to believe that Christ is a representative of Fr. Greeley, not the other way 'round. This is a misunderstanding (my politically correct term for 'heresy') that is common in, and indeed, defines Protestantism. I think Fr. Greeley would be a jolly good Anglican priest. I wonder if that can be arranged somehow.

God bless - Paul K.

[bill bannon]

Fr. Greeley also does not know Isaiah...."there is no beauty in him nor comliness and we have seen him and there is no sightliness that we might be desirous of him." Isaiah 53:2.
The Son knew that if He came looking like President Kennedy...people would be drawn to Him for reasons beside the point. So He came plain looking despite 19th century Romantic paintings and then holy cards of Him.
there is no art from the time of Christ of Christ people...the pictures you love are over a millenium after He was here.