Okay, so I'm procrastinating.
It's a beautiful Saturday afternoon, all the chores are done (well, mostly) and I had dedicated this time to finish my sermon so I could maybe watch a movie tonight.
Then, I went blogging . . .checking out who's saying what in which neighborhood. Blame it all on Kirke. She has this little test thingy up in her neighborhood where you can see which church father you are.
So, I took it. It takes less than 5 minutes. Three, tops.
Turns out, I'm most like Origen. You remember him. Very early Christian scholar and theologian from Alexandria. Got kicked out by the Patriarch for being ordained without permission. (Tee hee)
He's famous for saying, "The glory of God is (hu)man(kind) fully alive."
Sounds like me, right?
Here's what the website had to say about Origen.
You do nothing by half-measures. If you’re going to read the Bible, you want to read it in the original languages. If you’re going to teach, you’re going to reach as many souls as possible, through a proliferation of lectures and books. If you’re a guy and you’re going to fight for purity … well, you’d better hide the kitchen shears.
I'm not sure about the 'kitchen shears' thing. Anybody know that story?
Here's a link if you want to see which Church Father you're most like. Just in case you need to procrastinate, too.
Oh dear. I needed to procrastinate because I am not wanting to go get ready to set up for 4pm liturgy.
ReplyDeleteDeep sigh.
I had taken this another time and guess what...
Origen then.
Origen now.
I feel in good company however. Especially about the ordination part. Hee!
Do you know Christopher King? He is an Episcopal priest, he used to be at that cute cool little church in the Village, St. Luke in the Fields maybe? He is out on Long Island now; Tobias knows him.
Anyway I blather on because he wrote a book about Origen on the Song of Songs. I have only read the intro and beginning bits from a xeroxed copy that he made me.
Better go look at that again...
Oh boy, did I get a good laugh. It is Origen for me as well.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... Origen's doing well today! I came up with him as well.
ReplyDeleteI broke the chain, coming up as Jerome, about whom I know very little.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so here's the scoop on the 'kitchen shears' thingy. YIKES:
ReplyDeleteRev. Dr. Elizabeth: Regarding Origen and the scissors reference - as noted by William C. Placher on page 62 of A History of Christian Theology: An Introduction (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1983): "Concerned that nothing should interfere with his work, he read in Matthew's Gospel how some have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven, and decided to end all cause for scandal by castrating himself." I can't vouch for it, but it's a fairly well-known story. A number of the clergy on the various blogs and list serves who have taken this quiz have identified with Origen - and I smile every time I see it. Peace and grace. ("Padra")
So, well, hey, there it is, then. I'm thinking Gerry's really glad to have broken the cycle.
You’re St. Melito of Sardis!
ReplyDeleteYou have a great love of history and liturgy. You’re attached to the traditions of the ancients, yet you recognize that the old world — great as it was — is passing away. You are loyal to the customs of your family, though you do not hesitate to call family members to account for their sins.
BTW- I remember reading someplace that the story of Origen getting to the ... roots of the mater as it were, is a slander propagated by the jealous and irritated Alexandrines. No actual evidence for it, and it's only talked about after his death I think.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, it's just like high school. I'm the one who gets in trouble for the "good kids" getting in trouble. LOL
ReplyDeleteWell, you Origens can just play with your scissors. The Jerome in me says that even though my life at present is "functionally eunuchoid", I want to holler and carry on about the fire burning in my soul and annoy my friends and grump about how they don't pay as much attention to me as I do to them, ha ha.
(Just another little tidbit I got from that book I've been reading, "Finding the monk within.")
After reading the chapter on St. Jerome, I understand his mercurial, "sparky" personality just fine!
Oh, I see that lots of us are procrastinating today. Glad I could offer a wee bit of a diversion. Back to work for me.
ReplyDeleteOMG, I'm St. Jerome.
ReplyDeleteYou’re a passionate Christian, fiercely devoted to Jesus Christ and his Church. You are willing to labor long hours in the Lord’s vineyard, and you have little patience with those who are less willing or able to work as you do. Your passions often carry you into temptation zones of wrath, lust, and pride.
LOL. It's true!
I see lots of us are procrastinating today. Hmmm . . . which Church Father are we emulating?
ReplyDeletePaul. He was an adherent of God's patience, as I recall. Or at least his "school" was.
ReplyDelete:)
(dinner is almost ready! wahoo.)
I'm another Origen. I certainly belong to an elite group!
ReplyDeletePadre Mickey and I both took it way back when it was making the rounds (well, maybe a year or so ago) and we both ended up being Melito of Sardis.
ReplyDeleteMelito of Sardis? Wasn't Sardis Frank Sinatra's favorite restaurant? Was Melito the chef? ;~)
ReplyDeleteAll I remember about him is some connection to April 1st. I'll have to look him up.
I'm Origin too. Though I think Melito would have been a better choice. Oh well, the test reveals all, eh?
ReplyDeleteWas Saint Procrastinating one of the church fathers because I am that too.
I'm Justin Martyr, but it would have helped if I'd understood the questions.
ReplyDeleteWho the h-ll was St Melito of Sardis?
ReplyDeletePatron Saint of Pizza. Known to hang around at Sardis as part of the Brat Pack.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Elizabeth re: the comment you left over on my blog...but I mean, that DOES sound a little like a St. Jerome sort of thing to do...start something and let the other kids take it further...
ReplyDeleteYou’re a passionate Christian, fiercely devoted to Jesus Christ and his Church. You are willing to labor long hours in the Lord’s vineyard, and you have little patience with those who are less willing or able to work as you do. Your passions often carry you into temptation zones of wrath, lust, and pride.
ReplyDeleteSo this Jerome, until a few years ago it was an accurate profile. However, I'm beginning to learn patience and tolerance of those less driven...
Now if I can only learn to avoid the temptation zones.
And yes we're always looking for an excuse to procrastinate!
Thankful for my Union Theological (NYC) education, where the prayer to "not go the Way of Origen" {snip!} was a common, smirking remark.
ReplyDeleteJCF---another Origen (but only in doxos, NOT praxis! ;-D)
Oh this is SO right on the money!
ReplyDeleteYou are Tertullian!
You possess many gifts, but patience isn’t one of them. You’re tough on yourself — and on others. You’re independent, too, and you don’t like to be told what to do. You wish the Church would be a little tighter in discipline. As for the pagans, you’ve pretty much written them off. Sometimes you think the Church would be a better place if you were in charge.