The Baby Jesus Weeps for You

Although I have been veering into the political realm a bit too often here, I thought I would share an experience I had with some relatives not too long ago, because it is funny as hell.

My family is aware of my liberal status. It's no secret. Let's face it, you don't end up with a PhD in Anthropology if you are a traditionalist. But, that doesn't mean that my family comprehends my life decisions, or my political leanings. They would rather just call names. You know, lefty, liberal, commie, pinko, feminist (I think they see that as the worst insult. This label was applied when I didn't change my name after I got married). I've been called it all.

So, not too long ago I was listening to my (very Catholic) cousin yap about how Obama was causing the downfall of Western Civilization or some complete bullshit like that. Apparently, they keystone in this collapse is nationalized healthcare, which would make us socialists (it would not), and that is the same as communists (also wrong).

After listening to her flap her gums for just as long as I could stand, I said to her "You know, when you oppose national healthcare, you make the Baby Jesus cry."

In return I got a "What?"

So I repeated myself. "When you oppose national healthcare, it makes the Baby Jesus cry."

She sputtered a bit and asked me what in the world that I was talking about.

I said "Well, it's in the bible."

After much back and forth, mainly centered on what an idiot I was, I got a bible. I turned to Matthew 25, verses 41-46 or so. And it said:

On the last day, Jesus will say to those on His right hand, "Come, enter the Kingdom. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was sick and you visited me." Then Jesus will turn to those on His left hand and say, "Depart from me because I was hungry and you did not feed me, I was thirsty and you did not give me to drink, I was sick and you did not visit me." These will ask Him, "When did we see You hungry, or thirsty or sick and did not come to Your help?" And Jesus will answer them, "Whatever you neglected to do unto one of these least of these, you neglected to do unto Me!"

Then I asked, "What have you done for the "least of these" except to leave them sick and without care? The Baby Jesus weeps for you, you know."

After that our discussion about healthcare was over. Although it did initiate a discussion about whether or not I could quote the bible because "You don't even believe!!!" And whether or not that would result in my going to hell, which I pointed out could not happen because there is no hell.

It was finally announced that there was just no reasoning with me, followed by a storming out of the room.

Really, I thought I was actually pretty reasonable. At least I had a citation to support my position.

Sigh.