Jesus’ Great-Great … Granddaughter?

My brother is seven years younger than me. When we were kids, I thought he was Jesus. No, he didn’t sport the beard and hair. Actually, he had a shining cotton top. He was quiet. And, most importantly, he never seemed to do anything wrong! (Mom, if you’re reading this … trust me, he really did do all those bad things I said he did and he deserved, I’m pretty sure, those spankings.) But it occurred to me around the age of 12 that, “Oh my gosh! He’s Jesus. My brother is Jesus! Oh, great!” Now, when you’re 12, having a sinless brother who is destined to be, well, IT … is not cool. I only had the fantasy for a while, but there it is.

SO … given all the hyper-heretical-hysteria of The Da Vinci Code, as tmatt says … you knew THIS was going to happen. [The THIS being that the lady pictured here has written a book … claiming to be one of Our Lord’s (bloodline) kin.]

At church camp a few weeks ago, we offered an “Ask Abouna” session each morning after Matins. I’d never given much thought to how Dan Brown’s product would affect our young people. Wow! Most questions were either about the End of Time … or The Da Vinci Code. Many of the older kids, teens, had read the DVC. One sincere young man said, “Well, I’m just not sure who to believe.” I said, “You don’t know whether to believe a novel of fiction or the 2,000 year teaching of the Church?” “Yeah,” he said, “I mean — how do you know who is telling the truth?”

Another told us, in 10 minutes or less, all the things that were to occur at the End of Time, according to the Book of Revelation, which, she said, should happen about any minute now. (Research included the Book … and a whole bunch of other books and movies. I used to be that girl.)

Perhaps their interest and knowledge in such is compounded by this kinda stuff. I dunno. I was all into the End of Time when I was a teen. But, I was Baptist, I’d read Hal Lindsey’s book, I’d read other popular fiction (The Omen, The Exorcist, etc) — even Chick Tracts! So, yeah, I was pretty knowledgeable (you could say).

PS — I don’t think I ever told my brother I thought he was Jesus. Please don’t tell him! I mean, he’s still my brother and all. Ya know?

Thanks.