Gospel

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Then,
Peter came
to Him,
and said,
'Lord,
how often shall
my brother sin
against me,
and I forgive him?
Up to seven times?'
[Matthew 18:21]
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"It's a double zetz,
Lord."

"What is,
My child?"

(Shout.)
"A DOUBLE ZETZ!
A DOUBLE ZETZ!"

[CALM NOD.]
"What is,
My child."

(Cranky yell.)
"This FORGIVENESS
THING!"
(Whiny yell up to
the ceiling plaster.)
"It's a DOUP'LAH'ZETZ*!"

"Why,
My precious."

"CUZ!"

"Why."

"CUZ,
it's STUPID!"

[FIRM FROWN.]
"Tell Me,
most beloved."

"You KNOW IT IS,
Lord! YOU KNOW
IT IS!"

[CALM GAZE.]
"Eat something, child.
You're hungry."

(Cranky glare.)
"That's not gonna
CHANGE ANYTHING!"

[CALM NODDING.]
"It might."

"NO!
It's WON'T!"

[CALM PATIENCE.]

"Anyhow....I've GOT
somethin', in the
MICROWAVE,
RIGHT NOW!"

"Stop shouting,
My beloved."

(Glance away.)
(Glance back.)
"I just think,
this FORGIVENESS
THING's...a real,
HOOT!"

[CALM GAZE.]
[NOD.]
"Tell Me."

"Be...CUZ!
That's WHY!"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

"I'm gonna..
EAT,
in a MINUTE!"

[SMILE!]
"It is a long minute."

(Burst out laughing!)
(Laugh!)
"It just PING'D,
LORD!"

[CALM NOD.]

(Get up.)
(Open microwave.)
(Gingerly take box, out.)
(Peel off wrapper.)
(Blow.)
"It's HOT!"

[SOLEMN NOD.]

(Take bowl over.)
(Set off, to the side.)
(Pick up, again.)
(Eat a particle of
mash potato.)
(Blow on it.)
(Eat another.)
"Anyhow.......
as I was saying..."
(Pick up bowl, again.)
"I'm CALMER..
now, Lord!"

[NOD.]
[PATIENT SIGH.]
"Go on,
Mein kin'der."

"Well....."
(Mush together, some
meatloaf, with mash potato.)
"Ya know, this FORGIVENESS
thing...."
(Shake head.)
(Chew.)
(Mouth full.)
"I think, it's just
........"

"What,
child?"

"TOO MUCH,
of a BURDEN!
..THAT'S all!"

[SILENCE.]

"I mean....
SOMEBODY sticks
a KNIFE,
in your BACK...
and, not ONLY, do you have
to spend all that TIME..
pullin' out the KNIFE...
but,
THEN....
if you're a
CHRISTIAN,
you've got the EXTRA BURDEN,
of having this FORGIVENESS
THING!"

[NOD.]
"Go on."

(Mush some more
mash potato, with the
meat loaf.)
"WELL?
Ya see what I MEAN?
First, you got this
bloody KNIFE,
in your back...
then,
you got the extra
BURDEN, of all the
GUILT!
Because...
you haven't TOTALLY
FORGIVEN,
the YUTZ*!"

[PATTIENT FROWN.]
"Don't curse,
child."

(Philosophical shrug.)
(Shrug.)
(Spoon up some mash potato.)
"It's like,
having an EXTRA burden!
...On TOP, of it!
On TOP, of the burden,
of pullin' the KNIFE,
outta y'ur BACK!"

[NOD.]
"Go on."

"WELL?
That's IT!
So, now ya got TWO
BURDENS...
to carry AROUND!
Instead 'a the ONE!"

[GAZE AT A BIRD
HOPPING ABOUT
ON A CEMENT PATIO,
IN SAN ANTONIO.]
[NODDING.]

"Instead 'a just,
the ONE!"

[NOD.]

"It's just too MUCH!
That's ALL!"

"Not for
Me,
child.
Not for
Me."
*********************
Jesus
said to him,
'I do not
say to you,
up to seven times,
but up to
seventy
times seven.
[Matthew 18:22]

__________________________
*Yiddish: 'Double
Tsoris': Like having
the stomach flu: you
got it, comin' and goin'.
**Yiddish: Somebody
who leaves his wife
and three kids, all
under the age of 6...
takes all the money
out of their checking
account, and then,
goes on a world-wide
cruise, with his
18-year old office
assistant.

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