Hard Act To Follow Poem by gershon hepner

Since God’s act was so hard to swallow,
it’s not surprising Joseph was depressed;
though the Virgin was prepared to swallow,
every time they got undressed,
each time they went to bed
she’d talk about the Holy Ghost.
Thoughe Jesus is the wine and bread,
it seemed to Joseph he was toast.

Inspired by a report on the BBC about a scandalous billboard in New Zealand:

An unholy row has broken out in New Zealand over a church billboard aimed at 'challenging stereotypes' about the birth of Jesus Christ. A dejected-looking Joseph lies in bed next to Mary under the caption, 'Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow'. St Matthew-in-the-City Church in Auckland, which erected the billboard, said it had intended to provoke debate. But the Catholic Church, among others, has condemned it as 'inappropriate' and 'disrespectful'. Within hours of its unveiling, the billboard had been defaced with brown paint. The church's vicar, Archdeacon Glynn Cardy, said the aim of the billboard had been to lampoon the literal interpretation of the Christmas conception story.. But Lyndsay Freer, spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, said the poster was offensive to Christians. 'Our Christian tradition of 2,000 years is that Mary remains a virgin and that Jesus is the son of God, not Joseph, ' she told the New Zealand Herald. 'Such a poster is inappropriate and disrespectful.' The family values group Family First said any debate about the Virgin birth should be held inside the church. 'To confront children and families with the concept as a street billboard is completely irresponsible and unnecessary, ' Family First director Bob McCroskrie told the news website stuff.co.nz


12/17/09