In the Golden Age of Saturday Night Live, they had a skit called "Coffee Talk," where Mike Myers played a flamboyant talk show host who regularly posed paradoxical phrases for discussion. Example are "Rhode Island is neither a road nor an island. Discuss!" Or "The peanut is neither a pea nor a nut. Discuss."
You get the idea.
What about the "Gospel" or "Good News" that we celebrate on Good Friday and Easter Sunday? The phrase comes from the Old English god (good) and spell (tidings, story, or message). But it has even deeper roots in the New Testament Greek word euangelion (eu = good; angelion = tidings). In ancient times, messengers would carry important news over great distances, like the outcome of a battle. Kings would anxiously wait for the 'evangelist' to arrive, hoping to hear good news.
If Mike Myers were in costume during Holy Week, I don't think he could resist this phrase, because in many places, the Good News is neither presented as Good nor as News. It's often narrowly treated as a warning, a threat, or a bomb waiting to go off. It's constantly characterized as an ancient relic that does nothing but collect dust on the shelf of history.
So crab a cup of java and find a quiet place to think. What makes the Good News both Good and News? How can something that happened 2000 years ago mean transformation, joy and hope for me today?
The Good News is both Good.... and... News. Discuss!
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Preach it bro! :)
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