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Gathering Storm 
There have been so many problems arising out of matters considered sacred and cartoons purporting to portray people held to be sacred, that it is almost impossible to discern truth through the haze of words expressing views of what might be called 'the gathering storm' - an ominous phrase.
In AD38 a dispute arose in Alexandria between Jews and Gentiles. The Gentiles set up an altar in honour of the Emperor Caligula. Some Jews who considered the altar to be idolatrous, pulled it down. The dispute was referred to Rome, where the Jews (who had sent a delegation) denied disloyalty. They said they had offered sacrifices for Caligula on many occasions. Caligula's decision, - as Chief Magistrate - was that the Jews had never offered sacrifices to him, which was tantamount to denying the Emperor's divinity. Caligula ordered that a statue of him should be erected in the Jewish Temple and despatched a decree to that effect.
Herod, King of Judea, happened to be in Rome at the time. He knew that the decree would create an uprising if it were enforced. Herod gave a magnificent banquet, which Caligula attended. He was so delighted with the banquet that he told Herod he would grant any boon he chose to ask. Herod asked for the decree about the statue to be countermanded and Caligula (reluctantly) agreed.
Herod probably acted out of pure self interest. Civil unrest would have affected his revenues from Judea. Nevertheless it was a wise action.
Another action, far more profound and with eternal consequences, came when Jesus, who, confronted with monstrous injustice, remained silent and faced with the mob insisting on his crucifixion, said only "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do".
That forgiveness is a gift which remains through the centuries for mankind. All of us need to accept that we, in our time, need that forgiveness for, truly, we each of us still do not know what we do. We often do not know the consequences of what we do. We need often to remain silent, lest we ourselves be judged.
Bob Mclean
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