Mysterious and spooky,
They're altogether ooky,
The Addams Family." (1)
The Addams Family began "life" in 1938 as a cartoon in the New Yorker, and continued to appear there for the next 50 years. For a portion of the world's population that is The Addams Family. For most of us, though, what springs to mind is the catchy theme song and the finger snaps of the the mid-1960s TV show.
Cartoonist Charles Addams, the creator of this strange little family, did not name any of the characters until asked to do so just prior to casting of the 1964 TV show. Still, for those of us who recall the cartoons, each member of the family was distinctive. To quote their creator:
"Gomez and Pugsley are enthusiastic. Morticia is even in disposition, muted, witty, sometimes deadly. Grandma Frump is foolishly good-natured. Wednesday is her mother's daughter. A closely knit family, the real head being Morticia—although each of the others is a definite character—except for Grandma, who is easily led. Many of the troubles they have as a family are due to Grandma’s fumbling, weak character. The house is a wreck, of course, but this is a house-proud family just the same and every trap door is in good repair. Money is no problem.—" (2)
For many, only John Astin and Carolyn Jones could be Gomez and Morticia. While others are in the Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston camp. And then there's Wednesday ("Wednesday's child is full of woe."): Christina Ricci so inhabited the character, it's almost impossible to find someone who can name the other actors who played her.
I write this thinking of a line spoken by one of the Morticia's (Huston, I believe): "Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly." When I heard her say it, I was struck by the universality of it: perspective is often the most overlooked of things.
In this week's Lectionary passage from Luke, the religious leaders, righteously in their view, criticize Jesus for welcoming "tax collectors and sinners" to listen to his teaching. Jesus responds by telling them a couple of short parables about the finding of a lost sheep and a lost coin, making the point that what we value in this life is what we expend our energy on.
Today, we find what Jesus says next to be very encouraging, but to those critical religious leaders it was a slap in the face: "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7 NRSV) That's what they should have been thinking: and you can rest assured they felt indicted as soon as Jesus pointed it out.
We humans are kind of like the Addams Family: we can be creepy and kooky, often mysterious, and altogether "ooky" in our relations with one another. And yet, the citizens of heaven are rejoicing each time we turn toward God.
The Adam family.
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Proper 19 (24) (September 11, 2016)
First reading and Psalm
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Psalm 14
Alternate First reading and Psalm
Exodus 32:7-14
Psalm 51:1-10
Second reading
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Gospel
Luke 15:1-10
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If you would like to read a 9/11 reflection, click on the Spiritual Reflection on the right titled, "Fireworks on the Charles."
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It's still pretty early for Halloween, but you can expect some real treats Friday morning at Lectionary Breakfast. We're still meeting at 8:00 at the Waco "Egg and I" restaurant. Join us for an unusual hour where we eat, read scripture, and explore those things that make us the Adam family.
Blessings,
Steve
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(1) source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/theaddamsfamilylyrics.html
(2) Miserocchi, H. Kevin; Charles Addams (2010-03-31). The Addams Family: An Evilution. Pomegranate Books. ISBN 978-0-7649-5388-0.
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