“HOW DO YOU KNOW ME?” (Jn 1:43-51): 05 January 2008 (John Neumann, Saturday)
Reading: www.nccbuscc.org/nab/010508.shtml
In 2002 Mary Zimmerman won the Tony Award for Best Director for her work on “Metamorphosis,” a play based on a number of Ovid’s fables. In one scene, Zeus and Hermes disguise themselves as ordinary peasants, and they visit a village knocking on doors to ask for a place to stay. Every house closes its door on them, and after a while, Hermes tries to convince Zeus to give up. But Zeus insists they continue and they end up before the simple cottage of Baucis and Philemon, a poor elderly couple, who–to the gods’ surprise–immediately welcome the strangers and serve them food and wine. Suspiciously, Zeus asks them if they recognize them. “Of course!” exclaims Philemon. “You are children of God!” But later Philemon notices that although he has already refilled his guests’ cups many times, the wine pitcher remains full. At this point, the scene’s several narrators declare to the audience in unison: “And then they knew.” Baucis cries out, “Mercy, mercy!” and she and Philemon fall on their knees before the gods they finally recognize.