28: Emor
To look at the interviewer, you wouldn't know he's another priest.
Nothing about the way he ticks off boxes on the form seems the least bit holy.
"You understand," he pauses for a moment, "nothing can be permitted to foul the holiday."
What he means is, we must insure that I've reached the needed level of perfection.
I assure him that I fully understand the importance of the sacrifice.
Without it, we cannot insure that the gods will bring us justice.
Our whole civilization is predicated on divine justice,
The balance of consequence conveyed from above to an empowered priest.
There can be no blemish, no single thing wrong, with either sacrificer or sacrifice.
Only in this way can the ritual be fulfilled, our deal with the gods kept holy.
All else is flawed but this one thing must be perfection.
Once we renew, we'll rejoice in the holiday.
I have been undergoing the tests since the last holiday.
My entire life has been spent in understanding and pursuing justice.
He knows as well as I do that every test will verify my state of perfection,
A level of purification beyond even that expected of every priest.
Nothing may enter the inner circle that is not entirely holy;
The sacrificer must be as perfect as the sacrifice.
This will be the first time I see the sacrifice.
That element alone is performed out of sight during the holiday.
It happens here - in these halls, in this Temple, in this heart of all that is Holy.
My whole life has built to this moment, to this culmination in my own need for justice.
I was always determined to walk the rarified path of the priest
with humility - not arrogance - my guide towards perfection.
The final tests are conducted, verifying my perfection.
It is time for me to walk into the inner ring to make the sacrifice.
We walk in silence; no more words to be exchanged with my fellow priest.
When I am done, we shall return to the flawed world to celebrate the holiday.
I wonder if this will change my own view of justice;
Will it seem not only fair, but actually more holy?
Now we have reached the Site Most Holy,
that bright and stony place where perfection meets perfection.
My companion raises his eyes. "Lords Above, we renew your pledge of justice!"
I step forward, beginning the chant of the blade, looking for the animal that I am to sacrifice.
"Oh," he says, "I thought you realized. You won't be living to see the holiday."
Only then, I realize the ritual blade is in the hands of the other priest.
When justice is the thing that is most holy,
It is not only the priest who must have achieved perfection.
It appears I am to be the sacrifice this holiday.
------
For consideration: Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23; the necessary purity of the priests; quality of sacrificial animals; the annual holidays; justice means an eye for an eye, no more or less
Nothing about the way he ticks off boxes on the form seems the least bit holy.
"You understand," he pauses for a moment, "nothing can be permitted to foul the holiday."
What he means is, we must insure that I've reached the needed level of perfection.
I assure him that I fully understand the importance of the sacrifice.
Without it, we cannot insure that the gods will bring us justice.
Our whole civilization is predicated on divine justice,
The balance of consequence conveyed from above to an empowered priest.
There can be no blemish, no single thing wrong, with either sacrificer or sacrifice.
Only in this way can the ritual be fulfilled, our deal with the gods kept holy.
All else is flawed but this one thing must be perfection.
Once we renew, we'll rejoice in the holiday.
I have been undergoing the tests since the last holiday.
My entire life has been spent in understanding and pursuing justice.
He knows as well as I do that every test will verify my state of perfection,
A level of purification beyond even that expected of every priest.
Nothing may enter the inner circle that is not entirely holy;
The sacrificer must be as perfect as the sacrifice.
This will be the first time I see the sacrifice.
That element alone is performed out of sight during the holiday.
It happens here - in these halls, in this Temple, in this heart of all that is Holy.
My whole life has built to this moment, to this culmination in my own need for justice.
I was always determined to walk the rarified path of the priest
with humility - not arrogance - my guide towards perfection.
The final tests are conducted, verifying my perfection.
It is time for me to walk into the inner ring to make the sacrifice.
We walk in silence; no more words to be exchanged with my fellow priest.
When I am done, we shall return to the flawed world to celebrate the holiday.
I wonder if this will change my own view of justice;
Will it seem not only fair, but actually more holy?
Now we have reached the Site Most Holy,
that bright and stony place where perfection meets perfection.
My companion raises his eyes. "Lords Above, we renew your pledge of justice!"
I step forward, beginning the chant of the blade, looking for the animal that I am to sacrifice.
"Oh," he says, "I thought you realized. You won't be living to see the holiday."
Only then, I realize the ritual blade is in the hands of the other priest.
When justice is the thing that is most holy,
It is not only the priest who must have achieved perfection.
It appears I am to be the sacrifice this holiday.
------
For consideration: Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23; the necessary purity of the priests; quality of sacrificial animals; the annual holidays; justice means an eye for an eye, no more or less