Charlemagne's Bones

"Some years ago archaeologists discovered the tomb of Emperor Charlemagne of France. When it was opened for the first time in many centuries, the usual treasures of the kingdom were found, but in the center of the vault was a great throne, and upon it sat the skeleton of the ruler himself with an open Bible in his lap. His bony finger had been made to point t a certain verse of Scripture . . . "For what shall it profit a person if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" It is a timely reminder that our Western society needs to hear over and over again."

Ben Witherington III, The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001) 254. (Unfortunately the author does not cite his source on the story.)

This reminder is not just timely for Western society, but anyone meditating on the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary for Proper 19 (24), which is this coming Sunday.

Ben Witherington has a blog as well. Check it out.