At tonight’s candlelight services, Amy, our parish minister, did the reading from the second chapter of the gospel of Luke. By the time the second service came around, my concentration was slipping a little.

“And it came to pass in those days,” said Amy, “that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be texted.”

Oh, I thought to myself, great idea. Caesar could just text everyone in the Roman Empire to let them know that they had to go….

“And all went to be taxed,” said Amy, “every one into his own city.”

Taxed, I thought to myself, not texted; Caesar Augustus did not have a Twitter feed in 4 B.C.E.