Apotomy?

I very much enjoyed reading Reverend Doctor Daniel Meeter's sermon for March 22, "Apotomy," but have to admit I just don't get the word apotomy. Yes, I looked it up and the definition left me even more confused. I'm hoping to bother Reverend Meeter for a resolution to this mystery at some point but I know he's a busy man.

My confusion didn't stop me from enjoying the sermon which taught me new things about the staff of Asclepius, and I heartily enjoyed all that talk of poisonous medicine, with which I've grown very familiar, as it seems to rise up to meet me like an old friend wherever I walk these days.

I'd noticed these snake-handled cauldrons for the first time on Saturday when I walked to Vajradhara for the Tara Puja. I'd also never participated in a Tara Puja before. The poetry in the prayers devoted to Green Tara, who is viewed as uniquely able to deliver humanity from the pain of samsara, was very beautiful, as was the wish behind the practice, that all humanity be liberated from sorrow caused by our fundamental ignorance about the nature of reality. As part of the discussion Matthew Reichers finessed the idea that Green Tara or any Buddha or Bhodisattva exist only as a represention of a person's highest potential for compassion, freedom and wisdom. But I still like to believe SHE'S REAL. Just as we finished we heard a car parked outside on St. Mark's begin to loudly broadcast Al Green singing "Help Me Mend My Broken Heart," and no one could keep from laughing. It seemed like someone had a sense of humor.