2014

Having experienced typhoons on Guam, I can relate to what the folks in Hawaii experienced this past week. That brings to mind the story of a minister who found himself literally in deep water due to a flash flood. The water was above his waist and still rising as he grabbed an injured woman.  A rowboat came by and a guy yelled, “Let me save you!” but the preacher said, “Take this woman. God will save me!”  After taking the woman, the rowboat moved on.

By now, the water was up to the man’s chin as he struggled to help a father and his two children stay afloat. A helicopter hovered overhead and the pilot yelled, “Here, let me save you!” Again, the minister said, “Save these people. God will save me.” Finally the preacher drowned and he found himself at the pearly gates where St. Peter ushered him into the presence of God. The minister said, “Lord, I have always lived a good life, feeding the hungry, helping the homeless, praying often, and leading people to faith in you. Tell me, Lord, why didn’t you save me in that awful flood?”

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19th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

An elderly woman lived in one half of a duplex apartment. She was extremely poor in this world’s stuff but rich in the things of the spirit. She prayed a great deal and would do anything for someone else in need. In the other half of the duplex lived the owner, a man of no faith, no prayer, no religion. He often made fun of the old lady’s trust in God.

One day this woman was praying, quite loudly, telling the Lord that she had no food in the house. The godless one heard her and decided: “I am going to play a trick on that old gal.”He took a loaf of bread, laid it at her door, rang the doorbell, and then hurried back to his apartment to hear through the thin walls her cry of delight: “Thank you, Lord, I just knew you would not fail me,”

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18th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

Not being a green thumb, my knowledge of weeds is limited. I recognize dandelions, chickweed, and crabgrass. They stand out on any lawn like eyesores but some weeds are deceptively attractive. They don’t even look like weeds to me, so I presume them to be some uncommon plant until someone tells me that I have been duped.

The weeds Jesus mentions are not just any ordinary weeds. He is talking about darnel; a noxious, poisonous weed that closely resembles wheat until both have ripened. At harvest time, the difference becomes obvious. Wheat stands tall and golden while darnel is shorter and its grains are gray.Likewise, certain sins can seem attractive at first, but sooner or later, their ugliness becomes apparent.

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16th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

In his after dinner speech, a sales manager praised the efficiency of his staff. “We are now making a sale every three minutes,” he boasted. “That’s not enough,” yelled a voice from the audience. The speaker was momentarily thrown off stride but not deterred by this heckler. Ignoring the rude interruption, he went on to talk about the new promotion that involved radio and TV ads, along with direct marketing. He told the audience this would ensure a sale every minute and a half. “That’s still not enough,” said the voice again.

Visibly annoyed, the speaker singled out the person who had spoken up and responded sharply, “You have interrupted me twice. Could you kindly explain yourself?” “Certainly,” came the reply. “There’s a sucker born every minute!”

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15th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

We have just celebrated our nation’s independence with the usual fanfare, which reminds us of our freedom, our human rights and dignity, our prosperity, our American dream, power and worldly influence. This annual holiday makes us feel good about our country and ourselves, doesn’t it?

Then Jesus pulls the rug out from underneath us, reminding us that life is difficult. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.”

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14th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »