A Thought for the Week
January 26, 2010
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time [January 31, 2010]
Consider, my friends the following scenario: Let us say that a young Catholic man decides to go off to the seminary. He has been an exemplary student, amicable in character, well liked by all.
So, he heads off to the seminary. Eight years later he returns to the home parish for his first Mass. All the eyes in the church are upon him expecting a pleasant word from the successful hometown boy. He steps to the ambo to speak: His first words are: “Folks, this is the lousiest parish in the entire diocese. The Christian spirit is completely lacking in this community. I hope that the bishop assigns me to this parish for my first appointment; believe me, I’ll clean up this community like you have never seen it cleaned before.”
Continue reading "Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time [January 31, 2010]"
Posted by Cindy Lentine at 03:24 PM.
January 21, 2010
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time [January 24, 2009]
There is something fascinating about having the opportunity to listen to a really good speaker, someone who can truly hold your attention and make you wish that you had the same skill at the podium.
In the successive ages of history when public orators were rare but polished at their trade, even commoners would gather in courtyards to hear them and be mesmerized by the smoothness of their art.
In the Romano-Greek age of history, for instance, scholars like Aristotle, Demosthenes, Cicero and even Paul of Tarsus were recognized as classical speakers. The fact that we have the records of their rhetoric still in existence today gives you some insight into the importance of these speakers.
Continue reading "Third Sunday in Ordinary Time [January 24, 2009]"
Posted by Cindy Lentine at 09:40 AM.
January 13, 2010
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time [January 17, 2009]
Contrary to what many people may think about the daily life of priests, it is really not such a bad life. Priests, like anyone else, of course, have their down days, but they also have their individual interests, hobbies, travel, sports; they usually get a day away from the madness of the parish office or the classroom. We all need to get away from the daily grind occasionally.
One of the pleasant features about being a priest or minister is that you have the opportunity to take part in the celebrations of others: weddings, baptisms, anniversaries, family gatherings.
Continue reading "Second Sunday in Ordinary Time [January 17, 2009]"
Posted by Cindy Lentine at 02:25 PM.
January 05, 2010
The Baptism of the Lord [January 10, 2010]
Contrary to what many people may think about the daily life of priests, it is really not such a bad life. Priests, like anyone else, of course, have their down days, but they also have their individual interests, hobbies, travel, sports; they usually get a day away from the madness of the parish office or the classroom. We all need to get away from the daily grind occasionally.
One of the pleasant features about being a priest or minister is that you have the opportunity to take part in the celebrations of others: weddings, baptisms, anniversaries, family gatherings.
Continue reading "The Baptism of the Lord [January 10, 2010]"
Posted by Cindy Lentine at 11:50 AM.
December 29, 2009
The Epiphany of the Lord [January 3, 2009]
Let me tell you a story about God. Actually, it is someone else’s story about God, but it is worth the retelling.
Some years ago a reporter for the New York Times was sent to Guatemala to do a story on the civil war in that saddened country. He stood in the middle of the cathedral market place, observing people in a long line waiting for food. The line nearly extended around the block. Finally at the end stood a slender young woman holding a basket. It seemed to take forever for her to reach the officials who were distributing the food. When she finally arrived, there was only a single banana left on the table. She looked off to the side where a little boy and girl were waiting by the fence. She then took the banana, walked over to them, peeled it, broke it in half and gave a peace to each of the children. They walked out of the square. At the end of the reporter’s description of this event, he wrote: “You know, I think I saw the face of God just then.”
Continue reading "The Epiphany of the Lord [January 3, 2009]"
Posted by Cindy Lentine at 11:30 AM.
