A Family Affair
One Sunday afternoon, a Washington, D.C. pastor received a telephone call from a woman parishioner. “I heard you preach this morning and I thought the sermon was fine,” she said,
A
Opportunities For Usefulness
Several months ago, in a large New Jersey parish, the following note was slipped into the Sunday morning collection basket: Dear Pastor, In response to your recent sermon about Church
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Satisfy Your Hunger
A rather portly pastor had been urged by several parishioners to lose weight. Finally, he decided to take their advice. His doctor gave him a detailed diet plan which he
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The Most Awesome Thing Of All
A certain man had resisted driving a car until he retired at age 65. After obtaining his driver’s license, he ventured out onto a busy freeway for the first time.
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A Fruitful Life
Early in Matthew’s Gospel, it is written, “… any tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire” (Mt. 3:10). These strong words
Just As He Is
Father Murphy, a parish priest, was being honored at a dinner celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination. The scheduled principal speaker was a leading local politician and lawyer. He
Our Only Real Security
It has been said that “following Jesus is like climbing a spiral staircase”: Sometimes it seems as though we are just circling around, getting nowhere. But then we notice that
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Look! They’re Moving!
A confirmed bachelor and a married man were talking to each other about the pros and cons of family life. At one point in the conversation, the married man asked:
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Pass It On!
A recent Washington Post feature article was headed, “God Speaks From Above.” The article described a national public service campaign in which messages from “God” are displayed on billboards and
Lasting Truth
There are many lasting truths about life that children learn on their own. Among them … No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats. When your mom is
When All Else Fails …
A right relationship with God grows and develops not merely by what we say or teach or promise. It’s what we do that matters most. And in today’s Gospel Lesson
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What Are We Looking For?
Grandpa and his six-year-old grandson went fishing together. It was the boy’s first experience as a fisherman and, when he made his first casting attempt, his line became a tangled
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Run For Your Life!
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. We are all born “wide-eyed,” so to speak. We delight in the enthusiastic wonder of an infant who hears
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A Matter Of Choice
A pious pastor who had been a teetotaler all his life, was invited to dinner by a new parishioner. “Would you gentlemen care for a drink?” the waiter asked. “I’ll
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Do It Again!
After having been found guilty of certain criminal offenses, the defendant stood before the sentencing judge … “Prisoner at the bar,” said the judge, “you have been found guilty on
The Great Paradox
In a “Peanuts” cartoon strip, Little Lucy, who is known to be ever-ready with unsolicited advice, is playing right-field in a baseball game. Charlie Brown is pitching. “Let’s win one
Birds Of A Feather?
Many years ago, a pastor was sitting alone in his Church, quietly reflecting on a theological tome he had been reading. Suddenly, his reverie was interrupted by the noise of
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Take The Plunge!
In a big city Church, a cafeteria-style lunch was made available to members of the congregation at the conclusion of the Sunday worship. The charge for the meal was relatively
When Is It Time To Love Somebody?
In a syndicated newspaper cartoon, Santa Claus is pictured at his work bench putting a new toy together. From his nearby TV set, he hears a reporter saying, We continue
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A Kiss In The Dark
About this time of year in 1997, Washington Post journalist, Laura Britt, wrote a column entitled, “Christmas Blues.” In it, she tells of a telephone call she received from a
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