Forgave enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Fulfilled outcome for repentance: “You will be with Me in Paradise”
Took care of mother: “Woman, behold your son!”
The Gates of Heaven are opened: “It is finished!”
Scrumbatcher, or, starting the New Year/Decade with a New Word
scrumbatcher, n., a dog, especially a morkie, who continually haunts the kitchen whenever there is activity looking for goodies grunting all the while.
scrumbatching, n., what a scrumbatcher does.
Paying off the Mortgage
The only time I pay off the mortgage is when I refinance.
The Alphabet
This is a visual joke. What’s the difference between the ordinary, everyday alphabet and the Christmas alphabet?
The Christmas alphabet has NOEL.
Credit: Sign in a PT receptionist area.
Few vs Many in the Consecration
A lot of ink, and, nowadays, a lot of electrons, have been used debating the use of the phrase “for many” vs. “for all” in the consecration portion of Holy Mass. No use of any long argument here for one over the other. “And the scribes and the Pharisees, seeing that he ate with publicans and sinners, said to his disciples: Why doth your master eat and drink with publicans and sinners? [17] Jesus hearing this, saith to them: They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. For I came not to call the just, but sinners.” (St. Mark, 2:16, Douay-Rheims).
My Dog, The Writer
Flaubert is famous for establishing the tireless quest for le mot juste (exactly the right word/phrasing). My dog, Snarffy, should become equally famous for le spot juste (exactly the right spot).
I’m Going Fishing
One can speculate endlessly about what might have been going through St. Peter’s mind after the Crucifixion. What seems certain is that he decided that the only sensible thing for him to do now was to return to his career – “I’m going fishing”. Little did he know the irony of his statement for very shortly thereafter the Lord would set him “fishing” for the souls of men.
Humans in Heaven
There were no humans in heaven prior to the death of Jesus Christ which was necessary to atone for the sin of the first parents and all of mankind’s sins till the end of time. With Jesus’ death, the great redemptive force was unleashed (” and He descended into Hell” – there is a quite thorough explanation of this mystery at https://catholicexchange.com/meaning-behind-descended-hell ). Imagine the joy of Heaven when the many who waited, without pain of any kind, for the great moment when they would populate Heaven.
And speaking about humans in heaven, it is often said we don’t know if anyone is in Heaven. That is largely true but today’s gospel certainly lets us know of a few that are (now) in Heaven:
“And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God… “Luke 13:22-3
For those who will wail something about misogyny miss the point that Israel routinely mistreated her prophets and that this is a pointed comment from Jesus making clear that false prophets and those who igorned God’s word through the prophets are not likely heavenly residents.
The Devil Joy Factor
conquering of death, the ultimate consequence of sin, is a real joy killer!
America, Be Alert-I!
This is 2019 and the “Democratic Party” debates have taken place over the last couple of days (June 26-27). The general course of the “Democratic Party” has been extremely worrisome since it apparently only knows to go radical left from its already radical left position. However, with the candidates all calling “abortion up to the moment of birth” a constitutional right, it is time to be on high alert. Calling abortion a constitutional right is only the beginning of what else might be included down the road. If you think this is simply not possible, consider where we’ve come since Clinton’s “let’s make abortion legal and rare”. Not a single one of the so-called Democratic party candidates deserves the support of any thinking American.