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Background: The parable of the fig tree as told today
is one of Jesus's familiar parables of urgency. Don't waste your time. It is later than
you think. Those whom Pilate killed thought they had more time. So did those people on
whom the tower fell. So did those who died in the Oklahoma City bombing. So did those who
were killed in that plane crash, flood, hurricane, earthquake. Seize the
opportunity of the present while its there. Don't put it off. Live fully, that is
faithfully, while you can. It's a familiar enough message and it makes a lot of sense, but
still we try not to believe it, to pretend that it really isn't later than we think. This
Lent would be a good time to change our minds. |
read the padre
read the padre
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Story: Once
there was a couple who won a great prize, a two week trip to Ireland (or the destination
of your choice). They had a whole year to make the trip. Well, said the wife, let's not do
it this summer, because we don't want to interfere with our summer at the lake. And we
can't go in September because that's when the kids go back to school. Then it came to be
late October,
before anyone knew it, and the husband said, well we can't go over the holidays. That's
right, his wife agreed. Let's wait till after the first of the year. However, someone told
them that the days were terrible short in Ireland in January and February and besides the
weather wasn't very good (as thought it is predictably good any time!). So they said,
well, let's wait till spring when we know there'll be good weather and we don't have to
worry about the snow closing airports in this country. So finally they made reservations
for the first week in May. The weather was supposed to be good in Ireland and the days
were long and it was the best time in the year to go (and if you believe there is any best
time, you'll believe that chickens have
lips!). They admitted that they were cutting it close because their prize ran out on June
1, but they were sure nothing would go wrong. Then the husband had a gallbladder attack
and required surgery. The doctors said he would be able to travel, oh, by the middle of
June.
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