Friday, March 3, 2023

 March 3, 2023


Quote for Today


"When I sell liquor, they call it  bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on silver trays on Lake Shore Drive, they call  it  hospitality."   


                                                                                                                               Al Capone, 1930

Thursday, March 2, 2023

 March 2, 2023


Reflection

 March 2, 2023


Quote for Today


"All sin tends to be addictive, and the terminal point of addiction is what is called damnation"


W.H. Auden [1907-1973]

A Certain World

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

March 1, 2023


Reflection 

 March 1, 2023


Quote for Today


"It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys of  London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside."


Arthur Conan Doyle [1856-1930]

The Adventures of the Copper Beeches

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

 


DO NOT BABBLE

 

The title of my homily is, “Do Not Babble”

Jesus says that in today’s gospel.

When praying, “Do not babble.”

I believe we can say that of his preaching as well. “Don’t babble.”

I like the comments by President  Calvin Coolidge about this theme I want to preach about today.

For example: “Nobody gets in trouble by listening.”

And Dorothy Parker  once said to Coolidge,  “I have a bet with someone that I can get you to say  more than two words and he said with a smile on his face, “You lose.”

Walter T. Tatara said, "Surely the shortest commencement addresses -  in history and for me one of the most memorable - was that of Dr. Harold E. Hyde, president of New Hampshire Plymouth State College. He reduced his message to the graduating class to these three ideals: 'Know yourself - Socrates. Control yourself. Cicero. Give yourself. Christ.'"

All this is triggered by today’s gospel.

Jesus said,

When praying: don’t babble. Not too many words.

See God as our Father.

Hallowed be God’s name.

Pray that God’s kingdom comes about.

Pray that God’s will be done.

Give us our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation.

Deliver us from evil.

Amen

 February 28, 2023




Quote for Today

"A good voice has ruined a more actors than whisky."


Actor Joseph Jefferson,

Quoted by Gary Cooper.

Well, It Was That Way, 1956