Furthermore…

When in the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and in other places we pray for or care about “the whole world” it gives me pause. It seems like such an almost impossible and overreaching mindset to have such a concern. I don’t even feel very confident asking for something minor and banal like “Please Lord, don’t let this cop write me a ticket,” so it seems beyond all proportion to be pleading for the wellbeing of “the whole world.” Of course, with God all things are possible, but it seems unimaginable that my little prayers, or even the combined prayers of our little group, even come close to critical mass. Maybe God rolls together into a big morsel all the little prayers from little people all over the world to form something significant and formidable.

Teacher presenting Evolution to youngsters:

“And so, Evolution is like a visit from the Tooth Fairy: it only happens when no one can see it!”

Biology was my major in college, but I didn’t pursue it as a career. I’ve had a few connections over the years which helped me minimally keep in touch with the life sciences on the amateur level. Recently I’ve been getting a daily email which will touch on some topic in biology, usually something with which I’m not greatly familiar, present a few facts, and then tie the topic into the controversial Creation-Evolution debate, with all of its religious involvement. It’s called “Creation Moments,” and is not of Catholic origin, but still is well worth reading.

Politician:

“To me, life begins at the point where the pro-choice crowd won’t squawk for saying so!”

The highlight of my week is attending the children’s or School Mass in our parish. The kids are to me a powerful army portending. in their uniform clothes and sedate behavior, a bright tomorrow. There’s usually music and singing, and perhaps some chances for the braver kids to try to answer questions about the faith posed by the priest during an interactive homily.

I once heard on the radio a speaker talk about how girls are better suited for school as we know it — sitting quietly, paying attention, giving the expected answers and responses — than are the boys, more suited for moving about, expressive behavior, and spontaneity.

But at the last School Mass I sat a few rows behind five cute-as-buttons little five year old girls whose constant squirming, fidgeting and activity, almost more than their attentive young teacher could monitor, vitiated all the theorizing about what might be expected, gender-wise .

Director of Christmas pageant to cast:

“It’ll be a mostly traditonal production, except instead of angels and shepherds we’re having UFO’s and cowboys!”

A couple of years ago I watched a film on TV telling the story of St. Teresa of Los Andes. As presented, she was so sweet and pure that I felt drawn to starting a personal devotion to her. A product of twentieth century Chile, she seems to provide a needed contrast to what today’s media have concocted and foisted on us as the typical image of young womanhood.

The other day I was watching on TV a choir of nuns singing accompaniment to a sacred liturgy. In the front row of the group of nuns was a devoted-looking youngish nun reminding me, for all the world, of my treasured impressions of the saint.

We never know how we might be impressing or striking people who see us (especially if we’re on television). This uplifting unexpected “vision” of a saint I consider a beautiful example of the directive given by St. Francis of Assisi — preach the Gospel (use words if necessary).

Kid to Dad:

“At school we’re not supposed to say ‘Before Christ’ anymore. We’re suppose to say ‘Before Common Error’!

Continuing about “where two or three are gathered…” (my 2008/08/21 ‘Bible Study Leftover’ post), I caught a Bible Study today on EWTN touching on the meaning of the verse. Discussing the Book of Exodus where God gives Moses His secret name, the teacher on TV pointed out that when Jesus said “wherever two or three are gathered together in my Name” His statement was reflecting the great power attached to the Lord’s name. It is this great power which accounts for the promise that Jesus will be among the two or three believers gathered in (My) name. The teacher also pointed out that no miracles appear in the Bible up until those of Moses, and that those he worked were on account of his having power due to knowing God’s secret name.

One woman scientist to other at cocktail party:

“I love your dress. It’s such an intelligent design!”