July 2006

Short version of this post: To all the people who attended the 9 am mass today at the parish, I’m doing ok. A little woozy, but ok. Please don’t worry. As for those who attended the other masses, I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye before I leave on my vacation, but I will definitely be back here I transfer to my new assignment.

A reader asked the following question:

I have a practically non-practicing Catholic friend who asked me how Jesus could have the phrase “and lead us not into temptation” included in the
perfect prayer. Why would God ever lead us there in the first place? It
got me to thinking and I didn’t know the proper answer. What do you say and what can we tell him? Thx and God bless.

I thought I might share my reply:

I have been absolutely swamped lately. The problem is the conflict between the job at the hospital and my being the only priest here at St. Luke’s while the pastor is away on vacation. Frankly, it’s just too much, especially when you add on weddings, funerals, and the odd conversation that starts out as “Father can I speak to you for 5 minutes?” and winds up ending 45 minutes later. (Every other priest who reads this blog knows what I mean.)