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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
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A doctor once told a patient, "You need to stop smoking, avoid alcohol, eat plain food, go to bed early, and stay away from too much excitement." The man asked, "Will that make me live longer?" The doctor said, "I'm not sure, but it will certainly feel longer." Most of us would gladly accept the miracle King Hezekiah received in the first reading: fifteen extra years. Although, knowing us, we would probably have a few questions first. "Lord, are those fifteen healthy years? Will my knees still work? And does Medicare know about this?"
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An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor, and the doctor was able to fit him with a set of hearing aids that let him hear 100%. He went back a month later, and the doctor said, "Your hearing is now perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again." The gentleman replied, "Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. And I've changed my will three times." Maybe a lot goes on in our families, behind our backs. Raise your hand if your family is perfect. Anyone? I'll wait. The family I come from is not perfect. Maybe your family is not perfect either. And you know what? That's okay. We are all in this together, and no one has it all perfectly figured out.
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Have you noticed what happens in waiting rooms? There are usually two kinds of people. One person walks straight to the desk and says, “Excuse me, I have been waiting forty-five minutes. Is my name still on the list?” Bold, Clear. Direct. Then there is another person who sits quietly, shy, watching everyone else go in, smiling politely while their soul slowly leaves their body. They keep telling themselves, “I don’t want to be difficult.” Meanwhile, the little fish tank in the corner of the room has become the most interesting thing. Some people come forward. Some people wait from behind. Both may be carrying real urgency. And sometimes, that is exactly how we come to God.
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Every family has a special language of danger. In some homes, danger begins when your mother calls you by your full baptismal name. And you know the last judgment has begun. If she adds, “Come here,” even the angels stop singing. And the amazing thing is, she may be angry because you have done something naughty, not because she hates you, but because she knows you. The neighbor’s child may do the same thing and she will say, “Children are children.” But if you do it, suddenly there is a family council, an investigation, and possibly a lecture beginning with, “After all we have done for you…” That is Amos.
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Has anyone here visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa? It stands in Pisa, in the Tuscany region of Italy, in the beautiful cathedral square called the “Square of Miracles.” Its Construction began in 1173. It was meant to be the bell tower of the cathedral. But very early, after only a few floors were built, the builders noticed something embarrassing: the tower was leaning. Imagine the committee meeting. “Good news, the tower is beautiful. Bad news, it is already trying to leave us.”
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A friend of mine once received a phone call that began with three words nobody wants to hear: "This is the IRS." His heart stopped. His life flashed before his eyes, not his good memories, but receipts, tax returns, and charitable donations he may have slightly rounded up. Within thirty seconds, he was mentally confessing crimes he hadn't even committed. Then, to his relief, he discovered it was a scam. What fascinated me was that the caller never asked for money immediately. He simply created panic. He wanted a reaction before reason had a chance to show up for work.
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