June 2018 SPECIAL EDITION February 2016 Issue | Page 8

FEBRUARY 2016
(Continued from p. 1)

Well, we shouldn’t worry, one way or the
other, about what others think of us. We have what
our faith tells is absolute truth: Jesus’ command to
love and forgive all. So, our entire lives should be
a succession of flip flops to achieve that goal. Our
job is to flip flop. From bad to good. From good to
better. From better to better yet.
Here’s a modern parable.
Gwen had her first abortion when she was
18-years-old. Gwen had her second abortion when
she was twenty.
Gwen was a staunch believer in the Pro
Choice movement. She even became the organization’s state president. But, Gwen had an epiphany
when she turned thirty. After looking at pictures
taken of a five-month-old fetus in a friend’s womb,
Gwen realized she had killed two children. HER
children!
Gwen went to confession with Father Fred.
“Father, I have changed my beliefs and my friends
hate me for it. They call me a flip flopper, and they

say it with venom dripping from their lips. They
hate me. I can take that, Father, but I’m almost suicidal with the understanding of what I did. God will
never forgive me for that.”
Father Fred replied. “Gwen, God will not
only forgive those sins, he’ll fulfill the promise he
gives to us five times in the Bible. He’ll also forget
them. And, Gwen, you are a flip flopper. But,
you’re a flip flopper in the same way St. Paul was a
flip flopper. You’ve gone from sinner to saint under
construction.”
My sisters and brothers, here’s some spiritual
homework for us. Let’s examine our lives. Let’s
find out what in each of our lives demands positive
change. After we’ve determined what needs to be
changed, let’s enthusiastically flip flop. Let’s
GROW! Let’s be ready when we get to the Pearly
Gates to say, “Lord, I changed. Constantly! I flip
flopped. Constantly! I did my best to grow from bad
to good. From good to better. From better to better
yet.”

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