January 2018
(continued from page 1)
get an “A.” Do not short change God! But, be com-
forted. God wants us with him in heaven so badly
that he recognizes our imperfection and requires just
a passing grade to get to heaven.
What does a passing grade mean? Well, it
means the following. If we fail to live the way Jesus
tells us to live (see the paragraph above on what that
means), we go to Confession at least once a year for
minor infractions and go to Confession as soon as
possible every time we gravely sin. It means that we
are truly sorry for our sins. It means that we make a
sincere effort not to commit those sins again. It
means we go back to Confession if, despite our sin-
cere effort, we do sin again. AND, here is a very
hard part of the equation, it means that we forgive
those who have sinned against us. Jesus says very
explicitly that we will get forgiveness only to the de-
gree that we pass it on.
Ok, the paragraph above explains what we do
if we FAIL to live like Jesus. And, of course, being
human, that will happen to all of us from time to
time. But, as Children of God, we are required to
live most of the time like our spiritual brother, Jesus.
We, like He, must be chips off the ole block. We
must LOVE. ALL! Let’s let this modern parable
give us guidance.
When he was nine, Adam was in a club with
Benny, Chuck, George and Eddie. Eddie was a
misfit. All the guys except Eddie were intelligent,
good looking and athletic. Their parents were
wealthy. Eddie was a c-minus student, short, fat
and awkward. His parents were poor.
One day, George asked Adam to join with
Benny, Chuck and him in kicking Eddie out of the
club. George said, “He’s a dufus. He just isn’t one
of us.” Adam refused. He said, “It’s not right. My
dad says God wants us to live like Jesus, and I’m
pretty certain Jesus wouldn’t do that.” Well,
George, Benny and Chuck kicked Adam as well as
Eddie out of the club.
When he was 34, Adam told that story to his
son, Zeke. He ended by saying, “I tell you that sto-
ry, son, to let you know we are all God’s children
and if we want to get to heaven, we must always try
to do what Jesus would do. We, like He, must be
chips off the ole block. We must love everybody,
especially the Eddie’s of the world.”
Kindergarten
students celebrated
the 100th day of
school by dressing
up as 100-year-olds!
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