Left Unsaid..

Now that I'm writing again.. [evil laugh] I do think that I'll also mention those snippets of Mass readings that get skipped over in the Missal. Sometimes, it's really valuable stuff, though might end up being those 'hard sayings' that many pastors try to avoid.

For instance; This Sunday's first reading from Samuel, chapter 3 uses verses 3-10 and then skips out to 19. Here's what we missed:

11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God,[b] and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.”

15 Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” 17 Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.”

So, here we read that God will severely punish those who have profaned the priesthood. This has been painfully relevant these past 17 years, and now, lately, since Cardinal Bernard Law's passing. Law, like ancient priest Eli, knew what his "sons" were doing, but did not restrain them. He shuffled abusive priests to other parishes and diocese without care for the laity. "But, but, but the psychiatrist said.." is a flimsy excuse.


But, in reality, this reading is what we did NOT hear this Sunday. Most folk probably went on to sing "Here I Am, Lord' during the offertory, later, and went about with their day..

Things I Will Miss After the Peakalypse, #5

Chinese Take-out.

I don't know about you, but we like to call up our local Chinese restaurant, and order take-out occasionally. A steaming collection of General Tso's Chicken, some Pork Lo Mein, egg rolls, Wonton soup, and the ever-present fortune cookies are a Friday night favorite. Exotic food prepared by someone else is a luxury of our times.

In the future, we'll all be on the blacklist at Hop Sing's. Not for naming names, but because Mr. Sing is too busy farming and cooking for his own family to worry about whipping up Mu Shu pork for yours.

[found this idling as a draft.. ha.. makes me hungry now..]

Prodigal

 Wow, where DOES the time go? If I were to write my memoir, I'd have to title it 'Of All the Stupid Things..', because, well, of all the stupid things I find myself doing.

 Let's see, in the last six years, what did I do.. I quit blogging because I felt it was difficult to examine the political and cultural tempo of the times without exuding contempt.

 So, I decided to just focus on venial matters. I was moderator of a cigar-themed Internet forum, until it was essential killed by Facebook. Moving on, I did a cigar blog for a couple years, sold it for a little cash, then started playing a Dungeons & Dragons themed MMO game. When the game, itself, lost some magnetism, I joined a guild, and quickly ended up a guild leader.

 If I've learned anything from the last couple years, it's this; coupling something stupid with a sense of responsibility, an obligation to keep the stupidity rolling, will hook me every time. That will end up a chapter in the memoir for sure, titled something like 'Ruthless Tamagotchi'.

 I've also been working full+ time, moonlighting in creative arts here and there, and doing my best to stay as close to sane as possible (but without ACTUALLY being sane). I put on a good show, but often, I just feel like screaming. Don't want to set a bad example for the kids, so I just keep the screams inside.

 Anywho, I'm going to start writing again. Just for me. Since everyone that might have followed this blog years ago has likely grown up and moved on, it'll be more for the purposes of talking to myself. Maybe it will somehow tamp down the urges to scream.