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EWTN – Mother Teresa of Calcutta died on Sept. 5, 1997, at the age of 87. St. John Paul II greeted and blessed St. Teresa in St. Peter’s Basilica a few months before, on June 29, 1997. One of the last times these saints were seen together.

Proud About What?

A news reporter once asked St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) if she had ever been tempted to be proud.  Mother Theresa retorted with a smile, “Proud about what?”  The reporter replied, “Why, about the wonderful things you have been doing for the poorest of the poor!”  Then came her answer,

“I never knew I had done anything, because it was God who worked in and through my Sisters and volunteers.”

True humility differentiates a saint from a sinner.  If we are proud of our talents, our family connections, our reputation, or our achievements in life, today’s Gospel tells us that we need Jesus to rid us of our pride and make us truly humble.

SOURCE: Fr. Tony’s Homily’s

Truly Humble of Heart

Dorothy Day died in November 1980 at the age of 84. Reporting on her death, the New York Times called her the most influential person in the history of American Catholicism. In her book, From Union Square to Rome, she describes her conversion to Christ. One of her first attractions came in childhood. One day she discovered the mother of one of her girlfriends kneeling in prayer. The sight of this kneeling woman moved her deeply. She never forgot it. In the same book she tells how, in the days before her conversion, she often spent the entire night in a tavern. Then she would go to an early morning Mass at St. Joseph’s Church on Sixth Avenue. What attracted her to St. Joseph’s were the people kneeling in prayer. She writes:

“I longed for their Faith… So, I used to go in and kneel in a back pew.”

Eventually Dorothy Day received the gift of Faith and entered the Church. (Mark Link in Sunday Homilies)

SOURCE: Fr. Tony’s Homily’s

Proud Boxer

Muhammad Ali makes his legendary ‘I Am The Greatest’ speech to reporters ahead of his 1964 world title bout with Sonny Liston.

Muhammad Ali had just won another boxing title. He used to boast: “When you are great and famous like me, it is hard to be humble.” Once, on the airplane, the stewardess politely said to him, ” Sir, you need to fasten your seat belt.” Ali replied, “Superman doesn’t need a seat belt.” To which the stewardess politely responded, “And Superman doesn’t need an airplane either; please fasten your seat belt, Sir.”

SOURCE: Fr. Tony’s Homily’s

“If You Have to Tell Them Who You Are, Then You Aren’t”

RELATED:  Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones 3×10 – Tywin Lannister tells his grandson Joffrey something very similar to this. After becoming king whenhis father, King Robert Baratheon died, Joffrey is put in his place by Tywin who says , “Any man who must say, I am the king, is no true king.”

The famous actor Gregory Peck was once standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant. They had been waiting for some time, the diners seemed to be taking their time eating, and new tables weren’t opening up very fast. They weren’t even that close to the front of the line. Peck’s friend became impatient, and he said to Gregory Peck, “Why don’t you tell the maitre d’ who you are?” Gregory Peck responded with great wisdom. “No,” he said, “if you have to tell them who you are, then you aren’t.”

That’s a lesson that the Pharisee in our Gospel reading apparently had never learned. (Lee Compson, Holier Than Who?; quoted by Fr. Kayala).

SOURCE: Fr. Tony’s Homily’s

Jokes of the Week

1) “God isn’t deaf, you know!” On the first evening of their visit with their grandmother, a young boy and his brother knelt by their bed to pray. Shouting as loudly as he could, the younger boy pleaded. . . “and PLEASE God, I need a new bicycle and a pair of roller blades.” “Shh!” said the older boy, “not so loud. God isn’t deaf, you know!” To which his younger brother replied. “Yes, I know, but Grandma is.” (Technically, the boy was praying to God but, like the Pharisee in today’s Gospel, he was doing so simply to benefit himself).

2) Sunday Pharisees:  “I never come to this Church for Sunday Mass,” boasted a wandering parishioner to his pastor. “Perhaps you have noticed that Father?” “Yes, I have noticed that,” said the pastor. “Well, the reason I don’t come is that there are so many hypocrites here.” “Oh, don’t let that keep you away,” replied the pastor with a smile. “There’s always room for one more.”

3) The Pharisee in the parish office: A farmer entered the local Church and spoke to the Church secretary: “I’d like to speak to the Head Hog at the Trough.”  The secretary was quite taken aback and responded to the farmer, “Sir, we have no one here by that name.” “If you are referring to the priest in charge of this parish, we always respectfully call him Father or Pastor.” “Fine, ma’am, but I want to talk to the person who will take my $25,000 donation for your Church.” Immediately the secretary responded, “Dearie! Please take a seat and just wait a second.  Our Fat Pig will be here with you at once!”

SOURCE: Fr. Tony’s Homily’s

Please be patient
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