I read this story of two pastors and one priest talking about the problem of cats invading their churches.
The Baptist minister said he put the cats in bags and threw them in a nearby river. In spite of that, the cats survived and there were twice as many there the next week.
The Methodist minister said they were not in a position to harm any of God’s creation. So, he confided they humanely trapped the cats and set them free many miles outside town. But three days later, the cats were back.
But the Catholic priest bragged that he had the best and most effective solution. He said, “I simply baptized them, and I haven’t seen them in church since then!”
This is just a joke, but it shows a sad reality that after baptism many of us Christians are never seen in church again.
Just like this story of a priest who was celebrating midnight Mass before a jampacked congregation which included numerous new faces, said, “Merry Christmas and Happy Easter!” The people wondered why he included Easter. After the Mass, the priest explained, “It’s because the next time they will show up in church again will be on Easter.”
This Sunday is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It is a great feast in the sense that Jesus showed His solidarity and love with us.
Submitted by Fr. Joseph Dovari