My fly fishing instructor called me. It is usually the same message: “I found the fish in Boston harbor. Let’s go.” Yet, this time the message was different. He told me that he had stage-four cancer and that he made out his will. He then informed me that I was in it. After he died,...

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I walked by St. Clement and took a look at the flower garden in front of the church sign. I immediately noticed a large sumac growing in front blocking the wording of the sign. It had not been there a few days before. My neighbor, who helps with the gardening, was present and I asked,...

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When I first started fly-fishing, I took a fly-casting lesson from a certified professional fly caster (they do exist).  The instructor said, “Let’s see what you got.” Casting a line on a fly rod is similar to throwing a rope. You need momentum. So I swung back and then thrusted my body forward. I thought it...

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After I was first ordained, I knew a priest with a long gray beard. He would stroke it while I talked which gave me the impression that he was paying attention. One time I said too much and it prompted him to ask me, “Peter, do you pray?” I replied, “Of course, I pray. What...

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Joel is an odd prophet. He gives us a story about the attack of the locusts. We city folk are not really threatened. What can a grasshopper do? But to a farmer, grasshoppers can be a disaster. Or let’s say you enjoy a glass of wine with your meal. A locust plague will mean that...

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I bought a one-hundred-year-old tracker pipe organ from a church that was closing. There it was in a thousand pieces in the basement. I had to hire a pipe organ builder. The Archdiocese gave me three referrals. I picked a name on the shortlist and made a call. The first guy pulled up in a...

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After I was ordained, I presided at a wedding and the couple insisted that I go to their reception. Naturally, I didn’t know anyone there except the bride and the groom. I couldn’t hang out with them because they were busy. I sat at a table with people whom I met for the first time....

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