Lord, have mercy.

Yesterday, in the basement of at the very end of the parish coffee/social hour, as I endeavored to show hospitality to our visitors from Omaha, one of them blurted out something like, "You're no priest! You should have chosen a different profession." I pointed out we'd not yet been introduced. She retorted that she held me in such contempt that introductions were never going to be in order. I accepted this (with sadness) and began to walk away toward the door. At my back she spoke her name and informed no one in particular that her grandparents were founders of our parish church. Having heard her name, I turned back to her to make a proper welcome. She continued to speak in disparaging terms about me as a priest. I believe my response was something like, "God bless you." When she spoke out a third time about my incompetence, I announced to the ten or so people there gathered, "That's enough. Coffee hour is over, now. I'm not saying you have to go home, but you can't stay here." I then escorted the assembled company out the door. At the door one of my parishioners assured me of her love and respect for me and asked for my priestly blessing.

One thing's for sure, it's the fourth Sunday of Lent! 

As I spent the day reflecting on (and recovering from) this strange encounter, I came to realize that I'm really not all that personally offended by the exchange. After all, it was directed at the priesthood, which is Christ's, rather than at my person. [Well, alright, to be fair, it was directed at my execution of the duties of that office, not at the office itself. But, nonetheless it could hardly be a personal attack considering I never met the woman before.]

And that having been said, I am once again amazed at the weird belligerence that seems to be so commonplace in our world, or at least in our parishes, today. Is the modern world so difficult that we have to savage one another? Or are we so alienated from our genuine human life on earth that we must behave like demons to one another? A puzzle to be sure.

But, as the prayer of St. Ephrem petitions, "Grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother."

Lord, Jesus, come quickly to help us, save us, and have mercy on us!