Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Deacon Robert Banet
No-hel, No-hel.
Yo Clyde! It’s not Christmas. How come the Christmas carol?
No, but it’s better than Christmas.
What do you mean?
Well, this is the year of mercy, and can you imagine a merciful God sending someone to a never-ending hell?
Hold on! The Church has always taught that there is a hell.
Well, things change. Ever hear of Vatican Two?
Come on, Clyde, get serious.
I am serious. My Monsignor friend said the Church has never said that any person is in hell. And besides when’s the last you heard a sermon about hell?
The Catechism talks very clearly about the existence of hell.
Well, that has to be interpreted in the light of modern thinking.
Ever hear of St. John Vianney? The Cure of Ars?
Oh, the one who’s supposed to be the patron of parish priest? Yeah, I’ve headed of him. So?
He always preached about hell. Long sermons.
Oh he was nineteenth century! This is today.
Clyde, I hope you come to accept Church teaching.
Oh, I’ll get by.
I’ll pray for you.