Jack’s Winning Words 12/22/17
"The simple shepherds heard the voice of an angel and found their lamb; the wise men saw the light of a star and found their wisdom."  (Fulton J. Sheen)  Sheen was a popular radio and TV priest who appealed to Catholics and non-Catholics, as well.  He had a way with words.  Go back to his quote.  “Lamb” meaning, sheep, but also Jesus, as Lamb of God.  “Wise men” finding new wisdom.  What special “gifts” have you discovered during this season?    ;-)  Jack

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Mostly patience and love.  How about you?====JACK:  A new appreciation for the meaning of family and friendship.

FROM KITTY  Merry Christmas, Jack. Thank you for your “daily gifts”. A great way to start my days====JACK:  It works for me, too.

FROM TARMART REV:  I'm still here and experiencing life in welcomed pastoral ways!! ====JACK:  You are still in Willmar, probably as a fulfillment of Isaiah 55:8-9...  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth,  so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." ====REV:  Thinking that is true for a season anyway.====JACK:  "Boast not yourself of tomorrow; for you know not what a day may bring forth."  (Proverbs 27:1)

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  i recall his black and white TV show on Sunday mornings in the very early days of TV. early or mid 1950s.    it was a real novelty to have a priest in his robes (as i recall) talking to America in such a folksy manner.  i saw a clip of one of his shows sometime in the last few years.  i don't think he would be nearly as popular today because it all seems kind of archaic now.====JACK:  Archaic?  I guess it depends.  Is the Christmas story (many centuries older) to be considered archaic?  Fulton Sheen and his folksy way of preaching seems to be a forerunner of your style...and mine.

FROM KM:  Wishing you a Merry Christmas. Thanks for your daily winning words.  Enjoy reading them.====JACK: ...and I enjoy creating them and sending them to people such as you.

FROM HAWKEYE gEORGE:  Thanks for the quote.====JACK:  I thought that it was especially thought-provoking.

FROM SHALOM JAN:  I loved your quote and your reminders that we find what we are looking for yet often in disguise.  Blessed Christmas!====JACK:  Most people expect to find a baby in the manger when, in reality, it's Go incarnate.   (Some might ask, "What's incarnate?")

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  What a neat turn of phrase! Bishop Sheen was quite  phenomenal In his day; I admired him, and think he had such a big following because he was a master speaker, and what he had to say made sense. He was not pretentious or distant, very personable. And a handsome man.  (What's not to like? :-)   The gift of comfort, and of renewed Hope in this season of good will. ====JACK:  His program showed that Catholic priests could be human.  I remember his smile and his piercing stare....and the prominent cross that he wore.

FROM SUNSHINE:  My dear wife claims to be math challenged, and she blames it on Bishop Fulton Sheen . . . the nuns said that if you watched the Bishop on TV and wrote a paragraph about the talk, you didn't have to do your math homework.====JACK:  I watched a YouTube of one of his programs today.  He was really a funny guy.  I, too, would rather watch him than do math homework.