Post
by blythburgh » Sat May 05 2012 4:02pm
Three Holy Men and a Bear
A Catholic priest, a Baptist preacher, and a rabbi all served as chaplains to the students of Northern Michigan
University in Marquette. They would get together two or three times a week for coffee and to talk shop.
One day, someone made the comment that preaching to people isn't really all that hard - a real challenge
would be to preach to a bear. One thing led to another, and they decided to do an experiment. They would
all go out into the woods, find a bear, preach to it, and attempt to convert it.
Seven days later, they all came together to discuss their experience.
Father Flannery, who had his arm in a sling, was on crutches, and had various bandages on his body and
limbs, went first. 'Well,' he said, 'I went into the woods to find a bear. And when I found him, I began to read to
him from the Catechism. Well, that bear wanted nothing to do with me and began to slap me around. So I
quickly grabbed my holy water, sprinkled him and, Holy Mary Mother of God, he became as gentle as a lamb.
The Bishop is coming out next week to give him first communion and confirmation.'
Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He was in a wheelchair, had one arm and both legs in casts, and had an IV
drip. In his best fire-and-brimstone oratory, he claimed, 'WELL, brothers, you KNOW that we don't sprinkle! I
went out and I FOUND me a bear. And then I began to read to my bear from God's HOLY WORD! But that
bear wanted nothing to do with me. So I took HOLD of him and we began to wrestle. We wrestled down one
hill, up another and down another until we came to a creek. So I quickly dunked him and baptized his hairy
soul. And just like you said, he became as gentle as a lamb. We spent the rest of the day praising Jesus...
Hallelujah!
The priest and the reverend both looked down at the rabbi, who was lying in a hospital bed. He was in a body
cast and traction with IVs and monitors running in and out of him. He was in really bad shape. The Rabbi
looked up and said: "Looking back on it, circumcision may not have been the best way to start."
Keep smiling because the light at the end of someone's tunnel may be you, Ron Cheneler
