ONCE UPON A TIME there were four Byzantine Catholic priests arguing vehemently over the newly revised liturgy. They took turns meeting on occasion in one of the Pennsylvania towns where one of the priests served as pastor. Today, the intriguing discussion on the porch of one of the priest�s home turned to loud talk then arguing then hot debate and name calling. Later, three the priests began to agree amongst themselves on most of the issues thus leaving Father Andy on the opposite side of the issues. Father Andy, nonetheless, knew he was right and told the other three men of the cloth so. The other three Byzantine Catholic priests would not hear of it. They wrote Father Andy off as simply being wrong. Father Andy stood up on the porch and stormed off to the parish garden to pray.

Father Andy prayed in the parish garden to God. �O Lord, my God, please answer my prayer and let my brother priests know that I am right.� He blessed himself and returned to the priests who were still convened on the rectory porch.

�My brother men of the cloth,� spoke Father Andy, �I come back to tell you that you are all wrong on the issues of the revised liturgy our bishops recently implemented on our church. I AM RIGHT and I believe that God will demonstrate my rightness.�

The other three priests were interested in what sort of demonstration that would be. Just then a dark cloud rolled in over the part of town the rectory and church was located. A rumble of thunder was heard and lightening was seen.

�Aaahh,� responded the first of the three priests. �That was simply coincidental.�

�Yup,� agreed the second.

�That was sheer luck, my brother� said the third opponent.

Father Andy was upset that God didn�t back his rightness up with more drama so he took a walk up the hill side to the top where he got a good view of the town below. There, he prayed again to God.

�Dear Lord,� prayed Father Andy as he lifted his arms and hands upwards. �Please let my fellow clergymen know that I am, indeed, right.� Then he bowed and blessed himself forty times and prostrated at least a dozen times. He then returned to the rectory to discover that his three opponents were beginning to go for a walk to the town square. He joined them.

Debate soon ensued and all four of the Byzantine Catholic clergy could be heard from the neighbors as they walked toward the tow square.

Father Andy spoke again to state his case, �My fellow clergymen,� he stopped them on the sidewalk to make his point heard, �I am right and God will this time demonstrate how right I am on the issues of the revised liturgy.�

Suddenly, another cloud rolled in and the wind picked up. A lightening bolt came crashing down on the church bell tower they just left behind and made a direct hit on the onion dome mounted on top. �BOOM!� Then all four priests witnessed the onion dome get knocked off its tower and come crashing down on the ground where it proceeded to roll down the street. �Boing! Boing! Boing!� it bounced its way passed them as they jumped out of the way to prevent from being hit.

All three priests who opposed Father Andy were amazed, but one of them then spoke, �Sorry, my dear brother, but that is coincidental. Look over on the other side of the street. They all looked at several trees that were hit by lightening strikes. �This was no proof that Andy was right.� They all agreed except Father Andy.

Father Andy stormed into their church and began calling on God�s name in a huff. �Please! Lord, hear my prayer!� Father stood in the middle of the church with his fists raised up where the onion dome once sat and was now open to the sky above. �I am right and, please, let them know it! The still don�t believe me!� He prostrated himself before the sanctuary until he calmed down. Sirens could be heard approaching the street.

Father Andy met the other three priests on the side of the church after reports were filed, insurance agents were met with, and the fire department fetched back the onion dome.

As they were standing around, Father Andy let into his opponents again about he revised liturgy. �Please, my brothers, with God as my witness, I do hereby declare that I am right and you are wrong!�

Again, the priests were in disagreement with Father Andy and told him so with rising anger in their voices.

Then suddenly, the storm clouds broke and the sun�s rays came through and shown on the spot where all four Byzantine Catholic priests stood. From above came a loud booming voice, �HEEEEEEEEE�SSSS RIIIIGGGHHHTTTTTT!!!!!!!!�

The echo of those words was heard bouncing off the hills of Pennsylvania for almost a minute.

All four priests stood silently for another minute until one of the three priests who had been opposing Father Andy over the issues of the revised liturgy said, �Ok then, but that only makes three against two.�

Amen.

Ed,

What a great story! I hope some learn something from it.

I like Fr. Andy's complete lack of humility!

Father "Andy." Interesting choice of names! But totally coincidental, of course.

TIm

Yes. The choice of names was not based on anyone on these forums.

Eddie