How's your hearing ?

I was reminded of something today.  It takes me back over 30 years, when I was in secondary school.  I was educated...... sorry !  dear people tried to teach me rather, in Rochestown College Co. Cork.  There was a particular priest, Fr. Aengus OFM Cap. who was the most charming and interesting person one could imagine, who was my Art teacher and I suppose my mentor.  Aengus was excellent in relating a good story and boy did he have stories !.  But, I'm drifting from what I want to relay.  I remember one time in Mass he delivered a sermon, which warned about how a message can alter when it is passed down by word of mouth.  This was over 30 years ago and while then a Catholic I would have sat through countless sermons which would have left no impact. Amazingly this one  has always stayed in my thoughts. It's quite a short story but the message is very profound as far as the Gospel Message is concerned. It goes like this.....
  " In the First World War a group of soldiers were in a trench in sight of the enemy lines. Feeling that they had the advantage on their foe, the Commanding Officer sent a message back to the troops a few miles away.  Not having any radio communications, the message was sent via Runners who would each go to a trench, give the word to another who would  then run to the next trench etc. .
     The message was, " SEND REINFORCEMENTS WE'RE GOING TO ADVANCE!".

And so this message was passed by word of mouth via many many trenches until finally the last Runner arrived, breathless but relieved at the main force which was enormous and powerful.  With a sharp intake of breath and great pride he passed on the Message to the Armys General. " SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE, WE'RE GOING TO A DANCE! "

                                                  
A Goood Story with a serious warning.  The Gospel is the greatest Message ever given to any one.  It's a message of Love , Pardon, Forgiveness, GRACE ( i.e. the undeserved Mercy and Favour of God ), with the invitation of Jesus,  "I am the door: by me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." John 10:9
 A simple message sent out over 2000 years ago.  Have you heard the Original Message ?  Are you prepared to Advance or are you satisfied to make little of it ?  The wrong message comes with a high cost.  You can still get hold of the message as it was first given, it's called The Holy Bible. It holds a message for you today!.