A frog approaches Patricia Whack, a bank teller: "I'd like to get a loan for 30,000 pounds to buy a boat and go on holiday". Patricia looks at the frog in disbelief and asks his name.
"Kermit Jagger, Mick Jagger's my father. He knows the bank manager." Paddy asks if he has any collateral. The frog says, "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny pink porcelain elephant.
Patty goes to the manager and says, "There's a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow 30 grand. And he wants to use this as collateral." She holds up the tiny pink elephant. "I mean, what the heck is this?"
The bank manager replies "It's a knick knack, Patty Whack. Give the frog a loan, his old man's a Rolling Stone."
There's another little rhyme that we learned as children: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; hold your horses 'till I get on. Are we ready to get on?
Another Easter season has passed and the question arises: have we rekindled the romance of a love that has often fizzled on our part through the passing of time and the circumstances of our lives? Everyone wants romantic love, a love that forever promises to sparkle and replenish.
"How beautiful you are, my love, how beautiful you are!
You ravish my heart with a single one of your glances" (Song of Songs 4:1, 9)
The Song of Songs is a representation of the love story of God and His people - us. Christ, the bridegroom, has given his very life for us, his beloved. We often look very unconvinced of this fact.
What would it take to once and for all convince us that Christ has truly risen? To assure us that all he has promised will be fulfilled? Who will roll back the stone of doubt that blurs our vision so frequently?
Imagine a jury trial. Witnesses are called like Matthias, who was actually there: "I saw him die. I saw him risen from the dead." Then see a parade of witnesses, in turn, some of whom we recognize: St Peter, St Paul, Thomas who doubted, the other Matthew, Mark, Luke and Johnhold your horses I wonna get on!
Eye witness testimony bears weight. Look in the eyes of the witnesses who have seen and heard. Isn't it time you and I bore witness to what we have seen and heard? The many miracles in our lives and the lives of our fellow Christians?
Each of us has a story. My God, the marvels we have seen! Why is it necessary for Pope Benedict to call a Synod this year to devise a new strategy to evangelize our fellow Christians who have forgotten the joy of the Resurrection?
Like those first witnesses we need to come forward. Imagine trying to convince a jury without having reliable eye-witnesses? How easy it becomes to win the case when one after another stands and says: "I saw him die; I saw him risen from the dead."
We have seen the crimson line of witnesses over the centuries; the martyrs, the Saints. Our brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, hold your horses 'till I get on.
