Batman's Column

My Deer Parishionerz o St. Padre Pio Parish,

It iz me, Batman, da rectory doggo! I, as a doggo, haz earz: Big, floppy, fluffy and softo earz. I tink dat dey may b my bestest quality. But I tink dat my daddo and da rectory staff believe dat my earz don't work. Dey tell me dat dey call my name over and over and over and over and over and over again and dat I do notz repsond. I haz no idea wat dey iz talkin about. Whenever someone haz a snacko o wantz 2 tak me 4 a walkie o givz me food, I hearz PERFECTLY fine. Dis iz not a case in 2days Gospel wit da deaf man wit a speech impediment. He couldn't hearz anyting at all! Imagine not being able 2 hear someone speak ur name, o tell u dat u wuz a good boy or girl o 2 hear dat it wuz time 2 eat! Wat if u couldn't hear da Word of God?!? Dat wood b really bad!!! Tankfully Jesus comez into da deaf man's life and touchez not only hiz ears and mouth, but also da man's heart. Wit da word “ Ephphatha!”— Be opened!” — our Lord not only curez da deaf man, but opens his heart 2 receive da Living Word. What a gift!!! Even dough we may hear and speak witout any problemz, sometimez hav closed earz, mouthz and heartz.  We could b affected by a tremendous hurt in our livez o could b "deaf" becauz o sin. Even in a midst o our "deafness" not only doez da Lord seek us out, but He touchez our heartz and through His mercy commands them 2 b opened. All we need 2 b iz open 2 Christ's presence in our livez and b willing 2 let Him.  God Bless (and don't forget 2 get ur earz checked, even if dey r not as fluffy as mine)!

Batman, da rectory doggo