Dear friends, Hope you are doing well. The weather had been so obnoxious that we had to cancel Sunday Mass in Blenker. In fact, we had around some twenty people for Mass in Auburndale, too. That was a very bad day for travel, even for me to go from the rectory to the church. The snow was really piled high and I had to shovel a little bit to get out of my garage. Anyway, it is at least good that we all survived that test. We are looking for one more this weekend.
I happened to watch a video about an interesting incident. In a particular clothing store, this incident happened. The owner of the store had some weird idea in his mind apparently. Whether he wanted to gain attention for the sake of developing his store or if he wanted some cheap popularity, is not clear. So, he announced that the clothing was out for a discounted rate. The rate would be discounted by 99 percent. The people were so excited about the offer. So, everyone rushed to the store immediately to grab this incredible offer. To the shock of those greedy customers, there was not enough clothing in the store to be bought. Then they had to return home, disappointed.
But something worth noting happened there. That is, because of the huge crowd, there was a stampede and some got hurt. Those who had worn costly jewelries lost them to the robbers in the crowd. Aspiring to get things at a cheap rate, the price so cheap to the extent of being assumed as free, the people lost even what they had. I thought this is a good lesson for those who were there and also for us.
We need to learn two things from this incident. One is anything that is given at a lower cost than its original cost is not good. Because nothing can be given out lesser than the cost incurred to produce it. If it is given at a cheaper price, either the product is not good or the customers/consumers are being prepared to be cheated. Nothing else.
The other thing we need to learn is that, greed or avarice is a path to disappointment or pain. Whenever we want to acquire more materials than we actually need, that will end up in disappointment and stress. It will also lead us to physical and mental pain in few cases. As a Tamil movie song goes, a person who has greed, anger and dishonesty is an animal who knows how to talk. Most times we are also like that, if I could say.
We are going to enter into the blessed season of lent from this Wednesday, the Ash Wednesday. This season of Lent is given to us to get rid of all these vices as mentioned above and much more of the vices that we have. This renunciation is possible with prayer, fasting and penance. These virtues are the prominent virtues of this season of Lent. So, as we approach the season of Lent, let us think and decide to use this season fruitfully to achieve the greater salvation from the earthly vices.
God bless.
Yours sincerely in Christ Jesus,
Fr. A. Antony
I happened to watch a video about an interesting incident. In a particular clothing store, this incident happened. The owner of the store had some weird idea in his mind apparently. Whether he wanted to gain attention for the sake of developing his store or if he wanted some cheap popularity, is not clear. So, he announced that the clothing was out for a discounted rate. The rate would be discounted by 99 percent. The people were so excited about the offer. So, everyone rushed to the store immediately to grab this incredible offer. To the shock of those greedy customers, there was not enough clothing in the store to be bought. Then they had to return home, disappointed.
But something worth noting happened there. That is, because of the huge crowd, there was a stampede and some got hurt. Those who had worn costly jewelries lost them to the robbers in the crowd. Aspiring to get things at a cheap rate, the price so cheap to the extent of being assumed as free, the people lost even what they had. I thought this is a good lesson for those who were there and also for us.
We need to learn two things from this incident. One is anything that is given at a lower cost than its original cost is not good. Because nothing can be given out lesser than the cost incurred to produce it. If it is given at a cheaper price, either the product is not good or the customers/consumers are being prepared to be cheated. Nothing else.
The other thing we need to learn is that, greed or avarice is a path to disappointment or pain. Whenever we want to acquire more materials than we actually need, that will end up in disappointment and stress. It will also lead us to physical and mental pain in few cases. As a Tamil movie song goes, a person who has greed, anger and dishonesty is an animal who knows how to talk. Most times we are also like that, if I could say.
We are going to enter into the blessed season of lent from this Wednesday, the Ash Wednesday. This season of Lent is given to us to get rid of all these vices as mentioned above and much more of the vices that we have. This renunciation is possible with prayer, fasting and penance. These virtues are the prominent virtues of this season of Lent. So, as we approach the season of Lent, let us think and decide to use this season fruitfully to achieve the greater salvation from the earthly vices.
God bless.
Yours sincerely in Christ Jesus,
Fr. A. Antony
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