Let’s say you are a defensive linebacker. Let’s say the other team just scored a touchdown. Then they try a two-point conversion.
Let’s say you intercept a pass on their conversion attempt. You run the ball back to the OTHER end-zone.
How many points does your team get?
Two points, chief. Two points.
Did you know that? I have been a football fan all my life, and I did not know it until yesterday.
Speaking of college football, Florida beat Charleston Southern 62-3.
Impressive victory. But the Gators did not cover the spread, which was 63 points.
Yesterday was quite a day.
I was sorry to see Andy Roddick knocked out of the U.S. Open so quickly. On the other hand, we tall guys have to stick together. (John Isner is 6′ 9″.)
…It’s time for some new Bests.
The overwhelming winner of the First-Anniversary poll was: “This blog is best enjoyed with a cold one.”
…Happy Labor Day! The “labor of love” is your patient indulgence of this tedious blog, written by one of the worst priests ever ordained.
…Here is a mysterious saying of Christ:
When an unclean spirit goes out of a person it roams through arid regions searching for rest but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order. Then it goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there; and the last condition of that person is worse than the first. (Matthew 12:43-45)
St. Augustine gave an interesting explanation of these verses:
So does it mean that the unclean spirit too is sevenfold? Well, the number seven signifies totality. It had all gone out, it had all come back, and if only it had come back alone! What’s the meaning of “He takes along with him another seven?” Ones he didn’t have when he was bad, these are the others he will have now that he is spuriously good. Pay attention…
The Holy Spirit is presented to us as sevenfold in his activity, so that he may be in us “the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and courage, of knowledge and piety, and of the fear of God” (Isaiah 11:2-3). Now set against this sevenfold good the opposite sevenfold evil: the spirit of folly and error, the spirit of rashness and cowardice, the spirit of ignorance and impiety, and the spirit of pride against the fear of God. These are seven wicked spirits; who are the other seven more wicked still?
Another seven more wicked still are found in hypocrisy: one evil spirit of folly, another worse one of pretended wisdom; an evil spirit is one of error, another worse one is the pretense of truth; an evil spirit is the spirit of rashness, another worse one is the pretense of counsel; an evil spirit is the spirit of cowardice, another worse one is the pretense of courage; an evil spirit is the spirit of ignorance, another worse one is pretended knowledge; an evil spirit is the spirit of impiety, another worse one is the pretense of piety; an evil spirit is the spirit of arrogance, another worse one is pretended reverence.
Seven were not to be borne; who could put up with fourteen? So it necessarily follows that when you add to malice the pretense of truth, the last state of the person is worse than the first.
May the Holy Spirit preserve us from these roaming demons!
Father Mark White Blog 