• Tales of the City – February 2020

    On the way home from the opera I step into a shop to get out of the rain, and buy something to eat against the cold – a late-night post-operatic chittery-bite.

    In front of me are two young men dressed in much less than I am. They are the worse for wear and arguing.

    Drunk Young Man #1: Well we’ll ask someone else then.

    Drunk Young Man #2:
    Yes! Someone neutral.

    They turn to me.

    DYM#1: Here man. Settle an arugment for us will you. Is coronavirus real or is it propoganda

    Self: I think it is real.

    DYM#2: Aye man. Told you. It *is* real. He said so. Here, I bet you do a very responsible job

    DYM#1:
    Aye very responsible. What are you man?

    I hesitate a moment and consider how to answer.

    DYM#2: I bet he’s a Supply Chain Manager. Are you a Supply Chain Manager, man?

    I smile a smile that I hope will look like the smile of a cold wet Supply Chain Manager.

    DYM#2: I knew it.

    DYM#1: Hey, do you have a lighter?

    I shake my head.

    We are all forlorn that I do not have a lighter.

4 responses to “That Damn Magnificat”

  1. Sue Matthews Avatar

    We don’t get a word, as the mother of one son, a miracle having been told early in my adult life there would be no babies, a son arrived. No words would have been possible, having nurtured, taught, loved, HOW, HOW, HOW has it come to this. Yet all His life she had known He was different, witness the wedding wine, only His mother could have asked for the miracle, because she knew !!!and maybe always knew it could not end well so stood in speechless sorrow lest she scream out.

  2. Rod Gillis Avatar
    Rod Gillis

    Thanks so much for this! I watched the video version as part of my daily office for this Holy Saturday. Much appreciated.

  3. Peggy Brewer Avatar
    Peggy Brewer

    One of the best sermons I’ve heard! Thank you!

  4. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    All I ever knew when I believed my own child would die, that the only person I could bear to think of in the agony of grief and fear was her. Because she knew. She KNEW.

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