Be Busy but Not A "Busybody"

Dear Friends,
Today is the 33rd Sunday in Ordianry Time : and the scripture reading from 2Thessalonians 3:11 is:
We hear that some are conducting thenselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others.

Father John was particularily funny and adament about the need to work for what you need and want and not sit around looking for handouts,but since most of his homily was in Rufumbria,I missed most of the jokes. Fortunately the kind woman next to me translated the jist of his talk,so I could join in the lightheartedness of his words and pantomine as he described people coming to his home and then just hanging around waiting for service.

My Living Word daily reading says : Some of the Thessalonians thought the Second Coming of Jesus was just around the corner. Consequently, they stopped working. St. Paul scolds them for being lazy and tells everyone who is able to get back to work and earn their keep---just as he himself does. Paul also chides some of the Thessalonians for meddling in other peoples' affairs and being a "busybody"
Prayer: Jesus , help me prepare for your Coming by my positive attitudes toward my earthly tasks and refraining from all gossip
----------------------------------------------Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D

------Long before Sr. Melannie and Fr. John or even St. Paul, a man of Wisdom spoke on this subject and I thank my friend Marilyn Ball for sending the following to me and pray she forgives my editing.


Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you hear, or are about to
repeat, a rumor.

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his
wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance that ran
up to him excitedly and said, 'Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one
of your students?'

'Wait a moment,' Socrates replied. 'Before you tell me, I'd like you to
pass a little test. It's called the Test of Three.'

'Test of Three?'

'That's correct,' Socrates continued. 'Before you talk to me about my
student, let's take a moment to test what you're going to say. The first
test is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to
tell me is true?'

'No,' the man replied, 'actually I just heard about it.'

'All right,' said Socrates. 'So you don't really know if it's true or
not. Now let's try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are
about to tell me about my student something good?'

'No, to the contrary...'

'So,' Socrates continued, 'you want to tell me something bad about him
even though you're not certain it's true?'

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued, 'You may
still pass though because there is a third test, the filter of Usefulness.
Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?'

'No, not really.'

'Well,' concluded Socrates, 'if what you want to tell me is neither True
nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?'

The man was defeated and ashamed, and said no more.

This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such
high esteem.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I don't have the appropriate photo to go with this blog so I will attempt to add a photo of me and two special Nursing students( actually brand new graduates)Robina and Juliet as we celebrated at a Farewell "Picnic". What fun we had as I dressed "down" for an American picnic, while they dressed "up" heels and all,for a cathered meal. Ha!
More on Michael and the wonderful work God has given me to do in Uganda soon.
----------------------------Marie
ps: Hold in prayer my dear friends: Jeff, who is to have brain surgery tomorrow (the 19th) and Teresa Wilson who is fighting the battle of breast Cancer. Check out her website at www.teresasjourney.com