Professor J's Place

Fr. Eddie Bernal  photo, Lisa Krantz Last night, after a day full of worship, fellowship, and happiness, I turned on the 10:00 news to hear that Fr. Eddie Bernal, a beloved priest here in San Antonio, has died.  I wanted to share a story he once told at a SOL center class many years ago. Fr. Eddie was doing some service work with the youth group from his congregation. Afterward, they all went out to IHOP for dinner.  There was a homeless man by the door of the restaurant, and one of the girls in the group engaged the man in conversation. Then, to Fr. Eddie's surprise (and, he admitted, fear), the girl invited the homeless man to eat with them. They all had a good dinner and a good conversation with the homeless man. As they were walking out of the restaurant and the man was walking away, Fr. Eddie called out to him, "We never got your name."  The man turned and said, "Chuy, I'm Chuy." For those of you not from San Antonio, it mi...

I needed to write a statement of faith. Here's what I came up with: I believe in God the creator Who made the sparrow and the hawk-- Who made Enchanted Rock and Grand Canyon-- Who made Life—in its infinite variety. I believe in God the savior Who suffers with and for us. Who teaches. Who heals. I believe in God of the still, small voice Who speaks to me in the woods Who says, "Look," or "Love." I believe in my human frailty -- My sinful nature that causes me to walk away-- And in the God who walks with me and waits for me. I believe in the God who calls us to community-- To service. To love. --------------------------------------------------------- The Pharisees asked him, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus answered "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second i...