September 13, 2005
Numen
It’s an old story and probably apocalyptic. Given the internet and all, most everybody’s surely heard it. It seems appropriate, though, Peter’s bookkeeping about forgiveness still ringing in my lectionary ears from last Sunday (Mt 18.15-20).
A little girl lived on a South Sea island and was known to have regular conversations with Jesus. Her fellow villagers believed her and treated her with special attention. They were also altogether cautious neither to make light of her nor to take advantage of her gift for their own benefit.
Soon the word of her numen got around to the local bishop. Being a bishop and a guardian of stuff, he wasn’t all that prone to believe stories like this, usually writing them off to native lore. But the girl’s reported experience developed legs enough so that his curiosity provoked him to delegate his monsignor to enquire of the youngster concerning this phenomenon, lest, perhaps it get out of hand.
So the monsignor devised a test as to the authenticity of these “conversations.” He listened the girl out, then said would she ask Jesus in their next conversation what had the monsignor confessed in his last sacrament of penance. She agreed.
Some time passed. Hearing nothing from her, the priest impatiently sought her out. He asked had she talked to Jesus and did she bring up the question. Yes, she said. Well, what did Jesus say about what I said in my confession? He said that he’d forgot.
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