It's All About Who You Know
Read: Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 18:15-17As have many companies in our area, the company where I work has just gone through a painful round of layoffs. I survived the cuts, but many of my friends did not.
I was talking with one of my friends who's actually looking forward to moving on. He said that he sees it as a kick in the pants from God to go do what he's really supposed to be doing anyway. It's too comfortable to be able to simply keep going to the same place, doing the same things, for the same paycheck. Still, he knows that it's going to be tough out there, and I offered to help with any contacts he might need to make – as they say, it's all about who you know. As he was leaving my office, we said that we'll see each other around, and then Brian said that he knew he would see me in Heaven, anyway, and he's right. Because in that case too, it's all about Who you know:
A man dies. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates.
St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in."
"Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."
"That's wonderful," says St. Peter, "that's worth three points!"
"Three points?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service."
"Terrific!" says St. Peter. "That's certainly worth a point."
"One point!?!! I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans."
"Fantastic, that's good for two more points," he says.
"Two points!?!!" Exasperated, the man cries, "At this rate it'll just be by the grace of God that I ever get into heaven."
"Bingo, 100 points! Come on in!"
St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in."
"Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."
"That's wonderful," says St. Peter, "that's worth three points!"
"Three points?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service."
"Terrific!" says St. Peter. "That's certainly worth a point."
"One point!?!! I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans."
"Fantastic, that's good for two more points," he says.
"Two points!?!!" Exasperated, the man cries, "At this rate it'll just be by the grace of God that I ever get into heaven."
"Bingo, 100 points! Come on in!"
Amen!
Charlie van Becelaere
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