PHOTO PROMPT © A member of the Fields Family.

Our Lady of the Angels had served the Catholics of northwest Springfield for 50 years (a long time in American) when the bishop suddenly decided to close the underperforming parish.

Regina, who had gone there for 50 years, prayed for divine intervention. She was honestly surprised when God answered in a vision.

“Okay,” God said. “For fifty truly righteous people, I might save this parish.”

“What about twenty-five?”

“Okay,” God said. “So, I’m going to skip to the end. Even one truly righteous person.”

Regina looked meaningfully at God who looked meaningfully back.

“Not even the priest?”

God laughed.

…

This is my post for Friday Fictioneers, where once a week we write 100-word stories in response to a prompt provided by the ever-vigilant Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.

…

Possibly TLDR (too long don’t read), but I wrote several possible stories in my head and then deleted each one – in my head. I even spent some time researching Jewish marriage and funeral rights, thinking hm – no. I wouldn’t presume to try to do justice to a faith I respect deeply but don’t practice personally, as a Roman Catholic, to the extent I’m anything.

This story was heavily inspired by a Jewish-Christian dialogue group I’ve been involved with for a few years, trying to think how to do justice to some of the fun and challenging way the rabbis actually talk and some of the funny (but also teachable moment) stories like this one that I just made up, stories designed to drive home the real point of stories like Lot bargaining with God before the destruction of Sodom. Funny but also serious in a “make you think” kind of a way.

I also wanted to do a brief but heartfelt shout-out to Amy-Jill Levine, the co-author of the book we were reading and discussing together (The Bible With and Without Jesus), who was recently appointed as president of the Catholic Bible Association, to some controversy but mostly to honest appreciation. (A reminder that we need to continue to do better as believers in the faith I practice because yikes some of the anger from some of the Catholics.)

I don’t agree with everything she wrote in her book, and I mean that in the best possible way, as I feel anyone who honestly appreciates her work would understand. Through honest dialogue with so many believers on “the other side,” I continue to gain a deeper appreciation for those who have kept the faith alive for those of us who may not share it as such, but continue to learn more deeply the roots of our own.

It has been real. With sincere prayers for peace and mutual understanding, in a world that could definitely use more of that. Especially as our Jewish brothers and sisters approach these holy days.

Peace.