The Story of The Drunk and The Priest

On a bus a Catholic priest sat next to a drunk who was having difficulty reading the newspaper. Suddenly, in a sloppy voice, the drunk questioned the priest, “Do you know what arthritis is?” Thinking that this would be a good time to give the drunk a lesson, the priest said, “It is a disease caused by sinful living: excess consumption of alcohol, drugs, marijuana, crack, and certainly prostitutes, promiscuity, sex, binges, and other things I dare not say.” After reading the newspaper for a while, the drunk person appeared dissatisfied. After a little while, the priest inquired of the inebriated: ” How long have you had arthritis?” “No, I don’t have arthritis,” he stated. It says here in the paper that the Pope has it,”

The Morale of the story

The moral of the story is that assumptions can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunication. It’s important to not jump to conclusions or judge others based on limited information. It also highlights the importance of humility and not assuming we know everything about someone else’s situation.

A Bible scripture that supports the moral of not jumping to conclusions and judging others is James 4:11-12, which says “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” This verse emphasizes the importance of refraining from judging others and leaving judgment up to God.

This verse reminds us that we are not in a position to judge others, as only God has the ultimate authority to do so. It encourages us to show humility, understanding, and compassion towards others, rather than making assumptions and passing judgment. By following this guidance, we can foster better relationships and avoid misunderstandings like the one in the story above.

Thanks so much for reading, May we have Grace to live to please God. Shalom and life to you. You may share this post to be a blessing to friends and loved ones.