Father Duffy’s Reflection: Dec. 26, 2008

A young man who had saved his money to purchase a good radio for himself was asked by his mother to bring his elderly cousin to Christmas dinner. Arriving at her apartment he was shocked to see the poverty of her room — a cot, table, two chairs, a few dishes. No TV, no radio, nothing else. That night, he brought her home and gave her his new radio. The poor woman was thrilled. “It’s like having another person in the room,” she said. The radio was playing beautiful Christmas music and as she listened a few tears tickled down her face. He left her, knowing he had brought joy not only to his cousin, but also to himself.

—From Father Edwin J. Duffy’s book “Father Duffy’s Reflections.” Father Duffy is pastor emeritus of St. Pius X Parish in Manoa