While on his parish rounds, Father O'Brien comes
across three children playing together - two small strangers and Michael
O'Connor, one of his flock. He stops, is introduced and - thinking of his
priestly duties - tells the children he'll give $2 to whoever can answer the
question, "Who was the greatest man on earth?"
The boys think for a minute and one of the strangers, Mark Bunyan, bursts out: "President Kennedy".
"Sure now," says the priest, "he was a good man all right, but not the greatest. Come now, Michael," he prompts, "you should know this if you remember your catechism".
"Well, Father," says Michael, "I'd say it was Saint Patrick because he brought Christianity to Ireland".
"No, Michael. It's a good answer, but not the right one," says the priest, and he confidently repockets the $2.
But Isaac Goldstein, the other stranger, pipes up: "It was Jesus Christ".
The priest pays up, but with a puzzled air. "Isaac" he asks, "surely someone of your faith doesn't believe that?"
"Oh no, Father. I know Moses was the greatest. But business is business".
The boys think for a minute and one of the strangers, Mark Bunyan, bursts out: "President Kennedy".
"Sure now," says the priest, "he was a good man all right, but not the greatest. Come now, Michael," he prompts, "you should know this if you remember your catechism".
"Well, Father," says Michael, "I'd say it was Saint Patrick because he brought Christianity to Ireland".
"No, Michael. It's a good answer, but not the right one," says the priest, and he confidently repockets the $2.
But Isaac Goldstein, the other stranger, pipes up: "It was Jesus Christ".
The priest pays up, but with a puzzled air. "Isaac" he asks, "surely someone of your faith doesn't believe that?"
"Oh no, Father. I know Moses was the greatest. But business is business".
