I mentioned before that the neighbor girl would receive confirmation this year. That took place last Tuesday but I wasn't able to attend.

On the Sunday before the ceremony, that is, on Pentecost Sunday, I saw her and her entire family at the 11 o'clock Mass. I hardly ever see them at Mass. I mean, that's just how it is. So, I recognized them immediately. There was a practice session for confirmation following Mass, so I think they attended for that reason.

Now, the girl's father is Jewish. And the Gospel reading for Pentecost is the upper room experience from John, 20:19-23 with that bothersome phrase "for fear of the Jews." A phrase that Father did not read. He glossed right over it.

Ordinarily I'm not one for editing the Gospel proclamation on the fly but in this case, I was quite pleased that he left that phrase out. I think it reflects in-house fighting. I think John's Gospel has Samaritan influences. However, this detail is subtle and most people can't get past the face value of the text.

In other words, I don't think that my neighbor would have understood the expression "for fear of the Jews" in any way other than antagonistically, so it's just as well that Father left it off.