The Priest

After a long life, dutifully serving his parishioners, the elderly priest
died. He found himself in Heaven, where he was warmly greeted by St. Peter.
"Welcome," St. Peter said, "You have lived a good life. Let me take you to your
quarters, and then I'll show you around Heaven."


St. Peter took the man to a rather plain building, and escorted him to a small
room. The room was humbly furnished, but was functional. The priest was a bit
surprised, having expected Heaven to be a bit more extravagent, but he was happy
to be there.


They then began their tour of Heaven, and it was absolutely beautiful. The
priest felt silly for his initial resentment over his room.


Finally, they came upon an enormous mansion. A butler opened the door to the
mansion and a man came out, dressed to the nines, and proceeded down a long
walkway to the front gate, as servants rolled a red carpet before him. When he
reached the gate, a chauffeured limousine pulled up, and the man got in. It
drove off.


"Was that God," the priest asked, stunned by the display.


"Oh heavens no," replied St. Peter. "That was a lawyer."


"I don't want to seem ungrateful, but can you answer a question for me?" The
priest continued, "I spent my entire life devoted to my parishioners, and
teaching the gospel, and I have very humble quarters in Heaven. I just don't
understand what that lawyer did, which would merit such a beautiful mansion."


"It isn't what he did," St. Peter replied. "You see, we have thousands upon
thousands of priests up here. But he's our first lawyer."