Scattering the Seed

 

I was invited by Fr. Erick to zoom a nationwide monthly meeting with his brother Latino priests. He was most gracious sharing that I have supported him on numerous occasions during crises that recently included his recent surgery. This meeting was attended by Fr. Erick in Las Vegas, Fr Alfonso and Fr Gabriel in Denver, Fr. Marcus, Fr Edwin and Cleric Robert in San Antonia, and Fr.Jose in Chicago.

These holy men discussed the recent illness of Fr. Erick and how they had travelled to Vegas to celebrate Mass while he was recovering. However, the issue of medical insurance became a topic. Many of our Latino priests do not have medical coverage and wondered if the national church could help them get coverage for them and their families. Another topic was the sad reality that many of their parishioners are afraid that ICE agents may storm their church and deport family members to far away countries.  Thankfully this had not happened in any PNCC church, but the potential for danger exists and many families have chosen not to come to Mass. 

This Sunday, the RC church readings are about Jesus asking the question “Who do people say that I am?” However, the PNCC liturgy will reflect on the gospel story about the farmer scattering seeds on different soils.

What my brother Latino priests do not know is that Fr Matt is a farmer and knows something about seeds and soil. This Spring to put it bluntly has been “soggy.” The seeds I planted in the veggie garden never took root. Sadly, no plants grew because the soil was too saturated with water. 

In the gospel story, it does not take a genius to realize that no farmer would consciously sow seed where there is no hope of it yielding a harvest. However, this is not ordinary seed and it is not an ordinary farmer. We are talking about God who is sowing the seed of His word. The act of sowing seed by hand is called broadcasting. The seed is thrown by hand. God does not distinguish between the various types of soil that will receive the seed. In other words, God gives everyone a chance even if it is evident that there is little hope that the person will actually live God’s word. 

You might ask yourself what kind of seed are you? The seed of hope or despair, the seed of courage or fear, the seed of forgiveness or resentment, the seed of acceptance or skepticism. I like to think if my Latino brothers were the farmers, the seeds they would broadcast are a welcome to all cultures, genders, ages and traditions that Jesus Christ changes lives eternally and that the place to encounter him most fully is Divine Mercy in Vegas, St Jude in San Antonio, St Francis of Assisi in Denver, San Juan Bautista in Chicago. I have no doubt the difficulty of getting people to return to church. My brothers might protest, “I tried it a few times and got nowhere. I just don’t have the personality, don’t have the gift.”

As a fellow farmer and shepherd, I recognize Jesus had both the personality and the gift.  Yet when He sowed seed, much of it still ended up as bird food. Consider the thousands he fed with loaves and fishes, the multitude that heard his sermon on the mount, the throngs that welcomed him on Palm Sunday.  Yet on the day of Pentecost, there were only 120 left in the cenacle, awaiting the Holy Spirit. Notice, though, that the fruit borne by these 120 plants eventually filled the whole world about 2.4 billion. 

To get the few that bear fruit, lots of seed must be sown by lots of people.  So regardless of whether or not you think you have green thumbs, my dear Latino brothers are being commanded through this parable to get the seed out there, sowing it everywhere we go, undeterred by the birds, the weeds, the scorching sun, drenching rains or ICE agents.

The parable of the sower has a twofold message: as seed, our job is to get busy growing.  As farmers, our job is to get busy sowing.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends and especially my brother Latino priests (farmers) that humbled by our mission to spread the seed of compassion and hope. Instead of worrying about empty pews, with your grace focus our ministries to be the best of farmers and keep scattering the seeds wherever they may fall. 

 

I Am the Bread of Life

 "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." (John 6:51)

To non-Christians, the response to the above quotation might be, "Yech! Sounds like cannibalism!" And I have to confess that for some Christians, the question of what it means to eat the flesh of Jesus might not be something we really ponder. So I wrestle with the question of, "Why would you want to do something which sounds so disgusting?"

When I am taking a landscape photo, I am always searching for a composition that is not a tourist shot. When we receive Holy Communion, I like to share a different perspective of looking at the Sacrament.

At the time of Jesus. animals were brought to the Temple of Jerusalem, their throats were cut, and their blood was splashed against the burning hot metal altar. Then, the flesh of the animal was thrown onto the fire. The sputtering steam of the blood and the smoke from the animal's body were seen to ascend--symbolically to God on high. To offer sacrifice in this way to atone for one's sins was one of the holiest things a Jewish man could do.

Unfortunately, not all men--and no women--were permitted to enter the inner court of the temple to participate in this ritual. Gentiles were forbidden, as were those deemed to be ritually unclean. Jesus himself, because of his questionable parentage, would not have been permitted full participation in the sacrifice of the body and the blood.

Mary and Joseph were not married when Jesus was conceived. Jesus' father would automatically classify Jesus as a mamzer--one who could not be assumed to be 100% Jewish.  Such a designation would have put Jesus on the margins of society, another way of saying he was an outcast, the immigrant.

So what does Jesus do? He institutes his own holy practice. He eats ritual meals from which no one is excluded. He eats with those who are deemed to be ritually impure: tax collectors, prostitutes, sinners of every kind. His followers will even share this meal with gentiles. Those forbidden to touch the body and the blood of the sacrificial animal in the temple will not only touch but eat Jesus' body and drink of Jesus' blood. And Jesus, by his death, will be the sacrifice for all.

Think about it: you don't even have to know a stranger's language in order to offer him or her something to eat. In Near Eastern culture, to share food was to create family. If you eat of my bread, you become one of my household.

I remember when I was helping Fr. Erick in Las Vegas and learned that the Latino people, families, parents, seniors did not receive Communion, I asked, why not? The response was that they did not feel worthy. So the next time, I celebrated Mass, I shared that Jesus invites everyone to His table to eat and that means we are family. So, guess what, 100% of the people came to the altar rail and received Holy Communion.

We need to ingest the man who loves with his whole body and soul and whose love knows no distinction of persons--young or old, married, single, divorced, re-married, gay, straight, black, Latino, Polish, Italian white, rich, poor, conservative, liberal. All human. All God's family.

The next time you are in Las Vegas, you are invited to the table at Divine Mercy where all are welcomed to their table. They simply can’t let you be a guest in their home without feeding you.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who have not been inside a church for awhile. This Sunday, get out of bed, put aside your social media app and know Jesus has invited you to a special picnic in your honor.

 

 

What Do You Want for Father's Day?

 

What do you want for Father’s Day? My immediate response, that nothing else breaks down on the farm.

No such luck, for no sooner do we repair the bush hog and lawn mower tire that the weed trimmer handle broke in two places. I check the purchase date and it appears to still be under warranty but next is the phone call to customer service. The customer service agent asks to take a picture of the broken part. OK whip out the cell phone, take the shot and now what. Wait for an email response. Boldly, I call customer service the next day and the  agent checks the status of the repair and she finds my shot of the broken handle and to my surprise says: “The part has a ‘lifetime warranty’ no problem.” Really, I say to myself, you’re going to fix it. I’m in shock. Better yet she forwards two locations to take the broken trimmer for repair. Then she sends an email with the form that will cover the expense to repair. “I must be heaven, I say to myself.

Celebrating Father’s Day was always a lot of fun for this retired priest for I would invite all the nurturing dads of the parish to come up to the altar after Mass and take home a 6 pack of birch beer.  Finding the birch beer is another Sonshine story. My wife Sue asked, “What do I want for Father’s Day?”

Number 1: Prayers from you that Shanna, Ted and Mary who start chemo therapy are cancer free and Bob gets his kidney.

Number 2: Prayers that Tina, Tim, Shelia stay cancer free and Fr. Erick is fully recovered from his surgery

Number 3: Prayers for our nationwide Latino pastors and their parishioners that no one gets deported.

Number 4: Prayers that Sue (my beloved spouse) will be successful in her application for a grant for the animal shelter and her back pain will be relieved with the help from her doctors.

Number 5: Prayers for all our living, nurturing dads and dads in heaven on our Father’s Day prayer list.

Number 6: Prayers that Brockport College legal department will allow students and faculty to utilize Reviresco as an education center.

Number 7; Prayers that someone might offer their services to be the “farm manager” to help me take care of our forest and streams.

Number 8: Prayers that I have the strength to cut the fallen trees. Another tree fell on the driveway hill and I couldn’t pull the chainsaw cord. I managed to cut the tree down with my hand saw. No need for a gym, the farm gives me plenty of time for a workout.

Number 9: Yes, I would love to visit more national parks and take stunning landscape pics like the attached below for you to enjoy.

                                        Rocky Mountain National Park

Number 10: Prayers that someone would build a photography website to  display my landscape photos to sell online and support Sue’s animal shelter Volunteer4Animals.

But let’s go back to the customer service rep response: “The part has a ‘lifetime warranty’ no problem.” My blessing to all our dads is a reminder that you have a lifetime warranty that whenever you broke down, Our Lord promised to redeem you and bring everlasting peace. No problem. In other words, never fear the Lord has your back and does not want you to worry. No worries.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends, especially the nurturing dads be they biological, step-dads, foster, uncles, coaches, mentors, teachers that  someone texts, calls, writes or physically says: “I love you and thanks for watching over me.”

Living Nurturing Men: The men who currently provide love, support, guidance, direction, provide learning opportunities, teachable lessons, protection and instill faith and values-

 

Kyle Downey, Eric Feistel, Don Post, Dan Fafinski, Rudy van derVelden, Vito Scarpetta, Dr. Michael Casale, Owen B. Hill, Ted Fafinski. Scott M. North, Alexander North, Steve Flanagan.  Bishop John Mack, Fr. Don Seekins, Fr. Joe Pasquella, Fr Nadeem Yaqoob,, Fr. Corey Foegen, Father Erick. Fr. Marcus, Cleric Robert, Father Richard, Deacon Tom, Deacon John, Steve George, Roy George Jr., Robert Bumbacher, Jerry Spaziani, Stanley G. Bartlett; Scott Bartlett, Mark Bartlett, Duke Pollett, Ron LaMora, Jon White, Scott Caton, Jerry Ruszala, Brad Ruszala, Scott Ruszala, Kurt Hammel, Mike Cuzzupo,li, Brett Hammel, Mike Hammel, Brian Hammer, Allyn Hammel, Bob Haelen, Mark Barie, Foster E. Hakes, Charles A. Hakes, John Jacob Bender, Anthony J. Montanaro, Anthony F. Montanaro, Tim Kibler, David Johnson, Doug Spooner Jr., Jeffrey McDonald, Michael Wangler, JJ Pineda, Tyler Lapham, Craig Lapham, Sankar Sewnauth, Andrew Sewnauth, Brian Stephenson, Terry Spooner, Rhody Spooner, Jody Spooner, Father Matt, Jack Woodward, Tom Surtel, Brad Rehwaldt, Denny Meyer, Carl Szarek, Arnie Boldt, Jeff Fluker, Louis Horton,

Prayers for those who are deceased and have touched so many lives 

Ken Harzynski, Matthew H. Kawiak, Charlie Sullivan, Fr., Alex Stec, Fr. Matthew Sudara, Fr. Adamski, Msgr Leo Kelty, Bishop Peplowski, Dick Barie, Michael Fafinski,  Joseph Wrobel, James Kalinowski, Peter Jakubowski, Ralph Calabrese, Steve Biklen, Tom Karp, Fr. Bob, Stanley F. Bartlett, Ellis Bartlett, Gordon Jones, Pio Spaziani, James Meyer, Edward Ruszala, Louis Podleiszek, Arnold Hammel, Leonard Long, Paul Long Sr., Paul Long jr, Joseph N. Guido, John Lallucci, Richard Bean; Charles Wangler II; Charles Wangler III; Douglas Spooner, James Wangler,

 

 

 

Pentecost--The Spirit Within Each of Us

 

I admit that I am NOT a farmer. However, taking care of 75 acres of forest and fields brings its challenges like farm equipment that breaks down and needs repair. Yes, I am grateful and often humbled by this beautiful land. I look forward to the day when it will be used as an environmental learning center. But for now, I discovered the lawn mower wheel is flat, again, and the bush hog won’t rotate and cut the trails.

This is where I find the Holy Spirit working overtime in my life. I contact Jeff our local fire chief and tractor mechanic. He diagnosed a broken bolt on the bush hog and the need for an inner tube to fix the wheel.

So I drive to the Batavia John Deere store, and the service lady says, “sorry no tubes in stock.” But I need to cut the lawn today because it’s the first day in two weeks we have no rain and the lawn is somewhat dry, compared to soggy most of this Spring.

I meandered to the parts guy and he runs into the shoppe to ask a wise old curmudgeon, a senior parts guy who is grumbling and staring into his screen. My guy asks “what part does this guy (that’s me) need to repair his bush hog.”

Our curmudgeon is yelling to someone on the phone, “hang on I’m doing three things at once.” He looks at the diagram the parts guy found and says, “this is what you need.” Thank you George (the parts department guru) and your kind spirit to help this priest.

Now the parts guy heard me say, “there’s no inner tube.”  He walks away and comes back with a bag in his hand. He throws it at the service lad and says, “this is the tube father needs to fix his tire.” Service cries, “I didn’t see it on the screen.” Parts guy says, “Trust me, this will work.” Thanks Pete and your spirit to help.

However, service lad says. “mechanics are on lunch and won’t be back till 2pm.”  It’s noon. But he says you can go across the street and they repair tires and see if they have your inner tube. If not, come back and we will sell you this one.” Thanks  Andy for your spirit to help.

So, I drive across the street, tell the manager my tire needs a tube and he says, “yes we got the tube but my mechanics are on lunch. However, he grabs the wheel and disappears. I hear sounds of air wooshing in the shoppe. Fifteen minutes later he returns with a smile and says, “what do you think of our service father, your tire is repaired.” Thank you Dick, and your spirit to help.

Now, I am back at the farm, The tire rod is up on a lift but I have no idea how to remove the lift. I contact Jeff and he says, “use the tractor and the bucket to lift the mower off the lift.” Like magic, the wheel is back on and with the help of the parts guys, he taught me how to insert the clip to keep the tire on the rim. Thank you both, Jeff and Pete for your spirit to help.

Back home, I’m standing over the bush hog searching where to insert the new bolt. I text Jeff the mechanic and he texts back, “look for PTO and gear box holes and line them up.”  Well now I have backup, I asked my wife Sue for help and together we are able to line up the holes, insert the bolt but it won’t go through.

Jeff to the rescue texts, “just hit it with a hammer.” That’s the “male spirit” speaking. If it doesn’t fit, just pound it in. Instead, we gently rotate the PLO and the holes line up and the bolt goes through. I get out the racket set and start to screw the bolt and it slowly goes into both holes. On the other side I insert the nut and screw it tight but the racket doesn’t tighten the bolt. Text Jeff again, he has a racket extender but he is away for the weekend. This morning, I woke up thinking how I could tighten the bolt and the spirit said take the racket and use it to tighten the bolt, not the nut. Thank you spirit, worked like a charm.

Yes, the lawn mower tire is working fine and today when the trails were somewhat less soggy, I cut the trails. You might say that on Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down on the apostles. I believe and hope you agree it’s the spirt of our friends and neighbors and strangers who go out of their way, beyond the call of duty to make our life a bit easier and less stressful.

Thank you Lord, for the spirit of Pete, Jeff, George Andy, Ron, Jamie and Dick for each of you reflected the spirit of Christ’s compassion and love. Now back to work farmer Matt,

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who in their moment of need have family and friends who go out of their way to rescue them just as Jesus rescues us from our sins and fears and brings us the gift of eternal life.  Perhaps, you might call or text and say thank you to those who gave you their spirit---a ride to the doctor’s office, shop for groceries, picked up your meds, or spent some time with a cup of tea to listen to your stories.

 

Someone is Praying for You

 

In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus is praying for his little family which he’s about to leave. Not only is he praying for them, but he’s praying for us too:

“I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.”

This is Jesus’ great prayer for his followers, that we become a family as tight with one another as he is with his dad. I’ll admit, that’s a pretty tall order. From the very first Christians have had some family dysfunction. Our egos and jealousies have made it hard for us to sit down together at the Thanksgiving dinner table and rejoice as siblings should. We love to bicker over details about what is Catholic and the nature of sin and the right way to worship. We’re all set to be martyrs for our own opinions and burn heretics at the stake for disagreeing with us. Let’s just face it: being a family is hard.

I think what Jesus was trying to do on that night in which he had his last supper with this little family was give them a master class on how to be the Church. He got down on hands and knees and washed their feet, demonstrating how we are to be present to help and serve each other. Then he prayed for them like a parent would pray for his or her children, asking God to keep them safe and help them get along.

Jesus is praying for us. He’s asking that God’s love would be in us so we can love one another. Maybe the best way to access this love is to be in regular and disciplined prayer for one another. I think there is something amazingly comforting in knowing that another is actively, lovingly praying for you. The  Sonshine prayer list invites you to pray for people who need God’s help. Like Shanna, a shelter animal coordinator who is facing a diagnosis of cancer. Perhaps our daily routine should be spending a few minutes each morning in intercessory prayer for someone whom the Holy Spirit is putting on your heart. If you’re praying for that person, you might then want to reach out and contact them. Who knows? Your connection might be just the thing someone else needs at this very moment.

Lord, I pray daily for all my Sonshine Friends who Christian legends tell us the first disciples were swept by the Holy Spirit to distant lands from which they never returned. They didn’t have Facebook or Instagram or smart phones to keep up with each other. But I’ll bet they prayed for one another all the same.

 

Memorial Day Blessing

 

As a young seminarian, Memorial Day memories turn to my dad a veteran of WW II and commander of his American Legion Post. At the local cemetery, we would honor our war hero’s by offering prayers, laying the wreath, sounding taps and a twenty-one-gun salute. The words of John said it best: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  I have heard this verse so many times that the ultimate sacrifice is to give one’s life for friend or country. But I wonder if that was the message Jesus was talking about. He wasn’t talking about war, was he? My dad was invited to speak on this day and he would always turn to me and say “Can you write me a few words” So my Sonshines, my stories began long before I took my first homiletic course in seminary. While we came to remember the sacrifice of so many young people, when and how you die isn’t as important as how you live.

 

Surely Jesus didn’t want us to die in wars. When he called his disciples to lay down their lives, maybe he meant something more like to put aside our own goals, our own desires, our own ambitions and to live for others -- to dedicate our lives to our brothers and sisters, our friends, our church, to dedicate our lives to God -- to lay down our own will and to seek God’s will, and then do it.

 

After the ceremony, dad and I stayed after everyone else left. We moved from stone to stone, looking at each name, each date. As we walked, we came upon a platform carved out of stone. In the center was a sort of a pulpit also carved from stone. I stood behind the pulpit and looked out over hundreds of graves. It was like a congregation of the dead. It was the quietest, most attentive congregation I had ever seen before. For a minute, I imagine myself like Ezekiel preaching to the dry bones. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I shook my head.  What’s the matter, dad said?  I realized I didn't have anything to say to them. As I thought about their sacrifices, and the sorrow of their families and friends, I didn’t have a word to say.  Just then, an older legionnaire friend of my dad had come up beside us. This old WW I veteran looked at us and said, It’s all right that you have nothing to say to them, he said, gesturing to the silent gravestones stretching as far as the eye can see. The question is, were you quiet enough to let them speak to you?

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who cry over the stones of their war hero’s. In our souls, let us hear:” I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.” On Memorial Day, our soldiers did leave us something that will last...let them speak to you. May we honor them, and all those who have served others, by serving the one who chose us

Super Agers

 

I was listening to NPR radio about “super agers.” What was the secret for people who live to 80 ,100 and beyond ? Researchers who conducted studies on older adult populations reported it was not genes that made the difference but a person’s immune system that fight off cancer cells and other disease.

However, another important factor tor longevity was the attitude of the person. Simply put, a person with a happy disposition was a significant feature displayed in people who live longer. I like to believe that in spiritual terms this means a person is at peace with themselves and the world.

So what is this peace that our Lord speaks of in today's gospel?  Well, he does tell us what it is not: “his peace is not the peace that the world gives.” The peace of this world is the peace supposedly provided by a wealth of material possessions. Material things will supposedly protect us from want and need. But we have to realize that everything in this world is fleeting and short-lived. What we have today could be gone tomorrow.

So what is his peace? Jesus peace is the “peace of acceptance,” the peace that allows us to appreciate every day to the fullest.

For example, today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did, I'm going to celebrate! Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I've had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships, because they have made me stronger. I will go through this day with my head held high and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts: the sun-yes the sun does shine sometimes in Buffalo but not today, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the kitties, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice. Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know. Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to those who have helped me care for our farm like…

Denny (Mr. Milk) and his two Mexican workers who mulched our trees; John (forester) who keeps our forest healthy and chained saw the trees that blocked the walking trails; Jeff (fire chief and mechanic) who repairs our farm tractor, gator and mower; Jamie (the fire chief’s son) who helped put up the Reviresco sign; Jason (electrician) who repaired the driveway lights; Brad (my Good Shephard builder) who repairs anything and shares his vendor list of master craftspeople; Ryan and Shaun (Brad’s sons) who dug the kitty litter pit and repaired the vinyl siding; Chad (window installer) checks the window screens and clips; Jack (garden center sales) who found our serviceberry replacement trees; Fidele, Cameron and Jack (landscapers) who planted the new trees along the driveway, Dr. Jose, Vice Provost Brockport College, who supports our vision for the farm to become an education center for students and faculty. I am humbled by these good people who are generous and helpful in my moments of need.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that tonight, before we go to bed, we go outside and raise our eyes to the heavens. We will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and we will praise God for these magnificent treasures. As we lie our heads down on our pillow, we will thank the Almighty for the best day of our life. And we will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because we know tomorrow is going to be the best day of our life, ever!