I Come To Do Your Will

Often we tend to list the life story of a loved one when singing their praises. However, Sister Jean Marie offered something most profound when she reflected on her mother's life at the Memorial Mass. Before her mom was accepted into the Independent Living Senior Home, she had lost most of her hearing. It was at that moment that her mother said: Yes! In the beginning, her mom made new friends at the home and would visit their rooms. Over time, she needed the aid of a walker and it was another moment for her mom to say: Yes! Then this mother was having difficulty with her memory, another moment for her to say: Yes! Then towards the end of her days, she could no longer speak and again she said: Yes! On the morning of her last day on earth, this mother lay silently in her bed breathing ever so softly. Jean Marie whispered "Mom" and she heard her mother respond with a sigh. Now this daughter realized it was her turn to say: Yes! She fell silent to let her mother know that it was time to let go and bathe in the light of the resurrection, In her deafness, her limited mobility, her lost memory, her failed words, her motherhood, her widowhood, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren this mother clung to her Lord with faith and courage and found great happiness and joy.

This mother taught the importance of releasing ourselves from the many "things" that clutter our lives. Her "Yes" is an invitation to ask ourselves how much I really need. How many jackets, sport shirts, dresses, shoes? How much jewelry? How much sporting equipment? How much electronic equipment? How much of so many things we have in our lives? This is not "should I get rid of what I don't need?" This is different, more faith-filled and takes us into giving up "good" stuff. We do this because we sense that we are not free in some areas that are tremendously important for us, important for our salvation, and growing in freedom before the things of our lives can be a great grace. This freedom, too, will place us in greater solidarity with those who find such great happiness and joy in trusting in God, while having so much less than we imagine we could survive on.

Pray and reflect on the words of the Blessed Mother: " I am the maid servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say." As parent or spouse, brother or sister, colleague or friend we are called upon daily to say YES when we prefer to say NO. Our YES comes in many ordinary ways: picking up a sick child from school, driving a friend to the emergency room, delivering a meal to someone with a broken wrist, helping a neighbor with a leaking faucet, writing a "letter of reference" for someone who feels neglected or cleaning out the closets and taking the extra clothes to the community clothing center.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who prefer not to be bothered with your messengers who ask us to stop what we are doing and say Yes to your invitation to serve. Give us the grace and spirit to live by these words: "Here I am , Lord; I come to do your will."

Singing Your Praises

Imagine your surprise getting two letters from friends, not your typical one line emails, that praised your support and encouragement when they fell upon hard times. A Sonshine Friend shared that her close friend suffered a serious car accident on New Year’s Day. A shattered hip required replacement and long-term care from all the injuries. Our Sonshine called and prayed and listened and now she got her surprise. What’s better than a flower arrangement or fruit basket, in her own words-- a "letter of reference" that lovingly remembered her time and presence that helped her friend to heal.

For a moment this morning, imagine yourself waiting before the pearly gates and God asks you the question. "Do you have any letters of reference?" We might be embarrassed or surprised by this question. It’s a simple request for proof on how well we carried out His will in this life. Perhaps, there’s a file under your name and God simply pulls out some "letters of reference" that tells the story on how well you listened to your neighbor and brought some poor soul hope and courage.

Now we spend a lot of time during Lent accounting our failures and weaknesses before the throne of God and ask for pardon which goes without saying. But I like to suggest a new Lenten practice. Why not write those people in your life who helped you in your worse moments a "letter of reference." Please no cryptic email messages but a letter from your heart. It expresses your gratitude when you felt abandoned, afraid or alone and this friend took you to a concert or drove you to an appointment. Or, you suffered an accident--fell off your horse-- and you drove your friend to the emergency room and prayed the X-ray was negative. Or, the pilot light went out in your furnace at two in the morning and your neighbor came to fix that 40 year old boiler and brought the heat back on. Or, you were out of work due to another downsizing and your neighbor brought your family food and handed out your resume to their employer to help you find work. Or, while you were providing support to your parent in hospice, your sister was watching and feeding your kids and the kitties.

Now God would carefully review each "letter of reference" to see how well you listened to the needs of the poor, those who had no voice or those who fell off their horse or those who had no job and you came to their rescue. Can you imagine Our Lord’s smile when He looks straight in your eyes and says "thanks for being there for ME."

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that you get them cracking to write those "letters of reference" to their teachers, their neighbors, their siblings, their in-laws, their best friends who always listened and found the time to encourage and support. May your file be full to the brim!

Old Irish "Luchorpan"

Once upon a time in County Donegal, each Sunday morning, Kathryn would get ready for church. Her mom lined up all twelve of her children and then, one by one, wash each child’s face and comb each one’s hair. Each child would wait patiently in line for his or her turn and then go out and play while the mother finished the rest.

One Sunday Kathryn was second in line and anxious to get her turn over with because it would mean nearly a half hour of play time while the others were being washed and combed. Then, just before her turn, her mother noticed that the youngest sister was missing a shoelace and asked Kathryn to go to the bedroom and get one. Not wanting to miss her place in the line and given that her mother did not ask her a second time, she did not go. Her mother said nothing as she combed her hair. When she finished she went out to play.

After playing for ten minutes, however, she felt guilty and went back into the house to get the shoelace for her baby sister. When she entered the mother had just removed her own shoelace and was bent down, putting it into her baby’s sister’s shoe. Felling doubly guilty, she went into her parents’ bedroom and got a shoelace and, as her mother was combing her baby’s sister’s hair, she bent down and put the shoelace into her mother’s shoe. While she was doing this, her mother said nothing but gently stroked her hair.

When Kathryn finished telling the story, somebody asked her what it meant and, rather embarrassed, she said: I don’t know...but it has just stayed with me all these years! A day later, her friend had noticed a button missing from her coat. She realized that she had forgotten to bring any sewing material. Out of nowhere, Kathryn appeared. Are you missing anything? She asked. I forgot to bring thread and a needle. She answered. Immediately, she produced a button, thread and a needle and gave it to her, and disappeared without a word.

The next day at class, her friend confronted her with these words: The button is the shoelace, isn’t it? Yes, she answered, ever since that day her mother stroked her hair, through all those years–and long after she had died–she had this secret covenant with her mother. I go through life supplying what is missing.

Blessing begets blessing. When we are treated gently, gentleness grows in us. We all make an unconscious secret covenant with those who have blessed us, who have stroked our hair gently. To bless is to speak well, especially to those who seldom hear words of affirmation. To bless is to see well, especially those who are invisible. To bless is to pass on well, especially to those whose legacy is harsh and fractured.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are blessing to this teacher. May all their acts of kindness bring hope and joy to those who are "luchorupan"an Old Irish word meaning "small body" or invisible.

Temptation to Be the Seed for Good

Once upon a time, a pilgrim set out on a long journey in search of peace, joy and love. The pilgrim walked for many weary miles, and time passed.

Gradually, the young, lively steps became slower and more labored. The pilgrim’s journey passed through landscapes that were not always happy ones. Through war, Through sickness. Through quarrels and rejections and separations. A land where, it seemed, the more people possessed, the more evil they became–the more they had to defend, the more they needed to attack each other. Longing for peace, they prepared for war. Longing for love, they surrounded themselves with walls of distrust and barriers of fear. Longing for life, they were walking deeper into death.

But one morning, the pilgrim came to a littler cottage at the wayside. Something about this little cottage attracted the pilgrim. It was as though it was lit up inside. Full of curiosity, the pilgrim went inside. And inside the cottage was a little shop, and behind the counter stood a shopkeeper. It was hard to judge the age–hard even to say for sure whether it was a man or a woman. There was an air of timelessness about the place.

What would you like? asked the shopkeeper in a kindly voice. What do you stock here? asked the pilgrim. Oh, we have all the things here that you most long for, replied the shopkeeper. Just tell me what you desire. The pilgrim hardly knew where to begin. So many desires came rushing to mind. I want peace –in my own family, in my native land and in the whole world. I want to make something good of my life. I want those who are sick to be well again and those who are lonely to have friends. I want those who are hungry to have enough to eat. I want every child born on this planet to have a chance to be educated. I want everyone on earth to live in freedom. I want this world to be a kingdom of love. There was a pause, while the pilgrim reviewed this shopping list. Gently, the shopkeeper broke in. I’m sorry, came the quiet reply. I should have explained. We don’t supply the fruits here. We only supply the seeds.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that in this Season of Lent you help each of us blossom with your seeds of peace, love and joy.