Rudolf, Won't You Guide My Sleigh Tonight?

Santa's most popular reindeer by far is Rudolf, Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer. Here is his story as told in music by Johnny Marks: Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw him, you would even say it glows. All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolf play in any reindeer games. Then one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say: "Rudolf with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?" Then all the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee: "Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer, you'll go down in history!" The story of Rudolf is the story of salvation. It is our story both as individuals and as the human family. In our own case it is not Santa who saves us but the Child Jesus.

To begin with, Rudolf was a misfit. Compared to the image of the ideal reindeer we can say that something was definitely wrong with him. What is more, he was not in any position to help himself. So are we all, misfits: "We are like sheep who have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6). Like lost sheep we are not in a position to help ourselves. Rudolf could not help himself. All that his fellow reindeer did was to makes things worse for him. Only one person could help him, Santa, the messenger from heaven.

Soon, we will celebrate the birth of the Messenger from heaven. He comes to liberate us from the human predicament, our self-centeredness. Our self-destructive ways turn us into a despicable Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer. But the heavenly Messenger comes, not to take away the “red nose” but to declare to us the Good News that we are acceptable to God even with the red nose. Rudolf's red nose was a defect. But Santa chose him precisely on account of that. The heavenly Messenger has the ability to turn the defects and red noses of our tainted humanity into assets for the service of God. Jesus is this heavenly messenger.

What makes the reindeer gospel so poignant is that Santa does not use his magic wand to heal Rudolf of his red nose defect. He let him go on with the red nose even as his chosen reindeer. Certainly Rudolf would have wanted to be a normal reindeer like all the rest. Similarly Jesus does not simply make us good men and women, rather he makes us into people who can use all their strengths and defects to the service and the glory of God. This is the proof to us that it is not by our own will power that we are able to become children of God. It is by God's grace, by God's unmerited and unconditional love of us.

You can imagine how Rudolf felt when he heard the words of Santa, "Rudolf with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?" That is why we call it the Good News. It is news that is liberating and empowering. It empowers us by changing our former disposition of insecurity, despair and hopelessness into that of blessed assurance, new hope and enthusiasm in the Lord's service.

God prays for us as we reflect: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel like misfits. Our “red noses” that point to our inner shame and disfigure the beauty that God sees within us. Like Rudolf before Santa, let us listen to the Message that the Christ Child brings us, let us commit ourselves into his service without looking back, even when we do not know where the journey will lead us, knowing one thing for sure: that the grace of God will supply the strength we need for the long journey of faith ahead. A Blessed Christmas.

Ice Your Pain

Ironic that after a stellar annual physical, two hours later, I fall on a patch of ice on my back and I am in pain! What a way to start the week before Christmas? Thank God that He is in our "pain" of living. Everyday I listen to the pain of people buried with fears of losing a job, a spouse, or health. And, who likes pain? Not this priest especially when the pull rope on the snow blower refused to start the motor and my back is screaming in pain. This is the kind of pain that drops you to your knees. I literally felt like the words in Psalm: 38:7: “My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.”

However suffering and pain needs to be addressed in our lives. O Come, O Come Emmanuel means “God is with us in us—especially when we are “in pain.” I believe God has some lesson and opportunity for us in pain. But, does it have to come during a snowstorm? Come on Lord, what is the mystery to pain? James states it this way in 5:11: “As you know we consider blessed those who have preserved. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about… The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."

When I try to deal with the mystery of suffering and pain my thoughts turn to the homebound who have no more strength to fight the system. I think of a Sonshine Friend whose home care and nursing services have put her health at risk. Sometimes due to our pain, we no longer have the strength to want to go on. We feel alone in our pain. However, I tried to remind her on a snowy Sunday afternoon that she has the dignity of her soul and her faith and to keep on praying.

It is interesting that the treatment for pain recommended after the fall is ice and later warmth to help in the healing process. Sometimes when our prayers are not answered we think that God has the heart of ice. It is our perseverance that will lead to the warmth of God’s comfort.

Keep in mind that our pain is not meaningless. We pray for a cure or at least some relief but it seems God has not answered our prayer. The things we count as refusals are simply delays, which we can't understand in the natural. In pain, which I feel, I lift my eyes to my Redeemer. It need not be meaningless. I ask God to remove the pain; if not I ask God to reveal his lessons and truths through it. There are those watching my reaction and response.

God pray for us as we reflect: “I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.” (Psalm 69:29).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine friends who are indeed in pain - physically - or in a situation that is "painful." I ask that you give them relief and when on their knees you bless them with strength and grace to endure for the Kingdom.

Always in a Hurry

What kind of waiter are you? I don’t mean folks who serve your table at restaurants, but people who wait. There are those who remain patient and calm no matter what circumstance, but they are rare. Far more common are the impatient ones who pace and tap and glance at their watches; who, when you finally arrive, let you know exactly how late you are; who weave in and out of traffic trying to get one car ahead of the others; who get into the express lane at the supermarket with their basket far over the twelve-item limit, who are always in a hurry.

There are the multitaskers with their cell phones, blueberries and palm pilots who can’t abide the solitude and silence so necessary for emotional and spiritual growth. Then, there are those who simply can’t wait at all, like the children who ask, “when is Santa coming?”

I realize that there are times when we have to actually "hurry". But the normal pace, must be kept slower...for our sake and the sake of others as well. I don't ever recall reading that Jesus was on the run.

Jesus was master of the art of spending time. He never let it master him. He did not give the impression of dashing about Palestine trying to save time and keep to a schedule.

He knew that his working days were short. He said so. There was an air of urgency about him, but there was no feverish hurrying. He had time to sit and talk with individuals along the way. He paused to play with little children. He took time off to spend whole hours in prayer. But was it taking time off? Off from what? Jesus was not keeping to a calendar. He was fulfilling a life.

Folks at the Blue Christmas Healing Mass had the opportunity to slow down a little from the hectic pace and "smell the roses". But, I know, some are thinking, "Well, if you knew what I was going through you would think different!" Actually, I do know what some are going through.

As I was leaving the chapel, the last person expressed her thanks for the healing service because she was going through tests for lupus. Sometimes, the news is bad. It's the pits!! But I also know someone who is waiting for us to reach up through our difficulties and touch Him.

God prays for us as we reflect: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God." (John 14:1).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they listen to your whisper that says: “I am here.” Then they could put up with anything, could wait forever.

Keep On Keeping On

On Sunday, a special message was read in all the churches from our bishop. It said “we are adrift. Sadly, a litany of hurts in recent years has resulted in a severe drop of church attendance, a severe shortage of vocations, the closing of churches and a drop in respect for our religious leaders. The Catholic community is adrift in the pain of the abuse scandal, and the scandal that plagues communities in conflict over how to make Christ present in our modern world. The bishop invited all his parishes to join him in a season of renewal beginning in Lent.

Then an “ angel” appeared in our midst. She appeared in the form of a young college student by the name of Carolyn. She bounced up eagerly to the lectern to make her announcement. In a voice that caught your attention, she announced that a group of students at Brockport College were talking about the poor, the cold and winter. They decided that they wanted to do something to make a difference. So she had come to announce that these students would be collecting blankets to give to the poor during the winter months. She asked the community to check their closets at home and donate a blanket to keep the poor warm this winter. She had bought a blanket to donate and you could see her face light up, as she knew this was what Jesus wants her to do. Her inspiration and sincerity lifted the hearts of the community with a message that simply said, “Keep on keeping on.”

Are you in a situation where it appears to be the "same old, same old"? Like our church adrift, maybe you need a lift from our angel Carolyn.

Whenever I have a troubled patient in my office, I remind them of this story. Did you ever noticed that when the Lord told the discouraged fishermen to cast their nets again it was right in that same old place where they had been working all night, and had caught nothing?

If we could only go off to some new place every time we get discouraged, trying again would be an easier thing. If we could be somebody else, or go somewhere else, or do something else, it might not be hard to have fresh faith and courage; but it is the same old net in the same old pond for most of us.

Everyday is a new day where old faults are to be conquered, where old hurts and discouragements are to be forgiven, where we have failed yesterday we are to face again today. We will win success “where we are” when we pray to God, who knows that “despite” all our disheartening efforts that we call failures, He bids us to "Keep on keeping on.”

God prays for us as we reflect: “Indeed we are called blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, because, the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” (James 5:11)

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are caught up in their hurts and resentments from the past. Bless them to "hang in there" and to know that you are with them. We are where we are at this moment. May this one make the best of it without complaining.