Why Blue?

So I point to Dan in the pews and invited him to walk in procession to light the first Advent candle. On the way down the aisle, this young man asks the obvious question, what is an Advent wreath? Good question Dan, let’s take it one step further and simply ask what is the purpose of Advent?

I'm sure all my Sonshine readers would answer this question by saying that it is the season in the Church's year, which leads to Christmas. However, to better understand Advent, we have to understand the origins of Christmas, which was not celebrated by Christians until the fourth century. The pagans of that time saw the world as a great cosmic struggle between the powers of darkness and the powers of light. And they noticed that at different times darkness seemed to be getting more of the light, so to speak. They were watching, if you will, two great cosmic wrestlers and at this time of the year, it appeared that the wrestler called darkness would seem to be getting the upper hand because the days were getting shorter. At least until December 21, which is when they noticed that the tables were beginning to turn, and that the sun was regaining its strength. And so when they saw this happening on an annual basis, the pagans celebrated the resurrection, or the return of the light of the sun. It was a 'sun feast', marking the transition time from darkness to light.

When the Christians came along they took over this pagan notion. They said, 'It's a pretty good idea that you have got here, and after all, we know that if you are really talking about darkness and light, the only real darkness’s of this world are the darkness of sin and the darkness of death. And the only light in this world is Jesus. So we'll keep your ideas.”

But what the Christians did, as it were, they took the word 'sun' and they took out the middle letter, 'u,' and they changed it to 'o'. So the sun they were talking about was Jesus, the Son of God, and they made this time of year a celebration when we would get ready for the tables to be turned. In the great struggle, this was the time when sin and death would now be overcome by the light of the world, Jesus, the Son of God. So they called this time Christmas, and they made Advent the time of considering an end of darkness and looking forward to the coming light. Now about those liturgical colors.

Well in history, blue actually was the color often appointed for Advent in medieval times. In the Middle Ages, blue, purple, and even black were generally regarded as interchangeable, and when blue itself was specified it was often identified as indigo, a deep hue, not a pale one, symbolically suggestive, perhaps, of the darkness of night in which the world sleeps, before the dawn of the Son of Righteousness.

Now that we have learned that blue symbolizes the darkness of the night, I like to offer some practical suggestions on bringing more light into your life during the Advent Season. Here are a few suggestions.

Mend a quarrel.
Seek out a forgotten friend.
Dismiss suspicion.
Write a long overdue love note.
Hug someone tightly and whisper, "I love you so."
Forgive an enemy.
Be gentle and patient with an angry person.
Express appreciation.
Gladden the heart of a child.
Find the time to keep a promise
Make or bake something for someone else---anonymously.
Release a grudge.
Just listen, for a change.
Speak kindly to a stranger.
Enter into another's sorrow.
Smile. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more.
Take a walk with a friend.
Kneel down and pet your kitty or dog.

Groom your horse.
Read a poem or two to your mate or friend.
Lessen your demands on others.
Play some beautiful music during the evening meal.
Apologize if you were wrong.
Turn off the television and talk.
Treat someone to an ice-cream cone (yogurt would be fine).
Do the dishes for the family.
Pray for someone who helped you when you hurt.
Fix breakfast on Saturday morning.
Give a gentle answer even though you feel strongly.
Encourage everyone your meet.
Point out one thing you appreciate most about someone with whom you live or work

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for the Lord.” (Isaiah 40:3).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that we make Advent one long, extended gift of ourselves to others. Unselfishly. Without obligation. Or reservation. Or hypocrisy. After all, this is Christmas, isn't it?

Mashed Potatoes

On Sunday evening, I asked our Brockport college students where they would be celebrating their Thanksgiving meal and secondly, what food do they look forward to most to have served at their tables. While some shared pumpkin, pecan and so-fly pie, the overall winner was simply “mashed potatoes.”

As their religion professor, the parable about the sheep and goats can be scary, but I prefer to point out that it’s a beautiful story that reminds us to simply pay attention.

Throughout this section of Matthew, Jesus has been suggesting that there will ultimately be a great division among humanity. There will be those who prepared for history’s conclusion and those who did not adequately prepare (the parable of the ten virgins). There will be those who did their best with what had been given to them and those who will be guilty of wasting their time by doing nothing (the parable of the talents).

But what we may sometimes miss in this passage is the curious fact that when you get right down to it, the sheep and the goats have one big thing in common: neither group was aware of what they did or failed to do at the time they were doing it (or failing to do it). Hence, both groups ask the exact same question: "When did all that stuff happen?"

Jesus tells the righteous folks that he was grateful for all the ways they had nourished, welcomed, clothed, tended to, and visited him. But the righteous cannot for the life of them recall doing any of that for Jesus, and so they ask, "Well now, when did we do all that for you, Lord?" Conversely, those not paying much attention cannot for the life of them recall ever seeing Jesus anywhere, much less in need of anything, and so they ask, "Well now, what day was that when we plumb missed seeing you, Jesus?" One group did the right things to Jesus, the other group failed to help Jesus, but neither realized it at the time.

Like most of my photos, I literally get down on the ground, from that perspective I see the world differently than most. Jesus identified himself snugly with the hurting of this world that whatever we do, or fail to do, in relation to those hurting people directly affects Jesus. So we forget or miss our chance. We simply don't pay attention while we live our life.

I shared with our students that on Sunday morning after the 10 am Mass, people who really, really care about them donated over 100 baked goods. Despite all their creative, baking talents, their purpose was simply to share their faith in Jesus and used the funds to support the wonderful student ministry at Newman.

At the same time no one noticed, but an 88 year-old Marilyn came to Newman for the first time. Her story was simple. She had recently moved into an assisted living home in Brockport and she had no way to get to church. Her husband died over 10 years ago and her two daughters live in Pennsylvania. So an invitation was extended to the parish asking for volunteers to bring Marilyn to our church. For 88 years Marilyn had been coming to church and I asked her to kindly stand so that we could welcome her to Newman and applaud her faith and love for Jesus. With a smile that brought our people to tears, this community warmly welcomed her at our Eucharistic table. This is what it means to walk humbly in the footsteps of Jesus. Sometimes it not money or time people need, only a smile and a hug.

That gospel story invites all of us to pay close attention to one another for I believe there is a piece of God inside each of us. If we truly believe this, then we will indeed feed the hungry, clothe the naked and all the things mentioned in the gospel reading. But sometimes we need look no further than our own home to help someone. Sometimes help can be rendered without giving money, or even our time. Sometimes it may be just as simple as giving someone a hug, which lets them know that we care about them. Or sometimes the toughest thing to do may be just telling someone whom you care about that you love them.

Simply put, I told our college students that when they go home take the time to tell mom and dad, grandma and grandpa that you missed them and give them a great big hug.

Now reflect on this psalm: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends on Thanksgiving Day that we get down at our tables and remember to thank all who cooked the turkey and prepared our favorite “mashed potatoes.” From my heart and soul, I love you all and may you and all the members of your family be at peace.

Treated Like a King

Everett worked in customer service and treated everyone he met “like a king.” People would cry on the phone or walk up to his desk with tales of woe about their broken machines. You see Everett managed a car repair shop. Oh, not any ordinary shop, but one people trusted for its excellent and honest service. If he was in a middle of an order for a part and someone came to him desperate because they had a flat or the engine blew-up, he would come around his desk, put his arms around their shoulder and reassure them they things would be taken care of.

He would stop immediately and leave what he was doing. Why not? This illustrates what any good king would do when sitting with his council deliberating on high affairs of state involving the destiny of nations, when suddenly he hears the sorrowful cry of his little child, who has fallen down or been frightened by a wasp. He rises and runs to his relief, holding him tight and relieving his fears.

Is there anything "unkingly" here? Is it not most natural? I think that it even elevates the monarch in esteem. Everett was that kind of servant. For him, customer service meant listening to the people who walked through his door with their broken vehicles, listening to the sounds of their problems, setting them down with a cup of coffee, asking them for their patience while his gifted staff worked on the car and finally escorting them personally back to the car that was fixed like new. Imagine all this service from a man who had his share of medical and personal problems, but he never would let you down. Everett treated everyman man, woman and child like a king.

Now think, why would we think it dishonorable for the King of all the kings, our Heavenly Father, to consider the small matters of his children - like you, for instance!

Now reflect on this psalm: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on the faithful.” (Psalm 103:13).

The Heavenly Father does care about you - in His eyes, you are a very special person. Never forget that!!

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who often think we are of no account - no one knows about us in our particular situation - no one cares. Yet, down deep in the hearts of hearts let realize Our Lord’s loving concern. Things might not be going as they would want, but that does not mean that You are not with them in a particular situation. Bless them, and give them Your heavenly peace. Thank you Everett for treating everyone like a king and may you rest in peace taking care of all the saints vehicles in heaven.

.

Anyone Can Stay

There's relatively little about hell in the gospels. Nine times in Matthew, three times in Mark, three times in Luke--many repetitions of one another--and not a word in John. In truth, we owe more of our picture of hell to the imaginations of Dante and James Joyce and fire-and-brimstone preachers than we do to Jesus.

Our pictures of hell are nothing but works of imagination--unless you know someone who has sent back postcards. There must be a hell: for people who don’t want to be with God as long as he thinks he is more important than they are.

Love is real-but-invisible, so we express it in our gifts of roses and cards, and idealize it in our hearts, our works of mercy and intimacy. Messages from God are real-but-not-physical so we embody them in burning bushes and feathery-winged angels. The point is that the inadequacy of our symbols doesn't mean the realities don't exist. In The Great Divorce, C. S. Lewis pictures hell as a Grey Town, filled with surly people. There's a bus to heaven all day long, to a beautiful meadow sloping up to breathtaking mountains. Anyone can stay, if they'll leave behind their self-absorption. If they do, their stay in the Grey Town has been purgatory; if they don't, they get back on the bus and freely go back to what has become hell. Not fascinating fire, but bleak boredom.

Heaven and hell are not places; they are the state of our soul. And we're in one or the other right now, like hikers on a trail making our way through darkness--or sunshine. We're all invited to the feast! But many have "more important" things to do; or we would prefer not to be seen with "that kind of people"; or we find it too costly to check our self-absorption at the door. Sartre was wrong, I think. Hell is not "other people"; hell is oneself. So too, of course, is heaven.

To be a mean-spirited SOB is its own punishment; to be a heartless, to have an exaggerated sense of our own importance its own emptiness; to use people as if they were no more than commodities for one's own personal profit needs no further hell. Yet, God wants to know those people. They just don't want to be known--by God or by many others. That's what hell is, I think: to be not-known--by God or, in any real sense, by anyone else.

in the story about the wise bridesmaids, they were happy because they knew their place. They weren't the bride--or the bridegroom. They were attendants. “I'm just here to help out. I just serve hors d'oeuvres; I just play in the band; I just check the coats. But, God! Whatta party!" We don’t have to be the center of attention, just a server.

I suspect those of us who "know our place" will have a lot more fun than the ones hyper-aware of what they "deserve." How lucky we are just to have the chance to live! How could we take life and all we love for granted? Who cares if we sit on the dais or bus tables in the far corner? We’re here! How lucky each of us is–-just to be, even once! Much less forever!

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “The Lord looks down from heaven on all huamnkind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.” (Psalm 14: 1-3).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who know their place and seek heaven in their hearts. Bless all their daily works as they wait on others and may their souls celebrate at your banquet table in heaven.