Change is Difficult

Sometimes this priest’s wonders if he has lost his mind. I make a decision recently to change my TV vendor to save money. Boy, did that turn out to be a fiasco. It literally took 15 phone calls to customer service to complete the transition. What did I learn?

 

 

The first customer service agent reviewed my list of 15 channels and put together a package that he assured me would be a savings. The next day, the installer arrives and says I need to buy a Roku and I can install the service myself in three minutes. What’s a Roku? He texts a picture to my phone.  On my way to the store, I could feel my stress rising and saying to myself, forgot the idea of changing vendors, this is getting too complicated. I contacted a friend who offered to meet me back home to help install this Roku. I bought this little stick called a Roku and my guardian angel inserted into the back of the TV, rewired a few connections and it was working.

 

Only problem the channels we ordered were not on the list.

 

On my 9^th call, our customer service informs me that I need to buy the “sports package” to upload the NHL network that would an additional charge. On my 12^th call, customer service informs me I need to buy the “Tier One package” to add National Geographic Wild and that requires another  additional fee.

 

My stress level is off the roof, didn’t sleep that night, and grumbling to myself that I should have never made the switch. Then another guardian angel blessed with technical skills arrives, gets on his hands and knees, crawls inside the media cabinet and rewires the Roku so that we can use the DVD player, connects the system to the media speakers to improve the sound, and downloads the free movie apps. Then he patiently shows me how to use the universal and Roku remotes. I am literally crying inside for joy becomes this guardian angel took the time to take this complicated mess and make the system “user friendly.”

 

At the same time, I am on my 15^th call with customer service who listens to my woes about not being able to bundle a package with the channels I watch at an affordable price. This angel of mercy puts together a package at a significant savings and simple says “that’s why I am here to help.”

 

What has this retired priest learned? Yes, change is difficult and scary sometimes. Alone we are at the mercy of our emotions of fear, anxiety and stress. But when we open ourselves to the hand of God, He truly listens to our fears and brings us help from friends and people we would never expect.

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are struggling with change and feeling exhausted from all the stress these past two and a half years. In the stillness of our hearts, help them know they are never alone and that you are sending them angels to bring them comfort and peace. Special thanks to my guardian angels, Ben, Don, Dave, Tim and that 15^th customer service rep.

Easter Ethel

 

This is a true story, one that I promise you will never forget, and one that will cause you to think of Easter in a totally different light. 

 

The lady's name was Ethel Lamont. She was a wonderful Christian who lived in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the patient of a fine Christian doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people.

Ethel was his favorite patient. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of her. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Ethel with her big black bible in her lap. She was earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Dr. Phillips knew why Ethel was there and what she was doing. You see, Ethel Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way "Hello, my name is Ethel Lamont. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would see Jesus for the first time as she told his story. 

 

Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse Beverly. Beverly had first met Ethel when she was taking her blood pressure. Ethel began in her usual way by saying, "My name is Ethel Lamont. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Well Ethel kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

Dr. Phillips said, "Beverly, don't call Ethel into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room. After being called back in the doctor's office, Ethel sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?" Dr. Phillips said, "Now Ethel, I'm the doctor and you're the patient." With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Ethel, you're not going to live very long." Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!" Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this is!"

Ethel continued coming to Dr. Phillips every day. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Ethel did not show up. Later that afternoon, Ethel called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be going to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter?" Well, they did just that, and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. 

 

Many women met their Lord through Ethel. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Ethel, that they started calling her Easter Ethel; everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse. She made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times; she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book. 

 

Well, one morning the two nurses who were to attend to Ethel were sick. Ethel had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a flu shot. When she walked in, Ethel had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you." Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me. It won't work. I'm not interested." Ethel said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family." Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen." She walked out of the room. Every day, Phyllis Cross would walk into that room and Ethel would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you." One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Ethel's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Ethel said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day." Phyllis Cross said, "Ethel, you have asked everybody here the question, 'Do you believe in Easter?' but you have never asked me."

 

Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked..." Ethel took her Bible and shared with Phyllis the Easter story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?" Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life." Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.

 

Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Ethel said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Ethel, it's Good Friday." Ethel said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter, Phyllis!" Well, two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Ethel and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into her room, Ethel was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible.

 

There was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Ethel's hand, she realized she was dead. Her left hand was on John 14 "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down her cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Ethel - Happy Easter!" Well, Phyllis Cross left Ethel's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?"

 

How about you, do you believe? Is Jesus risen or is he not? Or is it after all just a child’s fable? Ultimately we are asked which path we will follow. The skeptical, calculating path of doubters, or the trusting, patient route of those who keep learning to believe like Ethel Easter.

 

May the tender mercy of God bring you and your family Peace & Joy. fr. matt

 

Easter Story

 

 

I am concelebrating the Holy Thursday service at the cathedral with our bishop who says: “hold the holy oils while I bless them and if I need anything else just be ready.” My response: “not a problem, just give me a nod.”

 

Part of the Holy Thursday rites include the bishop washing the feet of his parishioners. I noticed he had lots of volunteers, as the rites asks the celebrant to imitate Jesus who washed the feet of his disciples. The master and teacher takes on the role of servant. I was thinking during this rite what is means to be humble.

 

True story, two hours earlier, I was talking with our volunteer fire chief telling him I had been counseling his son. I learned his son had quit the fire department in disgust after serving for 14 years over a decision made at their last department meeting.

 

This young assistant chief had been searching for three months for a gator and trailer to be used to rescue people in remote locations.

 

One quote was $12,000 for the trailer, but that was too much. Rather, our young firefighter found an aluminum bed for only $5,000 that he felt fit the need to haul the gator. However, another opinion questioned that figure with an older trailer for $3,000 but they never shared that it needed all new tires and an upgraded electrical system that would add thousands to the costs. Our young firefighter felt hurt and disrespected and so he quit.

 

His dad is the chief and he shared “the kid” can be stubborn but his son was right and had the best solution. Sadly, our shun firefighter had not called his dad since the meeting. The chief texted his son asking him to join him to evaluate safety equipment but he had not received a reply. Stubborn kid or just being human when people failed to appreciate all our hard work.

 

I forwarded the following text to this young man. “I know you are taking a time-out because you were hurt and felt no support from your crewmembers. However, your dad needs you tonight and values your opinion about this safety equipment. Sometimes I am called to serve knowing that people don’t really care or whose opinions are not very respectful, but I go when needed. Your dad needs your help, just go.”

 

Jesus was sent by His Father to teach us how to love God and neighbor. Sadly, those same neighbors crucified his Son. From the cross, the human Jesus felt hurt, pain, abandoned. Rather, instead of calling for his angels to save Him from the cross, he spoke words of forgiveness.

 

To be servant means we have to have the confidence to tell that young fireman that I appreciate all his sacrifices and hard work, but my text hoped to encourage him to return and continue to serve his community despite a “few cheapskates and arrogant neighbors.”

 

That’s the Easter message: Taking what was dead and giving it new life.

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel hurt, disrespected or bruised by the times people failed to support them. Let us turn our thoughts and hearts to Jesus in thanksgiving for giving us a new life, new hope and the promise of the resurrection. Blessed Easter. fr. matt

 

Retreat & Be Still for Holy Week

 

On my recent missionary journey, I had hoped to explore Death Valley National Park. Little did I realize that a “God moment” would occur when the motel owner Roy shared that his wife Roberta had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. As I knelt at the side of her wheelchair and offered Roberta a healing prayer, the Spirit of the Lord came upon us to offer hope and healing. Roy thanked me through his tears.

 

Now as I drove into the park, little did I realize that I was making a retreat and allowing God’s spirit to renew my heavy heart and praying for this courageous woman. In the stillness of the desert, take a moment to experience what I saw and allow Our Lord to be a source of comfort in your time of suffering and pain.

 

 

The early Christian Celts were heavily influenced by the early desert hermits and Desert Fathers and Mothers of Egypt such as Anthony the Great, Sarah of the Desert, and John Cassian. The Irish word ysert or diser, meaning “desert,” retains its original meaning, referring to a place of solitude or a retreat for a more intimate encounter with God. During Holy Week, set aside distractions such as television, social media, or shopping, and instead retreat for a time with the Lord.

 

 

One of the earliest Christian saints of Ireland was St. Kevin, the famous hermit monk of Glendalough. Kevin was renowned for his love of silence and stillness, as one legend about his life reveals. One morning as Kevin was praying, a blackbird landed in his outstretched hands. So afraid was Kevin to disturb the bird that he allowed it to make a nest in his hands during Lent. The legend tells us that the eggs hatched on a bright Easter morning and flew from Kevin’s hands 

 

 

When we practice stillness like St. Kevin, our own hands—our whole being—become a space to cradle new life. Each of us ought to place a premium on stillness during Holy Week and, like St. Kevin of Glendalough, when the world becomes too rushed and noisy, seek out spaces for solitude.

 

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends as we enter Holy Week, may it be a time to simply “be still” as we awake the dawn of hope and our resurrection.  

 

 

 

Unworthy

On my recent deployment to Divine Mercy Catholic Parish in Las Vegas, I was sadden to learn that many of the Hispanic people do not receive Holy Communion because they feel unworthy. It seemed very ironic since I noticed many families came with their children and were most devout in offering prayers. Why they carried this negative attitude about themselves was a mystery so I decided to challenge this tradition.

 

At the beginning of the liturgy, the penitential rite invites people to examine their conscience and ask the Lord for forgiveness. The Sunday Gospel described a woman standing in humiliation and the ancient law of Moses says she must be stoned to death for her crime. Stoned to death!

 

It’s a clever trap for the Teacher. Somehow I am thinking that our Hispanic people must be feeling like this woman. They feel disgraced and ashamed. The response of Jesus is profound for He leans down and scratches absently in the dirt. People hold their breath, and the accusers worry. Why is he silent and what will he say? Jesus says: “My Abba has loved each of you through all ages, no matter whether you were sinners or not.”

 

Abba means, “be my people. Love one another. I love you, and I forgive your sins.” But hatred is the motto of those accusers and perhaps the inner voice these Hispanic people carry deep within their hearts. That toxic voice wants them to stay away from communion for they feel unworthy. They stand in humiliation and their hearts say in terror, “our accusers are right, we are unworthy.’

 

But notice Jesus lifts his head and utters a sentence that sums up this Gospel and all of Lent. “Let the one among you who is without sin throw the first stone.”

 

The crowd creeps away quietly, submerged in their own consciences.

Now we stand alone before this quiet Teacher, and your terror has subsided. There is something about him that makes you feel worthy.

 

In the penitential rite, I reminded all our humble Hispanic people that I offer the prayer of absolution. In the Gospel Jesus asks, “Well, where are they, Has no one condemned you?” She says, “No one, sir.” Jesus also asks, “Do you condemn yourself?” You, the woman, spend a long time on this answer because it is so very hard. Finally you whisper, “I do not want to condemn myself, Teacher.”

 

“Neither do I condemn you,” answers Jesus. “Go and sin no more.”

 

Aa our humble congregation bowed their heads to receive absolution, I reminded them that Holy Communion is Jesus’ way of giving them a big hug and the grace to be the best Christians they can be for the coming week. If we could each accept our own sinfulness as well as the forgiveness that surrounds it, we would have peace.

 

It took me 20 minutes to distribute communion to 350 parishioners kneeling at the rail. People had never had seem such a crowd line the aisles to receive Holy Communion.

 

I can honestly say the spirit of the Lord made this happen for finally this unworthy crowd could stammer at last, “I believe, Lord. Help our unbelief.”

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel unworthy that during this Lent we do not condemn themselves. Help us to believe, and drink the compassion of God, who has been there all along, tracing in our souls, “neither do I condemn you.”