Locked Out of Heaven's Gate?

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This is a true story. I got off work, went out to my car, hit the button for the doors on my remote unlocker – as usual. Nothing happened. I tried it a few more times, battery must be dead. I stand there for 10 minutes, mashing the little button, hoping for enough juice to open the doors. Nada.

I call a locksmith, explain that I’m locked out of my car. He says he’ll be right over. 20 minutes later he arrives. He walks up with his tools, inserts a thing that looks like a blood pressure cuff in the door jamb. He starts making conversation as it inflates, pushing the door open: “So locked your keys in the car? No problem sir, I’ll have it open in a minute.” No, my keys are right here, my key fob is dead,’ I replied.

He stops and for about 10 seconds doesn’t say a word. He sees my keys in my hands. Takes them from me, inserts them in the lock and opens the door.
I was mortified. I was so in a habit of opening the doors with my remote fob that I entirely forgot that keys could be used to unlock cars manually. He started laughing so hard I thought he was going to have an aneurysm. After he stopped laughing, he told me there was no charge. The story he’d have to tell was worth the drive out.

Jesus tells two parables about someone asking a favor at a late hour. They teach us a lot. Maybe you remember the first one, there was a man knocking on a friend’s door at midnight, wanting to borrow some bread. The friend yelled back, Don’t bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything. But he does. Jesus says: “I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.”

Jesus message is this: “ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Doesn’t it feel good knowing that constant prayer will get the door opened?

Well, hold back that feeling for a while. Look at this Sunday’s Gospel. Here again someone is knocking on the door late at night, but receives nothing. The master of the house says, I do not know where you are from. The one knocking reply: “But we ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.”

Look carefully at those words: These people are mere casual acquaintances, if that. Something like this: we liked what you did, and now we want more!
The master says, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!

Ouch. What about “ask and you shall receive”? As if to rub it in, Jesus says,
There will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see the saved ones—
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets—looking down from heaven
while you are being cast out!. Locked out of heaven’s gate is no joke.

What is going on here? Is Jesus just in a bad mood? We know that he is “making his way to Jerusalem” when he tells this parable, walking straight into the crucifixion, and maybe he is just anxious.

Yet notice that, in his prior parable, even though the owner opens the door just to get the noise stopped, the interruption was being caused by a friend—even if a rude one—who would not stop asking for what he needed. That parable told us to keep asking God, our friend, for what we need, even though he may be a bit grumpy.

But in this parable, the people outside are not friends and in fact they have no relationship at all to the man in the house. The parable states that they knew about him only from parties and from the streets. They did not come to his house at a reasonable time and begin a friendship. No amount of midnight knocking will make up for it.

What is the message? That God keeps the door open long beyond what we would expect, all the way to the end. But if we are too busy partying and dancing, then finally there is nothing he can do. He has to accept our decision to stay outside.

Serious question to ask someone you know who doesn’t come to church except at Christmas. Why don’t they want a friendship with Jesus? Let them know it’s never too late to start the relationship. After all, we don’t want anyone to be locked out of heaven’s gate?

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they get to know God now. Let us not procrastinate or make excuses until we get to heaven’s gate and have nothing to show for ourselves.

The Winning Bid

A proud grandmother is sitting in a hot, crowded barn waiting for the animal auction of her grandchildrens’ farm animals. Yes, I find myself at the annual county fair learning how children “on the farm” are taught the values of respect and proper care for God’s pigs, lambs and steers. Grandma Jean explained to this “urban priest” that it starts in the Spring when mom and dad buy a pig, or lamb or cow for their child. There is this understanding that the child takes care of this animal meaning, no nonsense, you get up in the morning and clean the pen, shovel out the manure, rake in fresh straw, fetch fresh water and feed. Don’t forget that you are going to show your animal to the judges and show them that you can control your animal. So that means practice, like every day, you take your animal for a walk and teach it manners so that it doesn’t buck, kick, pull or run over the judges during your showmanship competition. By the way, the child does this everyday even on the days it doesn’t feel like it. After all, the animals’ poop and need water and food despite our occasional cranky moods. Once the child shows their animal in the ring and the auctioneer screams out the winning bid. The parents will take the winnings, deduct the costs of the animal, food and vet bills, and the remaining amount goes into their child’s savings account. No money is used for foolish things like a more expensive iPhone. Another good lesson in life. 

As the auction begins, I am sitting next to Chris, the dad who is keeping score. There were over 130 pigs being auctioned, and he is marking down the winning bids and the company and/or person who made the highest bid. He is a generous and an exceptional kind employer. He plans to bid on several pigs and have them packaged and donate the meat to his employees for their loyalty and hard work.

What makes me humbled is that our parishioners are present and plan to bid on a steer. The parish committee agreed to donate the steer meat to Angel Action, a local county social service agency. The agency will share the meat with several hurting families in need of food. 

I am sitting next to Bob, our parishioner, who has marked his score card with the steer he wants to bid on. The auctioneer starts rattling off the numbers and as God would have it, Bob holds up his card and the auctioneer screams $2.75. Holy Family has bought half a cow that weighs 1138 pounds. The parish has just donated $1564.00 to feed the poor! Awesome.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are grateful for the many comforts you have provided them in their homes and community. Help us to teach our children respect for all creatures great and small. Then help us to be aware of those in need in our home, our neighborhood, or our community and show them your generosity and compassion in their time of need.  

Oops, She's Gone

I asked a wonderful mentor this question: "Give me some hints on how I should prepare to die?"

With a grin on her face, she simply shared that she hopes to be surrounded by her friends at her bedside, when someone will turn, look and say:
“Oops, she’s gone!”

Jeanette, my dear Neumann friend, has learned to cope with her cancer diagnosis for some time now. Her treatments are a routine part of everyday life. She has a deep faith in God and a profound wisdom from living a life that was not pampered as she describes her life for she had her share of scars. Instead of living in fear, not so much fear of the afterlife or even fear that there might not be an afterlife, she spends each moment living her life filled with love and passion for her family and loyal friends.

Her joyful nature shines when with a twinkle in her eye she says: “What do you think makes God laugh?” Her answer: “when people makes plans.” She knows that we rest in the hands of a kind and merciful God. Instead of fretting about the hour of our death, she chooses to live her life as a gift. She spends her days not dying but living and loving the people that God has given to her because she says that one day He will want them back.

It’s a good question that we prefer not to think about. How do we prepare to die? How do we live so that death does not catch us unaware? What do we do so that we don’t leave this world with too much unfinished business?

I shared a story with Jeanette about a young student who was dying of cancer. In the final stages of his illness, he came to see his old professor and said something to this effect.

Professor, you once told us something in class that has made it easier for me to die young. You said: “There are only two potential tragedies in life, and dying young isn’t one of them. These are the two tragedies: If you go through life and don’t love and if you go through life and you don’t tell those whom you love that you love them.”

When the doctors told me that my cancer was terminal, I realized how much I’ve been loved. I’ve been able to tell my family and others how much they mean to me. I’ve expressed love. People ask me: “What’s it like being 24 years old and dying?” I tell them: “It’s not so bad. It beats being 50 years old and having no values!”

Once again, Jeanette in her infinite wisdom after she heard this story shared that its best to have a positive attitude by loving deeply and expressing our love for those people who have made a difference in our life.

She was told by her doctors that she runs the risk of bleeding to death if she falls so she needs to be very careful when she walks around her home. However, unexpectedly she felt some pain, calls her doctor at 3am and he responds in 5 minutes and orders her to urgent care. A few tests later and a kidney stone is discovered. So back in surgery she goes. A little tuck here and a stint there and she’s back at home safe and sound. As she says, “it doesn’t pay to waste your time worrying about falling down when something totally unrelated can occur.” She just feels blessed that she has a compassionate and smart medical team helping to keep her going each day. Her goal is to live well one day at a time. And for another day she is grateful to God for a life filled with beautiful and appreciative friends.

 What makes it hard to die is that we have so much life yet to finish and we best finish it by loving more deeply and expressing our love more freely.

When Jeanette corners Our Lord in prayer, I am sure that she might tell Him that the best way to prepare for death is by living your life as a gift. Work at loving more deeply, less discriminately, more affectionately, and more gratefully. Tell those close to you that you love them and death will never catch you like a thief in the night.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are dying or worse not yet ready to move on into your promised glory. First, let’s agree that there’s nothing noble about pain, so let’s do all we can to relieve the suffering of those in our care. Let us be confident that God wants us to have peace of mind. Let go of all your fears and anxiety about death for Jesus comes to bring us His salvation because He loves us all passionately.  

Who Are Your Mentors?

On Saturday, I attended a dedication music workshop for an old friend who I miss very much, Bishop Peplowski. This was a holy man who invited me to come and learn about the Polish National Catholic Church. Needless to say, he had a hidden agenda in mind for me. He had just established a new Catholic country church in North Java and he was searching for a mentor “shepherd” to be the right fit for this community.

At the music concert that had gathered, 45 choir members from around the country came to  celebrate their passion for music. The story was shared that Bishop Peplowski had translated many hymns and encouraged musicians in their education to enhance the music liturgies of his parishes around the globe. The concert was a celebration of his life and love for the Blessed Mother that included a hymn, Ave Marie.

Let me share a glimpse of this spiritual mentor in my faith journey. He welcomed all people no matter what religious tradition they had come from Roman, Polish or anyone searching to learn about the Lord’s compassion and love.

The best way to describe Bishop “Pep” is that he saw the potential of each person he met. His warm smile, gentle hug, and wonderful “dry” humor meant he never took himself too seriously. On the inside of each person, he saw a beautiful cathedral of crystals. In his presence, he skillfully polished every angle of a person until a beautiful diamond glittered brilliantly.

“See” before the Lord, “we are rough around the edges” but he knew the hidden beauty and the value in each person he met and so it freed us from our coat of dirt, the self-centered attitude we muck around in our daily life. In his presence, you would sparkle!

Let me share that we may feel that sometimes our life gets "coated" with worry, anxiety and fretting. What we need to do is to let the Lord free us. Our Heavenly Father can see the beauty that lies within. In fact, He said, "He has made everything beautiful in its time." (Eccl. 3:11)

Bishop knew what was inside of me, the desire to mentor a reborn Catholic community that had been closed. So the Lord certainly knows what is in you, my friend. Please don't mar your beauty or cover it up with undo anxiety. Cast your burdens on the Lord!

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who often do not feel they are "beautiful". The world has put on us a lot of guilt and shame. When we buy into this we are coating ourselves with lies and deception. Let us be freed and reflect and sparkle with the Light of the world.

ASK ASK ASK ASK ASK

The Lord’s prayer requires us to trust God enough to tell him what we want—over and over and over.

The second thing to notice about the Lord’s prayer is that people don’t generally get what they ask for. Ask and you will receive, the Lord says. But how many people around the world pray the Lord’s prayer and go without food that day? And food is only the beginning. In every mass, we ask God for healing: “Only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” Then we lug our sinful, sick, and sorrowful souls around another day. 

So here is the third thing to notice. Jesus doesn’t promise that we will get the very thing we ask for. He says that if we ask, we will receive; but he doesn’t happen to mention what we will receive.

If you think about it, you can see the point. If a sick person could heal himself, he would be the doctor, not the patient. The patient’s job is to want to get well. It is the doctor’s job to figure out how to get him well.

In the same way, the Lord’s prayer requires us to trust God enough to tell him what we want—over and over and over. Our job is to ask continually. God’s job is to figure out what to give us that will really fill us and heal us.

So we might not get what we ask for. But as long as we keep asking, the Lord promises that we will receive—grace, pressed down, shaken together, running over, and gently given, from the God who loves us.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are ASKING You for another favor. Take away aching knees, the pain in the elbow, heal our family member’s cancer, make the fear of death go away, and bring peace to our family. Let me end this reflection with this simple, easy-to-remember, pocket size prayer: “Father, you are good. I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Please pray for Jeanette's grand nephew Micheal who is recovering from a heart surgery. May the Lord heal Mike with a speedy recovery.

An Island of Being Calm

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In church today, we meet the M & M sisters, Mary and Martha. They are two peas in the same pod and yet so different. Martha and Mary live in the same town - Bethany in Judea. They live in the same house. They have the same brother - Lazarus. How can two sisters, so alike, be so different?

We are told by Luke, that Jesus comes to Bethany and to the two sisters' home for a visit. This is one of many happy times they spend together. Rest, conversation, and friendship, no doubt, occupy their time. Mary sits at Jesus' feet as a disciple would sit at the feet of a rabbi master: listening, observing and learning. Martha is busy with her many tasks in the household and rather crossly asks, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” Seems like a reasonable request.

Every church needs a Martha. Change that. Every church needs a hundred Marthas. Sleeves rolled up and ready. Because of Marthas, the church budgets get balanced, church buildings get repaired and cleaned, babies get bounced on loving knees in the nursery. You don't appreciate Marthas until a Martha is missing - and all the Marys of the church start scrambling to find the keys to lock doors, turn off the lights and turn off the fans. Yes, Marthas are the Energizer Bunnies of the church. They keep going and going and going.

However, Jesus says, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, looks into the eyes of the Master. Mary listens to his words, his teachings. Mary feels loved, special, affirmed, and graced by Jesus. "Mary has chosen the thing needful ..." whereas Martha hurries and scurries about.

The basis idea is to create an island of being in the sea of constant doing in which our lives are usually immersed, a time in which we allow all the “doing”  to stop. Three flies get into Martha's soup: worry, distraction, and resentment.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends whose lives have become so frantic that we miss living in the moment. Help us to stop all the doing and shift over to a “being” mode where we learn how to make time for ourselves and nurture calmness.

Blessed are the Caregivers

Who is at the side of the road in your life and needs a helping hand? For me, my neighbor Maggie enjoys living in her renovated home after receiving grants to remodel her home to make it safe and comfortable.

The next step was to find out what government services were available since she only survives on her social security. This adventure dealing with our government system can be best described with the acronym (YGTBK) “You Got to Be Kidding.”

The Office of the Aging was helpful in suggesting that due to her low income she was eligible to apply for SSI to help pay her bills. However, to our dismay she was denied since she had two life insurance policies. We learned that to qualify for SSI you are not allowed to have no more than $2000 in your savings and/or checking account.

Next step, she decided to surrender her life insurance policies and apply the funds to a pre-funeral account. This decision helped complete her funeral arrangements and her savings would be below the $2000 limit. We waited on the phone for three hours to make a follow-up appointment with social security, but gladly returned and she was approved for SSI.

The next step, no you are never done as a caregiver. We helped apply for in-home care services. After a three-hour interrogation process, she was approved. Then a state agency had to be selected and another three-hour investigation finally approved home care to keep her safe.

Sadly, Maggie is still waiting for the agency to complete their paperwork, but our hope is that these services will bring her a “caregiver” an in-home aide, who will get to know Maggie and make her life safe and comfortable.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who serve as caregivers for family, neighbors and friends. The Beatitudes for Caregivers: 

Blessed are those who sleep poorly because they're worried about their loved one or because their loved one wakes in the middle of the and needs help, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are those who mourn because their loved one, though still alive, is slipping away because of dementia, for they will be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek who force themselves to speak up and speak out to make sure their loved one receives the help they need, for they will inherit the land. 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for answers to why this is happening to their loved one and how much longer it will go on, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are those who show mercy, kindness and compassion to their loved one, for they will be shown mercy, kindness and compassion. 

Blessed are those who keep clean a love one who is physically or mentally unable to keep themselves clean, for they will see God. 

Blessed are those who helped their loved one find moments of peace, for they will be called children of God. 

Blessed are those who are misunderstood, not appreciated, and taken for granted in their role as caregiver, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are you whose caregiving efforts are unjustly criticized -- or who are falsely accused of not caring about others -- because of your love for your care-receiver...and your love for God, who has asked you to help his beloved son or daughter. 

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

Adventure Around the Great Lakes

Let me take you away from your boredom, or fears, or suffering or whatever is plugging up your happiness at this moment and go on a journey. On his bucket list, Ken, my traveling buddy, always wanted to explore the shores of Lake Superior. So, we started our adventure in western New York and drove eight hours until we found ourselves driving over Mackinac Bridge, in Michigan. The image below is captured only after the sun goes down and you have twenty minutes before the sky goes dark. This is the “Blue Hour” and this is a moment that many people miss because they walk away taking pictures after the sun goes down and fail to wait for this magical moment. 

The following morning our travels will include ten locations with waterfalls and coastal scenes along the shores of Lake Superior. The evening ends with a sunset cruise to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The challenge is to find a spot with three hundred people lunging over the side of the boat taking photos with their iPhone. My challenge is to capture the colors of mineral deposits on the rocks. 

As we continue our adventure, my driver wants to see wildlife in Ontario. At each provincial park, he asked where are the moose and bear or wolves. The kind rangers usually respond that these creatures are in the woods but this is not Disney waiting for you to drive by to take pictures. But sometimes you get lucky. So, along the road between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste Marie, guess what was lurking along the side of the highway. 

At the end of our whirlwind 2700-mile journey in five days and taking over 2,000 photos, I get to edit what I refer as my “Editor’s Best” images. They may not make National Geographic, but let be express my gratitude to the Lord for giving us the opportunity to explore and appreciate the beauty of creation.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who get the opportunity to spend time in the woods, or along the shore, or in the sand, or climb a mountain or explore a park. May we learn to conserve and protect Your marvelous beauty and allow the ocean breeze, magnificent waterfalls and nature to calm our weary bodies and souls. Enjoy your summer my friends.

Clothes Shopping with Your Spouse

The last time my spouse went shopping for clothes was in Walmart a few years ago to pick out something to wear while gardening. She said, you got to be in the right mood before you start looking for jeans, khakis, intimates, or blouses.

When you took your vows and said “for better or for worse” most men would agree that shopping with their partner is “the worse.” Actually. my partner would agree when after two hours walking between Penny’s and Macy’s she stated that she would “rather clean kitty litters all day” then shop for clothes.

I never mind tagging behind her in the store while she browses and engages her basic hunter gatherer instinct. However, my memories take me back when my dear mom, now shopping in heaven, would ask me to take her to Montgomery Ward or “Wards” to help her buy clothes. That was her favorite store because it had the best selection in her sizes. Actually, she wanted my opinion about color and fit. So once again, while I am standing around the women’s section waiting for my soul mate, I get a text to wait outside the fitting room near the swim suits. What’s up? She wants my opinion about color, style and fit. I am now enlisted as the personal clothing consultant. I wonder if Jesus ever took his Mother Mary to the local clothing shop and helped her pick out her wardrobe.

Despite exhaustion and perspiration, my partner found a few items that fit and met her specs. Better yet, after a quick lunch and back in another store she spotted a blouse and asked me “what do you think?’ With a smile, I offered my feedback that it was not too snug and the style would go with a casual look to enjoy at an evening outdoor concert.

On this shopping expedition, I received a “Godwink” from a kind customer service rep. I told my spouse to continue her hunter gatherer adventure while I paid for her selections. While cashing out, the kind lady clerk said “you are very thoughtful helping to find her clothes.” I told this kind lady that it was fun for me while knowing that for my partner it was sheer torture.

For some people, shopping does not get high marks for fun thing to do on a Saturday afternoon. Shopping can be looked upon as a boring chore that a few men endure, the other 80% just won’t come along for the ride. Or, you can interpret this time together as a lesson in patience and generosity. I might add gratitude to spend some quality time with your spouse to help her feel comfortable and look her best. 

I like this take-home thought. When something hasn’t turned out well, don’t give up; keep going, and try different ways of making it work. There is no fixed answer, no single solution. We find the best approach through trial and error.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are facing some difficulties that they prefer to avoid. Shopping is not the worse task in the world, but it goes a lot easier with someone holding your clothes, giving you a thumbs up and using their credit card to purchase all your stuff. Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

Something Special for Dad

Some things you never heard come out of your father’s mouth:
Number 3 “Well, how ’bout that! … I’m lost! … Looks like we’ll have to stop and ask for directions.”
Number 2 “Here’s a credit card and the keys to my new car –… GO CRAZY!”
And the Number 1 thing you never heard your father say: “Would you mind turning that music up a bit!”

Father’s Day can bring up memories & feelings for all of us –some not so good, others bring a smile. My experience of what a father is – was very good. He was a member of the American Legion and liked to volunteer at the Veterans Hospital. He also was my Little League coach who realized that while I was a good first baseman I couldn’t hit a ball for beans.

Every year, I search for a gift to quench the thirst of the nurturing dads in my parish. This year my search took me to Tennessee where I thought I could purchase some old fashion “Dad’s Root Beer.” However, my order came too late, so I had to improvise and sure enough came up with Plan B. With the help of a local beverage distributor, we found another brand founded in 1889 called “Saranac Old Fashion Root Beer.” We invited all our nurturing men to stand in their sits as their loved ones placed their hands on them and I offered this Father’s Day Blessing Prayer based on Scripture.

MY CHILD . . .
You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head I’ve numbered. Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my own image. Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28
You are my child. Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4
And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son Jesus. John 17:23
Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32
Come home. Luke 15: 7
Signed: With Love Everlasting – Your Divine Dad, Amen

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends, and thank you for the gift of the father of our family. We honor all nurturing men who serve as coaches, teachers, mentors, advisors and thank You for the good things that are ours because of him. His love and concern for us has been a sign of Your divine affection and a sharing in your holy love. May we who have the honor of bearing his family name do so with great pride. May, we, the members of his family, assist him in his holy duties as a parent. With our respect, our obedience and our deep affection bless him, Lord with happiness and good health, with peace and with good fortune,

Fireworks for Holy Communion

Sitting at the end of the pew are six little people who in a few moments will be receiving their First Holy Communion. Beside them are their proud parents and family. So, I pull up my “preaching stool” and tell them a story.

Once upon a time, my dad announced that we were going to see fireworks. We would pack our blankets and cooler with food and head for the beach. On our way, I noticed that there was a man with a cart who was selling creamsicles. I love creamsicles, especially the orange ones,
I ask my dad if I could have a creamsicle. He said we’ve got plenty of food in the cooler. So, what could I do?  We unrolled our blanket, took out our food and began to eat. As we were eating, I saw that my friend Sammy was sitting with his family a little up the beach. Dad, can I please go and watch the fireworks with Sammy and his family? I worn him down until so he said, go and as soon as the fireworks are done, you come right back here. Understood? Promise? Yes, I promised.

So, I started going but I had an idea! Instead of going straight to Sammy’s family, what if I just went a little bit out of my way to that creamsicle man? Of course, doing that would be disobeying my dad, but I really wanted to taste a creamsicle. I made sure I knew where we were sitting, next to a life guard station with a big red sign on it. So, I started down the beach looking for the creamlike man. However, when I came to the place where I had last seen him, he was not there. He must have moved, so I went a bit further, and then a little bit further and then the fireworks started. Then I realized I better get back to my family.

So, I looked for the lifeguard station but when I got there, it wasn’t the right life guard station. It didn’t have a red sign on it. It was then that I realized that I was lost. I began to wonder whether I would ever find my family again? Would they leave and go back home without me? What could I do? I decided to pray.
“Jesus, I know it wasn’t the smartest idea to go after that creamsicle, but I really need your help. I can’t find my family and if you could lead me back, I promise I will never disobey my mother or father again. I will never tell a lie again. Amen.”

I was desperate and began to cry. After a few moments I looked up to see a police officer. I told him that I was lost and couldn’t find my family. The policeman asked, Do you have any idea where they are?  I said, they’re next to a big lifeguard station with a red sign on it. He said, I know right where that is.

We walked together for a very long time and I saw my family sitting on our blanket and watching the fireworks. They were just coming to an end. I thanked the policeman and ran towards my family. My dad saw me coming. Matty, you’re back right on time just as you promised. Good work. How was Sammy? Then I realized that my dad didn’t even know anything had happened. He thought I was with Sammy’s family the whole time. This was good, I thought. All I would have to do was say, “oh, they’re fine” and I could get out of this mess. But then I remembered the prayer that I made and the promise to tell the truth. Dad, I didn’t go to see Sammy. I went to buy a creamsicle and I got lost and a policeman found me.

Matty, I’m very disappointed in you. Then there was a pause and then dad said, But, you told me the truth, even though you could have gotten away with a lie, right?

Well, that makes me proud and don’t ever do that again. So, we packed up our stuff and just as we were leaving the beach, who did we run into but the creamsicle man! My dad stopped and looked at me, Hey, Matty, how about a creamsicle?

Jesus disciples learned the same thing that I learned when I was at the fireworks—that even when you’re lost, even when you make bad decisions, Jesus still loves you and comes to find you. This is what I told our little folks making their First Communion. You belong to Jesus. He loves you deeply. You are invited to come to His table and share in His very life. Never forget His love for you.

Then I looked at all the grownups in church and said. No matter how lost you feel, no matter how many bad decisions you may have made, you too belong to the family of God. Jesus will reach out with His hand to save you from the messes of your life.

When you come up with your child and put your hand on their shoulder as they receive Holy Communion for the first time, remember that Jesus is with you at your side and He will never stop loving your family.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends, bless our children and their parents with your spirit that brings happiness, understanding and joy.

Come on Jesus, Light Our Fire!

On Sunday, Holy Family Parish celebrated a “birthday bash.” It was the 8^th Anniversary of the rebirth of this Catholic community and as an added incentive the parishioners “burned their mortgage.”

I didn’t want anyone to miss this celebration of our rebirth. I wanted it to be like a” birthday bash” to celebrate their love for one another. Make no mistake, it is their faith, their sacrifices and stubbornness who literally bought their church for $110,000 from the Buffalo Diocese and made it financially self-sufficient. It has become a living presence of Jesus love for everyone not only in North Java but in all our neighboring towns.

On Sunday, I shared that this time of year farming takes precedent to till the soil, fertilize and plant the seed that has been delayed by our soggy Spring. However, this “shepherd’ decided to call each of your homes to invite you to this celebration. I realized that you get spam calls on your cell phones and I worried that if the priest is calling your home it must mean trouble or worse a tragedy. Think about it.  When was the last time your pastor called you on the phone to invite you to have some fun?

So, I made over a 100 phone calls and after two hours either left messages or talked to some nice parishioners inviting them to our birthday bash. The most interesting response was a voicemail that had the Notre Dame Fight song on their phone to take a message. Then there was a person who answered while in their locker getting ready to start their shift work. Another response: “What can I bring to the party, do you want cookies or mimosas?” Someone shared that they were so happy that a family member started coming to church with them and that brought them much joy and comfort. Yes, a few calls were dropped, or went to a fax machine instead of the phone. And then there was this sarcastic voicemail: “You know what to do. Go ahead and when I get time I will call you back.”
I always tell people that the real celebration takes place after the last blessing at Mass. No one leaves this church early because the celebration continues with our social gathering after Mass. While all the other Catholics are running over one another in their parking lots, at Holy Family people stay to chat and share their stories about what’s happening on their farms. This is a sacramental moment in which we are transformed into a community that really cares about one another. People want to know how they can help each other in life. We are a community brought together by food, at the altar in the bread and wine and at the table in the back of church with our kirsch, cookies, brownies and breakfast pizzas.

This is what I know a pastor is supposed to do - show his people how good God is in his creation: "Look and see, taste and see, touch and smell and hear and see that God is good." That is my role as shepherd of this wonderful, generous community to help you taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that includes all these amazing people at Holy Family. They have discovered the secret of your teaching. Love. "Where charity and love prevail, there God is always found. Brought here together by Christ's love, by love are we thus bound.” Next week, six of our children will be making their First Holy Communion. Why not come and experience another sacred moment? We would love to have you join our family.