Wonderfully Made

One of the hottest YouTube videos is one where evangelist Louie Giglio introduces the molecular cellular structure called "laminin." Giglio uses laminin to show how we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." I want to use laminin to challenge you with a fearful and wonderful choice. It's a choice that determines how you go through life: trying to hold yourself together, or being held in the hands of a loving God.

Are you trying to hold the whole world in your hands? Or have you let God hold the whole world in God's hands? Every year or so a flurry of activity on eBay indicates the discovery of a new "relic." In the first thousand years of the church, "relics" surfaced at regular intervals. Splinters off the original cross. Fingers of the saints. Locks of hair from the apostles. Tiny bits of this and that from the "saints," preserved in "reliquaries" with handwritten explanations called "authentics," were the basis for church dedications and commissionings. Relics were supposed to "prove" the realness and relevance of faith. Nowadays we settle for somewhat more mundane proofs.

A tortilla is flipped and the scorch mark on it is the face of Jesus. A potato, cursed with the scourge of the 19th-century Irish famine, reveals a rotten center …aaaah, but look carefully . . . that rotten bruise is in the shape of the Virgin Mary. Pretzels, potato chips, spaghetti, snack foods, are suddenly given sacred stature because someone can make out some holy portrait in the fry-marks, burned bits, or organic wrinkles.

Some of my favorites: the "grilled cheese sandwich Jesus," the "Jesus Flapjack," the "Jesus on Toast" (a.k.a. "the Holy Toast"), and the twenty-first century version of the feeding of the five thousand, "Jesus on the Frozen Fish Filet" (the "Lord of the Fish Stick"). Can't we all agree that these are just plain silly?

Yet they show how easily we are swayed by what we think we see. They show how quickly we judge based on what's on the outside, not the inside. We all judge based on exteriors rather than interiors. Social scientists have repeatedly demonstrated that individuals recognized as "pretty" or "handsome" are also automatically accorded other traits. We assume those who are good looking are also "nicer." They are perceived as smarter, harder working, more energetic, even more trustworthy. Those who do not measure up are politely called "plain," but we really think they are odd, goofy, nerdy, ugly. In scripture, Jesus exposes this kind of rush to judgment as fatally flawed.

God prays for us as we reflect: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.” (Psalm 139:14)

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends whose lives are spinning out of control. We are a hurting people who need to be reminded that God will always hold us together.

Loaves and Fishes

Who cleans the kitchen stove in your home? It’s Monday night at 7:30, Richard and I took over finishing the dishes and pots and pans after feeding a record number of hungry college students. I overheard Joan, Richard’s beloved spouse, shout: “honey, whose going to clean the stove?” Now imagine this scene, God the Father saying this to the Holy Spirit, “honey, whose going to clean the heavenly stove?” Of course, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit look over to Jesus as he rolls up his sleeves and starts scrubbing! Does this not explain the deepest mystery in our Catholic faith?

John the evangelist tells us “God is love.” However, sometimes our images of God can lead us astray. For many young people, religion has only given them a God to fear, a thundering Jehovah, an all-seeing eye. It is not a reverential fear but God in a vindictive role, someone we had better appease.

A better example of God’s love was the miracle of “loaves and fishes” when the Neumann community fed a thousand students during exam week. You could help to notice that the kids were happy, sharing life, listening to one another, and glad for the gift of companionship. It is at moments like this that we find a way to start thinking about what God is really like. There was no mystery where God was to be found on three nights during exam week. While parishioners served and washed, cooked more pasta (they were running low), they were inviting God into the very hearts of these young students and celebrating his love.

“Born again” means to be “reborn in the spirit” a spiritual birth where a person becomes aware that they are more than concerned about self-preservation, reproduction, pleasure, hording of possessions, and struggles for power and status. It is the recognition that we have higher aims and values than these. It is when we are able to view ourselves as one with our God, the Trinity and consequently with all other people, leading us to act with practical compassion toward others. As Christians we call it being one with Christ. We see the world as Christ sees the world. We hear the cries for help as Christ hears our cries for help. The Neumann community knew the students were low on cash, but something even more profound, they were “low on examples of unselfish love”—Trinity love.

God prays for us as we reflect: “Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends whose daily gestures of unselfish love go unnoticed. Let them know that the God who “sees all” will never forget your acts of compassion and kindness. In the words of our Brockport students: "You guys ROCK!! You are all awesome!”

Where Are You Looking

If you enjoy bird watching, then you would be awe struck by Ted who is the editor of the American Bird Association. He led a group of enthusiastic bird watchers on a walk into Fry’s Landing on Presque Island in Erie, PA. In three hours he identified over 65 birds simply by listening to their calls and watching the birds behavior. Warblers were the main creatures that were most prominent on this trail. What’s most fascinating is the behavior of the bird watchers themselves. Packed with their binoculars or “scopes,” these people get very serious as they slowly stake out the trail. You hear shouts like “what’d you see” or “over there” then the infamous “WHERE?”

Ted pointed out warblers with names like magnolia, Nashville and yellow rumped.” Then he spotted cedar waxwing, American redstart, chestnut sided, eastern towhee, swamp sparrows and a Baltimore oriole. The group was fascinated by his skill to simply listen and look into the trees or bush and point out each bird.

Sadly, I had come with my camera to take a National Geographic shot of the birds. “Come over here” or “look up there” was a lesson that taught me that something was lacking in my skills. In life, we often are too busy running around from one spot to another and not accomplishing much despite all our efforts. On this morning, all my shots were specks in the distance. I later learned that if you really want to take photos of birds you let them come to you.

Unless, you spend $15,000 on telephoto lens, the next best way to take photos of these feathered friends is to find a log and sit and wait for them to come to you. In many ways, our search to find God is simply His desire that we become more dependent upon Him for every step. That’s because He wants to take us places we have never been. To heights we cannot even imagine. In order to do that, we have to go through those low valleys, treacherous mountains, rough terrain and narrow paths of life-places where we could easily get lost or off the track.

Walking in a strange woods, there is definitely no way we can just head off on our own and expect to arrive safely in the place God has planned for us. We will never know the joy of true freedom until we learn that we cannot take a single step without His help.

God prays for us as we reflect: “Come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Isaiah 2:5.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they learn to take a breath and allow your Spirit to guide us on a path that calms our fears and soothes our sorrows. Guide our path this summer as we see the beauty of your creation and hear the sound of your call in the woods, along the streams, from a robin in our backyard, and in the arms of our “loved ones.”

Smooth As A Fanny

This rather “crude” remark literally came from an expert who knows his trade. The basement was flooded after a tremendous downpour. Despite walking in an inch of water, nothing valuable was damaged. However, the search to find a plumber who knows what needed to be done can be a headache in itself.

The “Yellow Pages” in Rochester list 113 plumbing contractors from Dyna-Mode to Roto-Rooter. Who do you call? My limited sources suggested no one by name but call the Better Business Bureau first to learn the worst of the lot. I blindly called Mr Rooter for an estimate. Then came a surprise cell phone ring from “Bob” who simply said: “go get your estimate, and call me back and I will come right by.”

It seems that this “pipe angel” knew me by some strange coincidence, but I had no clue that he was also an experienced plumber. Bob came with his helper, Pueblo who literally was his other arm. To my surprise, Bob has only one arm due to an accident, but he works like a surgeon.

The source of the problem was a “plugged drain” which happens in all homes from time to time. It was an easy fix working with the right “snakes.” As he worked, I wondered how many times we feel ”plugged” with survival issues and no one to turn to. We might be ankle deep in water or worse if the sewer backed up. We cry out for help but no one seems to understand the “sledge” we are wading in. This might be a good time to pray as we bail more water out of the basement and “call God and he’ll come right by.”

God does listen to our dilemma and frustration and it was his spirit that clearly sent this plumber who was not intimidated by any clogged drains, nasty roots or cemented drain value. Literally, with a tap of his hammer, he unscrewed the cemented drain cap, ran his “snakes” out to the street and announced with cheer: it (the drain) runs like a fanny.” Needless to say, his bill was 200% less than the other plumbing company. His confidence in diagnosing and curing the problem made him the hero of my day.

After he left, I was quietly sweeping water in the basement back into the open drain thanking God for people like Bob who are not afraid to tackle the messes of life and put things right. Faith in God means despite the “clogged” parts of our day, help from above comes when we know whom to call and trust in His wisdom and strength.

God prays for us as we reflect; “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Drains, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. (Isaiah 58:12).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel like they are drowning in sorrow and pain. Bring them a “pipe angel” who knows how to drain our fears and make our lines run “smooth as a fanny.”

Messengers from Heaven

Last week, I talked about the experience of shopping with your loved one and helping them to find the clothes that express their “beauty within.” This morning, come journey before the break of dawn through the flowering tress at Highland Park in search of the “beauty within.”

The Buddha is said to have given a ‘silent sermon’ once during which he held up a flower and gazed at it. After a while, one of those present, a monk called Mahakasyapa, began to smile. He is said to have been the only one who had understood the sermon. According to legend, that smile (that is to say, realization) was handed down by twenty-eight successive masters and much later become the origin of Zen.”~ Eckhart Tolle

Seeing beauty in a flower could awaken humans, however briefly, to the beauty that is an essential part of our own innermost being, our true nature. The first recognition of beauty was one of the most significant events in the evolution of human consciousness. The feelings of joy and love are intrinsically connected to that recognition. Without fully realizing it, flowers become for us an expression in form of that which is most high, most sacred, and ultimately formless in ourselves. Flowers, more fleeting, more ethereal, and more delicate than the plants out of which they emerged, become messengers from another realm, like a bridge the world of physical form and the formless. They not only have a scent that is delicate and pleasing to humans, but also brought a fragrance from the realm of the spirit.

Many times, Jesus took time to go off by himself to pray, to meditate, to allow the “beauty within” to grow inside so that he could continue to carry out his mission to bring compassion to the people.

Zazen is the practice of sitting meditation. It cultivates awareness, concentration, self-knowledge, compassion, and peace. It allows the mind to calm and worries to dissipate, giving rise to compassion and allowing us to be present for our fellow human beings. As you gaze upon the flowers and trees each morning, allow these messengers to help you let go of the tension and feel the healing and comfort of God’s love “within you.”

God prays for us as we reflect: “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” (Song of Solomon 2:12).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they smile as they gaze upon the beauty of each flower that holds the essence of our true self. May we find happiness in the awareness that in each moment we are loved by our Heavenly Father.

Clothe in Beauty

“Every women’s store should have a couch in it with ESPN.” I actually heard this incantation from a gentleman who was walking aimlessly through the women’s clothing section while his partner was trying on some clothes. His body language revealed that he was not comfortable with this chore. Come to think of it, next time you happen to find yourself shopping at a mall or outlet store, take note of the various postures men assume while “waiting” for their ladies trying on clothes—be one’s spouse, partner, daughter or mom.

There is the “slouch” position as one leans over the clothing rack. This man looks tired and beat so he uses the rack to hold himself up from collapsing. Then, there are the nervous browsers who appear to be looking for something special while their maiden calls them over for a consult. Next, there are guys who “swing their shopping bags” which helps release nervous energy. Beware, you don’t want to get hit with what’s inside his shopping bag.

My favorite posture is the guy who “stands in place but keeps moving his feet from side to side.” This stance reminds me of a baseball coach on the baseline calling out signals to the player at bat. Most important is the silent, unspoken system where the man is called upon “to take a stance” on the color, design and style his soul mate might ask for guidance.

I highly recommend that you simply find a bench or chair near the changing section. On cue, when your “soul mate” calls out for an opinion you kindly offer not the typical “whatever” attitude but sincerely take a look at how everything fits and say “that’s you” or “you will find better.”

I wonder if we invited the Lord to come along to help us find clothes that are comfortable and make us look great what he might recommend. St. Paul told his followers to “put on Christ” and sparkle with a personality that reflects humility and kindness, gentleness and patience.

There are many moments in life when we are hesitant and look for some guidance on what will best fit our situation with style. What I know works best is an arm around one’s shoulder and words of encouragement that vanishes apprehension in that instant. I believe that we never forget the strength and reassurance we feel when our loved ones put their arms around us and quiet our pounding heart.

God prays for us as we reflect: “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
(Colossians 3:12)

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who find themselves swirling with decisions in life that make them scared and alone. My friends, if you will let God wrap His arms around you - you can be free from anxiety. I ask that the Spirit bless you with a Divine Touch. Let this one know that you will help them pick out the best clothes in life whenever you ask for guidance and help.

Stillness

I opened my windows this morning to listen to a glorious chorus of bird song. It’s still dark and before another busy day, I want to take you back to a moment when I bathed myself in “stillness.” It was Saturday morning and I planned to attend the Braddock Bay Birds of Prey Show. However, I was the first one in the parking lot at 6am, so I took a stroll over to the outlook to see who was migrating on the bay.

The stillness was healing for the first wildlife I noticed were two white swans drifting reverently on the pond as I said my prayers of thanks. Overhead you would hear the honking of the geese as they swoop down onto the water to look for prey. Of course, what made this moment of stillness special was that the whole scene was veiled in fog. This made the whole scene magic. How I wish all of you were at my side at this moment to relax and allow the mist to fill your veins with peace and contentment.

As I scanned the pond, the fog is slowly rolling in from the lake and bathing the cattails and willows with a shroud that made everything look like heaven’s doorway to eternity. Can’t you feel your tension and pain of many anxious years seeping away? Imagine now the Christ, holding you close with your head on his shoulder as you gaze over the pond and mist. You see you are never alone in your sorrows or pain. For the mist is the visible sign of the presence of our healing God.

I have no doubt that most likely you are at an anxious moment in your life when your veins are filled with chemicals that drive you mad with rage or sorrow, despair or fear. Let the silence of waters in the bay and the mist in the air fill your lungs and soul this morning with a calm like you never imagined in your life. In a whisper, invite the Lord into your heart and let the Spirit wash your fears and anxiety away with the courage and wisdom that says my “little one, please be at peace.”

God prays for us as we reflect: “ They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.” (Psalm 107:30).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel helpless by the troubles of life. Come and guide us to your calming stillness that removes all our fears and heals the wounds of this life. Help us to listen to the singing of the birds in the morning and feel your presence in the mist that assures us that we are never alone but rest in your tender embrace of pure love.

Nursery

Trimming the blue spruce trees in front of my home is a tradition full of trials and a lesson in humility. I purposely schedule this job on a Good Friday to remember how the Christ stretched his arms for my sins. The pruning requires lots of stretching up three fourteen-foot tress with hundreds of tiny cuts. My hands and arms are numb after three hours labor. The humility is when I discovered that I could easily have done the same job in the past twenty-five years with the hedge trimmers. The trimmings go into the compost pile and the spruce trees looked like gumdrops waiting for borders to take their residence inside the branches. What you don’t know is that these tress are the best nurseries for the local mourning doves to build their nests inside the branches to hatch their “little ones” in the spring.

Before the coming of Christ humility was little thought of, however with Jesus, he has a way of making us look at our trails and sufferings in a different way. Jesus ideal of greatness was the “little ones.”

Each of you walks a trail to tears from time to time. Sometimes we walk together, driven by our pain, but achieving no resolution. Then something mysterious happens. Jesus appears beside us. But we don't recognize him! He looks so ordinary. Somehow he gets inside our heads, and hears what we have to say, the load of grief we spew forth. His response is not rejection. Nor is it sympathy, a patting of the hand. Jesus takes the situation, and hoists it up to a new level.

There's more going on than meets the eye, he tells us. Jesus wants to reveal our affliction for what it is: not the final word, not meaningless pain, but rather the prelude to some bright glory, our own resurrection. Jesus walks with us in our sorrows. He tells us that the God who worked in his life, led him from a cross to a throne, gave his suffering a redemptive purpose -- this same God is at work in our lives as well, making sense from what seems senseless.

But do we see him? And if so, do we welcome him? Hear his message? Recognize him for who he is?

God prays for us as we reflect: “He remembers them, he forgets not the cry of the humble.” (Psalm 9:12).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who cry for “help” in a difficult situation. We thank you that you listen and that you do reward the humble. When we walk the trail of tears and believe all hope is dead, may you recognize a stranger walking beside you, who lifts from you your burden of hopelessness with his hands marked with wounds from the cross. And once you recognize him, let others know of your joy: that the Lord has risen and you are alive with his life.

Where's My Resurrection, God?

Broken things have been on my mind lately because too much has broken this year in the lives of the people I love—hearts, health, confidence. Beside this personal brokenness, I’ve noticed all sorts of really dumb things breaking lately, too. I’ve had a dozen calls from friends reporting broken cars, water heaters, a window, even Patti’s finger.

The Dalai Lama told his followers that they believe when a lot of things start going wrong all at once, it is to protect something big and lovely that is trying to get itself born – and that this something needs for you to be distracted so that it can be born as perfectly as possible.

That first Easter morning everything was breaking in the life of those who loved Jesus. All the disciples saw when they got to the tomb was two piles of old clothes. No one can say what happened IN the tomb because no one was there. There were no witnesses. It was between Jesus and God. Jesus was not there. The risen one had people to see and things to do.

Did you notice that every time he came to his friends they became stronger, wiser, kinder, bolder. Every time he came to them, they became more like him. And that’s what the resurrection is about—it’s not about what happened in the tomb—that was entirely between Jesus and God.

The resurrection is about us. It’s about what the appearance of the risen Christ points to. It is so much more than a leap of faith to belief. It’s about learning to practice resurrection. It’s about learning to live. We all have Easter moments daily if we just look around.

However, if it seems like to you that more things are breaking than being resurrected in your life then start looking for that big, lovely thing in your life that is about to be born. We journey through life, wounded at times. Resurrection is when we do not stop living because we are wounded. We move through the pain, with the wounds, into new life, scars and all.

Where’s my resurrection, God? You ask. My holy week has been way too long. Where’s the resurrection? In the end, that is the only evidence we have to offer those who ask us, how we can possibly believe. Because we have found, to our surprise, that we are not alone. Because we never know where Christ will turn up next. Where’s our resurrection? It’s here, now, whenever you encounter the risen, living Christ in loving relationships with one another.

I believe there are hundreds of Easter moments in our everyday life —signs of the promises of Easter. Sure, life is far from perfect—but life is good, life is beautiful. Resurrection is happening all around us if we have “eyes to see and ears to hear,” even when bleakness stands very close.

God prays for us as we reflect on the resurrection: “If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” (Romans 6:5).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who practice the resurrection every day by reaching out to others. Thank you for nudging us to bring your life to those who feel like life is breaking apart. Never get so focused on the empty tomb that you forget to speak to the gardener…. or a lonely person, or that person standing in line to get food at the food bank, or a child—you may encounter the risen, living Christ in them and they may encounter the risen, living Christ in you. That’s where resurrection is today. In us.

I Came Because Of You

The Mercy Spring Show was to be a Lenten treat for my “sweethearts” on Blossom Road. I had the privilege of serving as chaplain for the retired Sisters of Mercy in Rochester, New York. After serving for eight years as motherhouse and hospital chaplain, our friendship continues despite the fact that many of the sisters have gone to their eternal home. It’s been eleven years since Sister Rosemary died holding the angel soap in her hands that I gave to all the sisters. She was the bold Irish lass who told her community at an annual chapter meeting how proud she was of her younger sisters for their wonderful ministries. She envied their creativity and generosity to the sick and poor. However, despite the frailty of her fellow sisters she announced in her best Irish brogue that all the retired sisters pledged to be a “powerful of prayer” to support their works of mercy. In response, Rosemary received a standing ovation from all the Mercy sisters.

I had offered to share some of my photo gallery with my retired friends. The remodeled motherhouse chapel sported a new computerized 12 by 15 screen for presentations. Here was a chance to display daffodils of spring at Highland Park with meadows of summer in Vermont. I arranged pre-dawn moments and babbling streams in the Great Smoky Mountains with a crimson sunrise in San Diego during the recent firestorms. The winter scenes featured an impressionist scene at Durand Eastman Park and glory rays shining through the trees at Ellison Park. The only hitch in this premiere show was that my photo disk and the chapel computer were not compatible. Regretfully, each image was distorted and enlarged and made the viewing quite a challenge. Technology was not our friend, yet these ladies were most patient as they looked upon each image and listened to my narration despite the irritation in my voice. I apologized several times for the lack of clarity and humbled that this premiere had not come close to my expectations.

I helped push the sisters in wheelchairs back to their rooms. Waiting for the elevator, I stooped down to Sister Mary DeChantel thanking her for coming to the show and apologized again. She lovingly looked into my eyes and said: “ I came because of you.”

How many of our dreams fail to work out as planned? We want children, but remain infertile…we want to stay married, but separation comes…we work overtime to keep our jobs, but many go overseas…we want good health, but find a malignant bump…we want our sons and daughters in the service to be safe…but some come home with purple hearts and broken spirits.

Our intention is to show beauty to the world by our sacrifice and service, but we make a mess of things and sin. Jesus rides into Jerusalem as king…only later to be crucified. And from the cross, I hope you hear loud and clear these profound words of DeChantel…”I came because of you.”

God prays for us as we reflect: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped." (Psalm 28:7).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine friends who bring beauty into the lives of family and friends. Our words of affirmation and gratitude can help to raise the spirits of anyone who feels a failure. Whenever our expectations fail to meet our standards, may we remember to visualize the cross and look into the eyes of Our Savior and hear his words of hope: “I came because of you.”

There's Whiskey in the Jar

I will confess that freezing ice pellets and driving on icy roads makes me scared to death. But duty calls to help at a funeral, so I am crawling at 25 over a snow covered Bay Bridge despite the SUV’s leaving me behind in their tracks. You think they take the hint and use better judgment after passing 3 SUV’s on 104 that skidded off the road into a ditch.

Somehow, I don’t care if I’m moving too slowly since the ice and blowing snow made for some nasty driving. However, once I crossed the bridge, traffic was moving slowly up a hill with their taillights on. In the distance, I could see lines of cars were keeping their distance following two huge state snowplows. One does not mess with these snow mammoths. The plows were working in tandem, one in the driving lane and the other in the passing lane with their yellow caution lights circling to warn that they got the right of way so—SLOW DOWN. The result of their “good work” was that my road to church was neatly plowed with a coating of salt despite the fact that we ALL were driving no more than 25. Listening to the radio to calm my nerves and focus on the road, WXXI was playing Irish Pub Tunes with the lyrics that sang: “Tally, tally ho…there’s whiskey in the jar.”

An hour later, I was sitting on the steps of the sanctuary at the funeral looking into the eyes of a grieving spouse and her adult daughters and son. Are we not all scared sometimes? When we are faced with the death of our husband and father we yearn for some words to take away our sorrow. Those two mammoth tow trucks with there flashing yellow caution lights are a sign to take some time to slow down and listen to the words of God. Of course, we are afraid when we find ourselves sliding all over the road. Of course, we are terrified by death and struggle with the pain of not knowing for sure what happens to our body and soul. Our hands on the wheel of life throb from holding on too tight. Of course, we do not want to let go of the memories, the warm hands, the gentle smile and laughter that brought joy a to our hearts.

Imagine Jesus sitting in the cab of that snowplow, telling us: “Do not be afraid.” I got the road covered, my blade of truth will set you free from all your doubts, despite all your foolish fears about the devil or your unworthiness or whatever else you think can keep you out of Paradise.

Once again, I remembered that Irish Pub Tune that was playing along the treacherous road. Did you not hear the words of the song? “Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there... I do not sleep. I am the thousand winds that blow...I am the diamond glints on snow...I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry—I am not there... I did not die...”

God prays for us as we reflect: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who continue to shed tears of sorrow for family and friends. Give us the courage to surrender our doubts and cradle our fear into your merciful arms. May we raise our glass and toast all the saints with St. Patty who leads our family and friends into eternal glory with one voice: “Tally, tally ho.. There’s whiskey in the jar.”

The Way I See It

In Ravenna, Italy, a sacred destination to see is Saint Apollinare Nuovo Church where visitors come to see its ceiling mosaic of heaven. The problem is it is so dark in the church that visitors have to pay 300 lira, about 25 cents, for the mosaic to be illuminated for a few moments. Most visitors don’t pay. They just grumble in the dark. They want to see heaven for free. The mosaic depicts the Lord sitting amid a blindingly green paradise of eternal spring with white sheep grazing all around. Suddenly there is the sound of a coin and the light comes on, another coin, light again, another coin, more light, yet another coin, light still. The narrator goes to see who is doing this and discovers a man in a wheelchair, bent over. A female guide is looking up, then speaking in his ear, over and over. The man is blind, but he wants to see.

In Mark’s gospel, there is a story about a blind man. In fact, Mark has two such stories. The first is of a man to whom Jesus gives sight, but Jesus’ first attempt only lets him see people that “look like trees walking,” so Jesus touches him again and his sight is complete. Learning to see, especially to gain insight, takes time. That is why the man’s healing was not instantaneous.

However, John’s gospel also has a story about a blind man but with a different emphasis. First, Jesus says the man is not blind because of sin. Jesus counters one of the major attitudes of his day that all illness, disease, or disabilities are the result of sin. Jesus heals the man, no questions asked. Yet what follows in the rest of the passage is an account of various individuals arguing whether this really is the one born blind, or whether he truly was blind, or whether he truly can see at this point. There is not one word of rejoicing and praise to God for the gift of sight, except from the man himself.

How often do we fail to offer gratitude to God? There might be a number of important issues we do not see clearly. We are experts at grumbling and wasting lots of our time and energy attacking each other and each other’s ideas (John’s point), instead of trying to gain insight and clarity of vision (Mark’s point).

What are some of your issues? Catholic school closings, health care, bankruptcy, war with in-laws, disability, social security, prices at the pump, and care for the earth. Perhaps, it is time to stop trying to win arguments, or protect our investments, or make as little change as possible. It is time to care for what God has placed in our care.

God prays for us as we reflect: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight.” (Psalm 19:14)

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel better getting their hands in the soil and getting a little dirt under their fingernails. Coming up with a plan to teach our young people the “good news” will take clarity and creativity. Help us to be grateful for the many gifts of this earth and get our hearts into caring for God’s "little ones." Only God can create, but you and I can heal and mend.

Thirsting for Love

A young college student referred by his concerned professor came to my office to tell me that he felt “numb.” It was discovered that his father had been using the Internet to view child pornography. He had been caught in an FBI sting and the newspapers were reporting the details of years of Internet abuse. This was his father, the man he admired and depended upon. His pain and fear were all over his face. He remembered that he went with his mother and brother to visit his dad in the county jail and all he could do was go up to his dad and tell him that “he loved him.” His mind was cloudy and his emotions swirling with shame and forgiveness, hope and terror. His worse fear was that his dad was being transported to a federal facility. Now he worried himself sick thinking about what the other prisoners might do to his father once they discovered his crime.

Last night, I shared the fears of this young man with our college students and read this verse: “As he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples.”
(Matthew 9:10)

I love imagining this scene. Can you not see it in your mind? Try. Jesus saw Matthew collecting taxes for the Roman occupiers. Matthew was a despicable man by any terms, disdained by the Romans and hated by the Jews. He was a schemer, a quisling cheat. Yet Jesus called him. Talk about scandal in the Church—than more scandal. Matthew, with his ill-gotten money, throws a dinner party. That was bad enough, but there was a final scandal; the guests turn out to be as bad as Matthew himself, tax collectors and sinners, and they ate with Jesus. Can you image what that room looked like with a guest list like that, a bunch of cutthroats and low lives eating with Jesus?

In our communities there are barriers between races, classes or other status groups, the separation is maintained by means of a taboo on social mixing. You do not share a meal or a dinner party; you do not celebrate or participate in entertainment with people who belong to another social group or worse accused of some hideous sinful behavior.

And yet here was Jesus, saying that for him barriers between people do not exist. In fact, he had a habit of disregarding barriers as he touched an untouchable leper, healed a gentile’s servant, cured a foreign woman’s daughter, and mischievously told the story of the socially bad Samaritan who was morally good, or I can imagine visit this young’s man dad in prison.

Anyway, looking around at the crowd eating with Jesus leaves no doubt about the message. There are no barriers with Jesus. No one is excluded from the love of God, “no matter how bad they are or have been.” All the Matthews down through the ages are welcomed to the banquet if they but get up immediately and follow him even at the last minute.

Many people and Catholics worry about this verse in great seriousness, “To judge the living and the dead.” Deep in our hearts we simply want to hear, I don’t want justice, I want love.” The message from this gospel is that: “There is only love.

God prays for us as we reflect: “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.” (Psalm 28:6).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who missed another Penance Service or feel uncomfortable with confession. They are numb by the feeling that they are unwanted or worse that there sins are unforgivable. Jesus come to these tortured souls and sits down by our side and heal us. Mother Teresa said of the lepers she treated, “We have drugs for people with diseases like leprosy, but these drugs do not treat the main problem, the disease of being unwanted.” And there stands Jesus who wants our disease and all and us.

It's Gonna Work Out

There are many different kinds of fear. There is the fear you feel when you tap on the brakes and the car starts to spin. There is the fear that comes when we hear that our company is downsizing, and we may be out of a job.

There is the fear that comes when we haven’t heard the diagnosis yet, but we’re pretty sure it’s bad. There is the fear of failure: failure in school, failure in our job, and failure at life itself.

Think about all the different kinds of fear there are, some that I listed, but even more that I left out. Isn’t it true that most of these fears come when we suddenly realize we’re not in control?

Once upon a time, a humble king took his three buddies up a mountain to show them something special. Of course, these tough guys were true to form—they bragged and postured and acted nonchalant so others would think they were in control. This is what Peter was doing. However, he was in a scary situation—an ordinary fisherman seeing a blinding vision, a practical man having an experience he can’t explain. So Peter’s scared, and he starts to babble. This time he gets bawled out, and it’s by a voice from a cloud. Now he’s not just scared, he’s terrified! His legs can’t hold him up. He falls on the ground, and so do James and John.

At this moment, I like to think that Jesus touches each of them. I sort of imagine him reaching out and ruffling their hair. The kind of touch that says, “We’re all in this together, I value you, I care for you, and it’s gonna work out.” And he says, “Stand up and do not be afraid”!

Something within them changes. I think it’s the touch of Jesus. Maybe not a physical touch, but some kind of internal touch, some kind of spiritual touch. They learn not to be afraid.

Not that the uncertainty of life goes away. It doesn’t. Not that they suddenly gain control. They don’t. Not that they are suddenly masters of their own fate. They clearly are not. But somehow it doesn’t matter. Bad things continue to happen to good people. But somehow it doesn’t matter.

The beginning of fear is when we realize, I’ve lost control. The beginning of faith is when we realize, it doesn’t matter. I don’t really need to be in control. All I really need is the awareness that God is in control.

God prays for us as we reflect: “In God I trust; I will not be afraid.” Psalm 56:11.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that we could each be transformed from our need for control. Wouldn’t it be great to learn to overcome our fears? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to say, “Bad things will still happen, but they don’t matter. I don’t have to be in control, if I can trust God to be in control”?

Going Through A Storm?

Last evening, a Sonshine friend was overcome with joy as she attended a magnificent concert of classical Latin music. Sitting close to the stage, she admired the artist as she played the guitar with flawless and effortless ease. This guest loves music but rarely gets a chance to attend any concerts since her chronic disease has limited her mobility over 20 years ago. She has had her share of storms. A gifted teacher who loves to plays the piano and flute, her multiple sclerosis became the storm of her life. Yet, don’t we all go through storms?

Some of you might be in some terrible ones right now. It is safe to say that if you are not in one now, you will be. Why? Because that is just the nature of humanity.

I would agree, that it seems like some people's storms are not as severe as others. However, from our perspective this “storm” comes at the worse possible time or might be something we never expected or prepared for in life.

Once there was a King who had wires stretched between the towers of his castle. The reason was he was in hopes of developing harp-like music when the wind blew. He was soon really disappointed. The breeze came but the music did not. He exclaimed, "It just doesn't work." However, one day, before the wires were removed, there developed a big storm like yesterday’s 50 mile per hour winds in Rochester. The wind whipped the wires furiously. Then, suddenly, a magnificent melody was heard. It was just harp-like music.

I suggest you meditate on this profound “lightning rod thought.” I believe that without any storms, without any challenges, without any trials, without any tests, our lives would produce very little recognized music. I can think of many pastoral experiences. Last week, I was called to provide a debriefing for a group of young engineers whose 33-year-old colleague died in a car accident leaving a spouse with a ten week old unborn child and three year daughter.

When the winds of any difficulty draw you taunt and you think you are at your breaking point and you weep before God, “I just can't take much more”-music will result.

God prays for us as we mediate: “Lord, hush (my) storm to a whisper; may the waves of the sea (my problems) be stilled.” Psalm 107:29

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that the difficulty they may have at this time in their life, be used to draw them taunt so that a beautiful melody will be produced. Tune our life's instruments, Lord and may this “little one” start hearing that music in their soul at this time

Heart to Heart

Are your pants getting a “little too tight?” This might be the first sign that you need to make a change. Discomfort in one’s tummy might lead to more serious discomfort in the heart. Some folks require a surgical procedure to open their arteries to allow more blood to flow to the heart. The reason for this blockage is cholesterol. Anything blocking your love for God? This might be a good time to have a heart-to-heart talk with ourselves and ask what changes are in order to make our hearts grow stronger with the spirit of God’s love.

Many people find success with “Weight Watchers” when they are motivated to makes changes that will help them “loosen their belts.” One heart patient shared that in the 10-week program her goal was to lose enough weight in the first four weeks to get down to what was called her “healthy weight.” She made the commitment to attend the weekly meetings and learn all the tools about what to eat and portion sizes in order to reach her desired goal. After she reached her “healthy weight” she would continue to come to the weekly meetings for more support. Her next goal was to maintain her “healthy weight.” If she continued to stay on track and eat right she would reach what was called her “life time weight” and then all her sessions would be free. However if she gained more than 3 pounds, she would have to start paying $10 for every session she went over her “healthy weight.”

What program would God recommend for you to have a "healthy heart? The psalmist tells us to pray these words: "A clean heart create for me, O God". And in the gospel, Jesus tells his disciples to be on guard lest they perform acts of penitence only to gain the approval of others. He is telling them, and us, that what is important lies within.

So what does Christ want from us as we begin another Lenten Season. Simply put: our hearts. He needs a heart that recognizes what things in our life are unhealthy and a willingness to change. This change of heart is what is meant by the word repentance. Repentance means more than just being sorry for past sins. It is a willingness to change our behavior in order to avoid sin in the future. In essence, what we need is an incarnation. We have to let Christ assume human form in us, just as he assumed human flesh in his own Incarnation. And if we let Christ into our hearts, we might be amazed at the transformation that will occur in our lives.

God prays for us as we reflect: “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” (Psalm 31:24).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends whose hearts are troubled with fears of all sorts that clog our arteries with stress and lead to disease and broken hearts. May our need to change-our desire for repentance-lead us to a change of heart that focuses on Christ as he lives in others. And this change of heart should lead us to live lives which are compassionate, non-judgmental, forgiving and giving, lives which are lived in imitation of Christ, lives which have found true peace and happiness. As I put ashes on peoples’ foreheads tomorrow, I will simply say: “Change your heart and imitate the love of Christ.”

Dancing With God

There is a story a longtime Sonshine Friend emailed to me last week about meditating on the word “guidance.” In his mind’s eye, he kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word.

I believe that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. 
 When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. 
The movement doesn't flow with the music and everything is quite uncomfortable and awkward. However, when one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. 
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully with the music.

The dance takes surrender and a willingness to let the other lead. It requires each person to be mindful to the movement of one another. It needs gentle guidance and skill from the other. So my friend’s eyes and soul drew back to the word “guidance.”

When he saw the "G": he thought of God, followed by "u" and "I". This led to the revelation that "God, you, and I dance.” As he bowed his head in prayer, he became willing to trust in the silence that would lead to the guidance he was seeking about his life.

Using our imagination, it seems if we become willing to let God lead us in the “dance of life” our souls will find peace and harmony.

God dances with us as we pray: “Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” (Jeremiah 31:13).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they learn the steps to dance closer to You. May we allow God to take us by the hand, and wrap a gentle arm around our back to lead and guide us during this season of Lent. And I Hope You Dance!

What Do You Want?

Once upon a time, two disciples were walking behind Jesus when he turned around on his heels and asked them: "What do you want?" A simple question, unless the one asking it is the Son of God, who is here to take away the sin of the world!

"What do you want?" You’d think these disciples would muster something profound like, "We want to know the meaning of life. What's it all about? We want to understand how to square a good God with the bad things that happen in this world. We want to know what the future holds." But these two disciples say no such things. "What do you want?" Jesus asks. Their reply? "We want to know where you're staying."

You've got the Son of the living God, giving you the chance of a lifetime to tell him what you want, and all you can come up with is, "So, where are you hanging your hat these days?" The fact is, these two disciples didn't give a bad answer. In a way their reply was, "We want you!" What's that line from that old African-American spiritual? "You can have all this world, but give me Jesus!" The same message Dr. Martin Luther King gave to the people of this nation.

Now for some folks who don’t come to church any longer because they got the impression from other church-goers that they don’t measure up listen to this reply by Jesus "Where are you staying?"

"Come and you will see," Jesus replies. He didn't issue a bunch of pre-requisites, didn't make them jump through some moral hoops before letting them take what were quite literally their first steps of discipleship. That's the way we sometimes frame it. Come and talk to us AFTER you have your act together. Come and join our church after we're sure you've got your spiritual and moral vision clear. Rather Jesus says, "Come, and then you will see."

What do you want? It’s always a TOUGH question. Well, we want success, a spot in the limelight, our fifteen minutes of fame, a piece of the good life, financial security, a healthy body, to be noticed--we want the kinds of things that someone described that Jesus is unlikely to lead us to. Still, maybe we don't know what we want until we come to Jesus and see who he is.

God prays for us as we reflect: “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” (Psalm 5:11).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who don’t know what they want. May your Spirit gently nudge us to a desire for nothing else but you. "What do you want?" We want you, Jesus. We want to stay where you're staying. Because somehow by being with you, we just know that we're going to find out just what it is we want. It's been Jesus we've been looking for all along, whether we knew it or not.

The Bucket List

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star in the movie “The Bucket List.” Without spoiling the plot, I’ll simply share that these two men met as patients in a hospital where they faced the grim reality of their mortality. One patient found comfort in his faith. His roommate thought the idea of faith was only an illusion or at best a myth to get people through difficult times. Despite their differences, they agreed to begin a final journey together. While hilariously entertaining, there are moments in this flick that make one think about our limited time on earth and our relationships with one another. Before these condemned men “kick the bucket,” our stars launched on a crazy journey to accomplish a list of things unfinished in life. Using your imagination, you would be right to assume that their list contained all the exotic places that you and I have yet to travel in our lifetime.

Overlooking the pyramids, our travelers were admiring the ancient pharoah’s tombs and peering into the endless star filled sky. The man of faith made the comment to his fellow traveler that the ancient Egyptians held the belief that before one could enter into the next kingdom that person had to answer two questions. Our cynical traveler took the bait and reluctantly asked what they were.

1. Have you been joyful in this life?
2. How have you shared your joy with others?

When are you joyful these days? I know behind the lens capturing the light of a stunning image brings me joy. Or, it might be a simple poinsettia bloom nestled with hundreds of other plants or at pre-dawn capturing the subtle light that veils the valley below. Sometimes, it might be arranging a Spring bouquet of flowers to give as a gift to family or friends or brushing Rhythm, a horse blind in one eye that I ride to relax and forget the troubles of the week.

Then there is that second profound question, how have I brought joy to others? How might you answer that before the throne of God? I can look back and think of a little green puppet that was given to me as a gift over 30 years ago. I called this stuffed toy “Spinach.” That was the name on the label and the name hundreds of kids remember to this day. Before Catholic schools were closed, I would go into the classroom and take Spinach with me and teach the stories about Jesus’ love to the children. That was pure joy!

So often in our Catholic teaching we hear the message that speaks of service and sacrifice and mercy that reflects the way of Christ as he walked with his children. We have been told for millennia to imitate that same love for others in caring for the sick, the poor, the imprisoned and the “little ones” which refer to those made to feel unworthy. But I like this Egyptian perspective that joy enters into our life and faith and becomes the guiding star in all our relationships. I believe that God wants us to be a people of joy and to bring that joy to others.

What is your joy in this life? How have you brought your joy to others?

God prays for us as we reflect: “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they may be filled with many moments of joy like hugging their grandkids, seeing beautiful vistas, and sharing moments at table with family and friends. May your grace help us all to bring that same joy to others.

Rise and Shine

And what about that star? Astronomers, theologians and historians for hundreds of years have been trying to determine exactly which star might have led the Magi to the stable.

A more recent conjecture has come from a Notre Dame astrophysicist, Dr. Grant Mathews. The professor says that he had hoped the answer would be something spectacular like a supernova. But two years of research led him to a more ordinary conclusion - the heavenly sign around the time of the birth of Jesus Christ was likely an unusual alignment of planets, the sun and the moon.

He believes the Christmas star is probably an alignment of planets, the most likely of which would have occurred on April 17, 6 B.C., when the sun, Jupiter, the moon and Saturn aligned in the constellation Aries while Venus and Mars were in neighboring constellations. He makes that conclusion because he believes the Magi were Zoroastrian astrologers who would have recognized the planetary alignment in Aries as a sign that a powerful leader was born. In fact it would have even meant that the leader was destined to die at an appointed time.

I believe that the star in the sky over Bethlehem is the flare for us that God does and will continue to rescue us as His children. That star is our hope in this world of darkness and despair. The star in Bethlehem is our search for acceptance and understanding and peace. On Friday, I was visiting a patient afraid of surgery that she is having this morning to replace her pacemaker.

She said, "My whole body is bothering me. But the body isn't the worst part. It's my soul that has me worried. All this talk of side effects like dying from the surgery really scares me. I haven't been able to sleep very well the past few nights. I just lay awake like I'm watching a replay of my whole life as it passes before my eyes. I don't like what I see. I could have done a lot better with my life. I've been a religious person, I've been pretty regular at church and all, but I don't know.... something is just not right. I don't have any peace about it all. Actually, I think I'm afraid to die. I'm afraid to meet God. What will God think about a person like me? Does God's love include me? Am I included in God's eternal plans?"

The Epiphany answer to the question: “Am I included in God's eternal plans is a resounding YES!” Epiphany shows that Jesus came for all people, no matter what!

Life can be overwhelmingly dark, especially at some special moments of our history. Today I am happy and tomorrow I have a stroke. Today I am smiling and tomorrow a car hits my child. Today I am rich and tomorrow I am poor when my plant closes and I am laid off. Today I am a success and tomorrow a failure. Life’s little candles of happiness are so fragile and easily snuffed out.

But there is one light that is never snuffed out. There is one light that always shines in the darkness. There is one light that darkness cannot overcome, and that is Jesus Christ.

God prays for us as we reflect: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends and new online friends who are searching for your light. Christ is our Star. As we try to navigate our ways through life, there is only one star that can guide us, and that star is Jesus Christ. Never lose sight of that star.