Wonderfully Suspicious

The church year begins with the First Sunday of Advent. However, you probably never noticed that we imitate the noise of New Year’s Eve when we blow those whistles, sound the horn, shout the countdown and wildly throw confetti. We symbolically explode the old, as it were, obligate the past, so we can make a new, fresh beginning.

The church year is no different. It too always ends and begins in chaos. Recall those terrible apocalyptic images: the sun, moon and stars will implode. There will be roaring of seas and waves. Yes, the very powers of heaven, like a nuclear blast, will be shaken and people will die of fright. Quite a scenario. But the function of these dire images, like the ones of New Year’s is meant to obliterate our selfish past and prepare us to make a new spiritual beginning.

That’s what the gospel sound and fury are about. It’s about thrashing the old and preparing for the new. Only for us, it is not resolutions to lose weight or be nicer to our mother-in-law. It is the challenge to live the spiritual life better than we did last year.

I hesitate to use the term “spiritual life,” as accurate as it is. The reason is that the term “spiritual life” tends to conjure up floating in la la land, talking to animals, or pausing to have visions. Or, at least fleeing to the convent or monastery. But the spiritual life is quite realistic, robust and challenging, and while it is for everybody, it is not for sissies.

How do I know if I am a spiritual person or not? How can I tell? Well, it’s really not hard to figure out. In fact, there are five quite sensible and infallible signs that I will explore with you during this Advent Season.

On a Monday morning after turkey day, think for a moment that you are a spiritual person if you have the capacity for transcendence. Simply put, it means that you are aware that there’s something more than meets the eye. You are always “wonderfully suspicious” that something more is going on. This is a contradiction to the secularists whose opinions say quite loudly that there is no God, no afterlife, no meaning, no purpose to life. Life is fundamentally absurd, a cosmic joke. What you see is what you get.

But not so the spiritual person. He or she sniffs hidden presences. They sense something in ever try flower, in beauty, in art, in friendship, in kindness, something that hints at something more to life. In fact, such things hint of Some One more. This morning I was humbled by an "old, trusted friend" who reminded me how much inspiration he receives by the Sonshine notes. He felt something was missing if he did not find them in his email, it was the mystery and a Presence.

This morning's image did not win any national awards, but it inspires me to take a time out during my hectic day to imagine myself walking along a stream and suddenly feel a sensation of peace and calm. The spiritual person notices. The spiritual person has the capacity to perceive beyond and behind. It could be the moment while you were basking the turkey, or rolling out the cookie dough or witnessing your first grandchild being baptized. I believe there is Some One more.

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…” (Psalm 16:11).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they discover the spiritual life that leads to the Presence in Bethlehem.

Together in Kindness

Thanksgiving is a time when we traditionally reflect on our blessings, Blessings. It’s a word we trip off our tongues easily enough: “Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts…” We bless ourselves with the sign of the cross, and say “God bless you” when someone sneezes. But this thanksgiving I want to turn your minds and hearts to see blessing differently. I want you to see blessing not as words that we say or something that one person gives another. Rather, I ask you to think of blessing as “being together in kindness.” Yes, I want you to see that blessing is not something you do, but as something you are to one another. I want you to see that blessing is a moment of meeting, a relationship that acknowledges one’s worth, it is being together in kindness.

For decades, a nationwide company had the tradition to handout to their employees $25 food vouchers to buy the family turkey for Thanksgiving. The company was looking for ways to cut benefits to improve their bottom line. They agreed to eliminate the Thanksgiving food voucher when one member’s of the leadership team shared: “You guys are not in touch.”

Our loyal people have been working for this company for decades, They work long hours in a cold warehouse for $7.50 and hour. Then they go home to take care of their children and pay their bills. When they get that food voucher, it’s like gold. This means they can go and buy a turkey and enjoy a warm meal with their family. You don’t see the smile on their faces when they get that letter. I know for a fact that one of the best things we do in this company for our people is show our appreciation to those who give us their best throughout the year. So despite our need to cut costs this year, I say we need to keep this benefit.

The other executives might have felt uncomfortable, but no one voted to discontinue the benefit. So the smiles will continue for one more year because this kind leader understood the meaning of gratitude and what it can do for the hearts of people who feel special and appreciated for their hard work.

Yes, people are treasures to us, are blessings to us. So this Thanksgiving is a good time to remember and cherish the people in our lives who, in need and in deed, in sickness and in health, were with us in kindness and let us know we count.

Thanksgiving is a time to remember those who have attached words to us, words like “May I help” “And I’m right here,” and “Blessed are you”; and labels like friend, beloved, special, lover, the best, treasure, one in a million, heart of my heart. We may have been, and maybe are “just old school friends,” but from those who have been together with us in kindness we learned that we each are a special indeed.

Today, then, while we will thank God for many things, let us remember people, especially those who have been with us in kindness and who, in that encounter, have blessed us.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends on this Thanksgiving Day that they realize how special they are in my daily life. Please share the following table blessing with your family and friends. Blessings to All, Fr, Matt

To our friends who have become family and our family who have become friends. God of joy and happiness, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Thank you for our family, our friends, our pets, and for every other living creature we meet along our journey.

Thank you for giving us hope for an end to world suffering, pain, and war, for a beginning of a world filled with light and everlasting love. And for the kindness of an unexpected dinner invitation, for a letter unforeseen, for the sunlight bursting through thick clouds, for a request to "come along,” for all the wonderful surprises of life we give you thanks, O God of joy. Amen.

We All Get Lost Sometimes

Turbo is the name of the inside lead horse in this championship Belgian six-horse hitch. You are witnessing his last performance since his owner plans to retire this trusted friend after the show. Turbo was abandoned and discovered in a pasture on a farm in Caledonia, New York. With lots of patience, plenty of food and excellent training this abandoned horse later became the number one lead horse of a six-horse hitch in the country.

The story of any rescue horse is very sad. In many cases, the horse is emaciated, covered in rain rot, and worst, their sensitive hooves are cracked straight through the top, making it almost impossible for them to walk. The horse wants nothing to do with humans who have caused their pain by neglect and they are quite content to stay where they are, cracked hooves and all. Their eyes show not only fear but also a strong dislike for the people inspecting them and their skin tensed under a human hand at each touch. The creature is an impossible mess but at that grace-filled moment, our farmer never imagined that Turbo would look as glorious as he appears in our photo leading his team to another championship.

We all get lost sometimes. The stories represent the messes of our lives. A single mom raising her children after being abandoned by her partner. The despair of a young teen whose best friend committed suicide. A man in his 60’s prefers to cry in the rain because her has no job. A young adult is told that his friend no longer needs him. Then, there’s the family provider who suddenly feels a shark pain and discovers that he has a mass that requires surgery. Finally, there are the million of unemployed workers who have been searching for months, even years for employment and after each rejection they sink deeper into depression.

Yes, we all get lost sometimes. The trick is to believe that we’re worth finding. Turbo was found with the hands of a loving farmer who saw the potential of this wonderful horse. When we are confronted by a situation beyond our control, it is time to pray to God who sees our desperate faces and looks into our hearts and promises to free us from our frustrations, from our fears and find strength in his grace and power.

God prays for us as we reflect: “May Your unfailing love be our comfort…” (Psalm 119:76).

Lord, I pray for all my Sunshine Friends who rescue horses in abandoned fields, or stray kitties and doggies. I pray when we notice our neighbor suffering the pain of feeling abandoned and we offer a healing touch, a comforting word and a gesture of hope. Bless the horse lover’s in the fields who bring comfort to rescue horses. May these magnificent creatures find a comfortable stall to lay their heads tonight with lots of hay and water.

Breaking Through Red Tape

Whenever I celebrate a wedding, I find myself seated at the parent’s table for the reception. This means eating with strangers who have come a long distance to celebrate in the festivities. While we engage in small talk, serenpidity brought me in contact with a highly educated, thoughtful young professional. This young person was most insightful as they shared the trials of their new job. Early in their career, they had experienced corporate life in a large company, but their creative juices led them to explore other opportunities to better use their talents.

Part of their job required campaigning for the local elected officials. While making house calls, this professional knocked on a door of a resident who asked the question why should they vote for their candidate. Our campaigner had their facts ready citing a significant reduction in crime and an increase in better education.

Despite these successes, this resident shared the nightmare of “red tape” encountered in getting services for his family. He’s called six times to get his food stamps and no reply. He was behind on his mortgage and the agency that offered help was to complicated to negotiate a reduce loan. He needed medical insurance for the family but all he got was a busy signal. Our young professional simply said: “Here, take my card and call me on Monday.” This act of kindness mirrors an attitude that Jesus practiced with such great finesse and flair.

A bit of wisdom that he practiced and preached: “Love God with everything you got” and secondly, “love your neighbor.” Simply put, when the opportunity presents itself, get rid of that “red tape” that hurts His “little ones” that refers to anyone who feels abandoned and neglected.

Let me further add my version of this profound wisdom to love neighbor: “Do ordinary things in extraordinary ways.” It’s the moment our young professional listened to the voice of this desperate resident. This man struggled with a inept system muddled in bureaucratic “red tape” and our young prophet promised to break the bonds that prevented this man from feeding, caring and sheltering his family.

God prays for us as we reflect: “The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. (Psalm 145:9).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are willing to seek out the right when so many things go wrong—like the massive red tape in our government, willing to carry each other’s burdens, willing to do the ordinary things in extraordinary ways, you become the sacrament, an outward sign of the way God loves us. We are invited to be a living sacrament, living vessels that mirror compassion, understanding, patience and love despite, all the glitches in government policies. In that moment, we catch a glimpse of how much God must forgive, persevere and love us? As St. Paul said, it’s a great mystery, your ability to mirror and reveal God.

So, let your revelation begin…

Reflections

I was greatly humbled when a stranger came up to me in church to say that they appreciate all the beautiful images I have shared in the Sonshine reflections. Rarely, do I hear a comment about a story or photo, but my purpose is simply to open your hearts to the beauty that God surrounds us each day. One of those magical moments is the ordinary people who cross our path in our worse moments to give us strength and courage.

Once upon a time, there was this forty-six-year-old, divorced woman, with three grown children. After several months of chemotherapy following a mastectomy for breast cancer, she was starting to put her life back together when her doctor called with the results of her last checkup. They had found more cancer, and she was devastated. Her relatives had not been supportive. She was the first person in the family to have cancer and they didn’t know how to behave toward her. They tried to be kind, but she had the feeling they were afraid it was contagious. They called on the phone to see how she was doing, but they kept their distance. That really hurt.

On Saturday, she headed out for the laundromat. You see the same people there almost every week. They exchange greetings and made small talk. So when she pulled into the parking lot, she was determined not to look depressed but her spirits were really low. While taking her laundry out of the car, she look up and saw a man, one of the regulars, leaving with his bundle. He smiled and said, “Good morning. How are you today?” Suddenly she lost control of herself and blurted out. “This is the worst day of my life! I have more cancer.” Then she began to cry. He put his arms around her and just let her sob. Then he said, I understand. My wife has been through it, too. After a few minutes she felt better. stammered out her thanks, and proceeded on with her laundry.

About fifteen minutes; later, here he comes back with his wife. Without saying a word, she walked over and hugged her. I know what you’re going through. This woman can’t tell you how much that kindness meant to her. Here was this total stranger, taking her time to give this woman emotional support and courage to face the future at a time when she was ready to give up.

The two great commandments have their challenges: “You shall love your God with everything you got” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

What is a saint? When we ‘re ready to give up when you hear the news: “Your cancer has come back, you haven’t found a job since January, your soldier has been killed in action, your child died in an auto accident due to drugs, your child was sentenced to eight years in jail, your best friend left you for whatever.”

Just how does any saintly soul manage these miserable moments, these insane happenings that have no purpose, no sense of love and more profoundly how are we suppose to love God and our dumb, stupid relatives who don’t know how to talk to us.

A saint learns with lots of practice that while on this earth, we are put to the trial, we must give triple thanks to the Almighty: first for giving us the strength to endure the trial, second for bringing the trial to an end, and third for the trial itself. For suffering contains the secret of creation and its dimension of eternity; it can be pierced only from the inside. Suffering betters some people and transfigures others. At the end of suffering, of mystery, God awaits us...

God’s prays for us as we reflect upon our suffering: “God does notice our miserable moments and listens to our cries for help.” (Psalm 22:24).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel under the weather to remember an old Persian proverb: I sought my God, My God I could not see. I sought my soul, My soul eluded me. I sought my neighbor and I found all three.

What Do You See?

A beggar asked his neighbor for charity but the neighbor told him: "I'll give you something even better.” The neighbor brought the beggar to a merchant, and asked him to find a job for the beggar. As the neighbor was well trusted, the merchant didn't hesitate to give some merchandise to the beggar and asked him to travel and sell them in another city.

A few days later, the neighbor found the beggar still in a miserable condition; surprised, he asked him about the matter. The beggar informed him: "While traveling, I found a blind eagle in the desert, and I was very curious how it got food though it was blind; I observed it for some time, and, to my surprise, another eagle came and fed it. I said to myself, this bird took care of that blind eagle in this desert and who will take care of me! So, I returned to the city and gave the merchant back his goods."

But the neighbor after reflection, asked him: "But tell me, why did you choose to be the blind eagle, not the other one, who could fly, chase, and take care of others?"

Maybe the Spirit of God might be nudging you to task care of someone who you least expect. Bartimaeus was a blind beggar who took a different approach to life than our beggar in the story. He shouted to Jesus, but was scolded by the crowd and ordered to be quiet. Then Jesus does something rather odd, he is perfectly capable of calling Bartimaeus to himself, and yet he tells others in the crowd to do it. “Call him here.”

What do you think is see happening here? If the people had refused Jesus request would Bartimaeus have remained blind? If we fail to act when nudged by the Holy Spirit, does it mean some poor soul will go unnoticed by God?

Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” No desire for power here, just a confident but humble request “Rabbi, I want to see.” And as quickly as the request is spoken Bartimaeus is told, “Go, your faith has healed you.” We are told that Bartimaeus immediately began to follow Jesus along the road.

What do we see as you gaze upon this Sonshine photo of a morning sunrise in the Adirondacks? A beautiful Autumn morning, a reflection of the spirit inside of you nudging you to take notice of someone in need of God’s grace. Maybe like that eagle you will soar and bring God’s love to those who are different, to those who make us look at ourselves and ask: Where are our blind spots?”

God prays for us as we reflect: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that God gives us the grace to fill our eyes that we may see others as You see them. Help us to make our community of faith a haven for the hurt, the lost, the angry, and for all who feel they have been rejected by the world. We have felt your love and forgiveness and it is our desire to share what we have experienced with them. As we go about our routines this week help us to really see and hear what goes on around us. Open our senses to the opportunities you present for us to share your love with others. Help us to be builders of community in your name.

Swirling

In the past 24 hours, I made a 12-hour house call to the Adirondack Correctional Facility. There a young man sits determined to return home to be vindicated for a crime he did not commit. The daily routine, boredom and degrading atmosphere take its toll over his spirit. He simply survives, washes his clothes in a five-gallon bucket, works out in zero degree temperatures and attends Mass. The senior counselors reviewed his case and recommended that he be eligible for a work release program that would return him home. However, he needs the approval of the prison superintendent and the Albany director of parole.

The system is the disease and in the trenches I have tried to teach him how to manage his stress without losing his integrity and slumping into depression. He asked for books about the Holocaust survivors to learn how they managed in their internments. I believe that it was their faith that helped them to persevere.

Thanks to the hospitality of Fr. Vic, the prison chaplain, a young man struggles in a system that preaches “rehabilitation” but the truth is that this system’s motto is power and money.

This young man’s thoughts are swirling with emotions of anger and resentment, frustration and depression. He has spent less than 100 days surviving the system, transferred nine different times, stationed at six different prisons and learned that boredom and stripping your humanity are the focus of this inhumane system.

How many times in your life have you felt stripped of your humanity, raped by fears of misunderstanding or the cruelty of the medical or social service system that fails to give you hope and relief? Overworked counselors, nurses and aides struggle to provide homecare, a place to live, a job, medical care, or simply food stamps. In reality, you feel like a number waiting for your turn. You are not thriving but only surviving. The system is more about power and money.

Make no mistake, this is not the leadership style of Christ who comes as the servant leader. As St. Paul says, He became one like us, able to “sympathize with our weaknesses,” even becoming subject to earthly death.

When you are swirling in turmoil, drowning in bureaucracy or the empty promises of government programs and insurance, think of God getting down into the trenches with you, coming down among his people, to do everything he could for your benefit. Christ is the servant leader.

God prays for us as we reflect: “ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who suffer from a system that fails to get down into the trenches with us. For the counselors, teachers, mentors who daily come intro the home of the elderly, physically challenged and incarnated, may the spirit of Christ bring hope and comfort into the hearts of anyone who feels abandoned and useless. In the eyes of God, look into today’s image and see beyond the swirling waters of your troubles and notice in the distance a bridge where God is waiting to walk you into his glory.

An Autumn Bouquet

A priest was in charge of the garden within a famous cathedral. he had been given the job because he loved the flowers, shrubs, and trees. Next to the cathedral there was another, smaller church where there lived a very old retired pastor.

One day, when the priest was expecting some special guests, he took extra care in tending to the garden. He pulled the weeds, trimmed the shrubs, combed the moss, and spent a long time meticulously raking up and carefully arranging all the dry autumn leaves. As he worked, the retired pator watched him with interest from across the wall that separated the churches.

When he had finished, the priest stood back to admire his work. "isn't it beautiful," he called out to the old priest. "yes," replied the old man, "but there is something missing. Help me over this wall and I'll put it right for you."

The priest lifted the old fellow over and set him down. Slowly, the pastor walked to the tree near the front of the church, grabbed it by the trunk and shook it. Leaves showered down all over the garden.

Autumn tells a beautiful story. The nights are longer, the air is colder. The breeze has a distinct bite to it. Nature follows its own internal directive: "Slow down, it seems to call. Ponder the inward, rather than the outward. Return. Be quiet. Take rest."

Autumn is telling us something important. Autumn fires something in our imagination that can sustain us as spiritual people. With its blustery days, its dropping temperatures, its slowly freezing ponds and rivers, its long, dark nights, and its beautiful, falling leaves, Autumn tells us the story of Nature's way, in which all individual lives wind down, and return, each in its own time, each in its own way, to the earth.

This is a difficult story, and though it is the leaves that tell it-and they are truly eloquent-it is a story for all souls. It reminds us that our lives our not whole if the story we tell is only about holding on. If our story does not allow us to let go gracefully, then we do ourselves a spiritual disservice. For, in the end, we are just like leaves, swirling in autumn wind, gently bound for spinning earth.

God prays for us as we reflect: “Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the leaves of the woods will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord.” (Psalm 96:12-13)

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine friends who struggle with letting go the neighborhood church, the grief of departed friends, the worry of finding a job, the disease that weakens immune systems, the resentments of long ago, the rudeness of trampling others down. Give us a wisdom that comes with prayer that allows us to gently let it go

Faith Muscles

Wilson is a wonderful barn horse who through the years has developed a remarkable patience with “novice” riders. I consider myself a “novice” rider who many times forgets the basics of horsemanship like staying in balance. When Wilson started to canter, I was flopping up and down in the sandal and pulling on the bit that makes it very uncomfortable for the horse. Poor Wilson, he must have thought that Fr. Matt had a bad week and wanted the lesson to stop at that moment.

Instead my instructor said stop, take your feet out of the stirrups and stretch your legs. I was not balanced over the horse. The reason was simple. I had not been doing my stretching exercises. Once the legs were loose and stretched, we started to canter again, grabbed mane and horse and rider felt more comfortable going over the cross rails.

One exercise excellent for the horse to practice in the ring is to ”gently’ pull the rein to one side. Wilson would tuck his head to that side which helps to stretch his neck. At the same time, I push with my calf so that Wilson continues walking in a straight line. Horses need to stretch their necks and backs so that their muscles stay healthy and strong.

Many times, we feel out of shape because we procrastinate and fail to exercise. In life, we feel overwhelmed by many difficulties because we have not been stretching our “faith” muscles.

It is possible to conclude that difficulties help our faith to grow strong? My response is yes, yes, and yes again. If life were all smooth sailing we would not develop the faith muscles. An individual confined to a hospital bed for a long time will find it difficult to walk properly. In fact, it has been proven that the lack of use tends toward deterioration.

So when "hills" appear in your life, when even "mountains" loom in your pathway, consider an opportunity to get into balance. This is how we develop our muscles. We believe that the testing of faith produces patience. So let patience help us when we are out of spiritual balance.

God prays for us as we reflect: "Consider it all joy when you fall into various trials. Because you know that the testing of faith develops perseverance.” (James 1:2-3).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are a tad out of shape physically and spiritually. Help us to develop the spiritual strength to manage the trails of life with our faith muscles in perfect balance.

Many churches celebrated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with a pet blessing. Here is my “Pet Prayer for the Lost and Forgotten”

To all the fur-balls who are lost, Or homeless, Or living as strays, may they find a good meal to eat. May they have shelter to keep them warm. May they have comfort. May they be shown kindness by strangers. And may they return home, or find good homes. May they rest in a place in which they can thrive. Filled with love, with warmth, with tender caring, with good food, with true companions for all of their days.

Comfort Me With Apples

I took a day to retreat into an apple orchard. Laurie, a Sonshine friend, invited me to travel the country roads in Wayne County where the apples are at their peak. It was brisk, cool morning, sunlight dancing through the orchard groves and the cloud formations were spectacular in the deep, blue sky above as you can see in our photo.

There was a young person who came to the local monastery in search of enlightenment. There, he asked to hear one of the abbot’s lectures - and was granted permission.

That afternoon, the abbot’s discourse was about the importance of work in the field. After the lecture, the young man said to one of the monks: "That was amazing. I thought I would hear a fine sermon about virtues and sins, and the abbot spoke only of apples, peaches, pears, and irrigation. Where I come from, all believe that God is merciful: all one must do is pray."

The monk smiled and replied: "Here we believe that God has already done His part; now it is up to us to continue the process." The abbot shared another story about a farmer who grew award-winning apples. Each year he entered his apples in the state fair where it won many blue ribbons.

One year a reporter came to his farm to interview him and learn how this farmer grew these winning apples. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his apple seeds with his neighbors. "How can you afford to share your best apple plants with your neighbors when they are entering apples in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.

"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The bees carry the pollen from one ripening apple tree to another. If my neighbors grow inferior apples, the cross-pollination would steadily degrade the quality of my apples. If I am to grow good apples, I must help my neighbors grow good apples too."

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His apples cannot improve unless his neighbor's apple orchards also improve.

So it is in other dimensions. Those who choose to be at peace must help their neighbors to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good apple orchards we must help our neighbors grow good apples.

God prays for us as we reflect: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who generously spread the seed of goodness to their neighbors by their daily sacrifices and prayers. Bless all our farmers who are working hard to harvest their crops that fill our tables. In gratitude, let us be mindful to reach out to those families who are still unemployed and need a helping hand.

Flat Spots

You might never noticed but the for the most part, the Bible dispenses with the kinds of adverbs you might find in novels in which, when a character speaks a line, we may well be told that he spoke those particular words “sternly” or “laughingly” or “gravely.” But the Bible doesn’t usually include such narrative details, leaving the reader—free to imagine the acoustics of the text.

I like you to use your imagination and think about the sound of Jesus’ voice. If you google “voices” for God, you come up with hundreds of hits. Some refer to the sound of thunder and others a whisper? Do you think his voice to be mighty stern or disappointed? Does it come across as tender? Maybe, it reflects a heartbroken, trembling tone whose words have some difficult things to say.

Jesus wants to be alone with you and what he has to say is difficult. It is going to be something pretty tough to verbalize. He says he will suffer and be abused and die on a cross. Yes, a day of resurrection would come, thanks be to God, but the thing about a resurrection is that you always have to pass through death first to get there.

“I love you” is best whispered into the ear while the beloved is close enough to embrace. “I’m going to suffer and die soon” is “I love you” in God-speak and reflects what’s in his heart for each of us.

I wonder how hurtful it must have been for Jesus to take his disciples aside to tell them about his suffering only to then look up and see blank expressions on their faces. They didn’t appear to comprehend—or believe—what he was saying. I like to call this moment our “flat spot.”

“Flat spots” appear in many forms—forget our keys is an inconvenience, being late for your appointment is rude. Young tykes “flat spots” appear as carelessness for neglecting one’s chores, or punching their siblings. Young adults “flat spots” might more be about excessive drinking, driving restlessly, or failing to study. As we get older “flat spots” accumulate. We are thoughtless to open a door for someone in a wheelchair, or excuse our irritability, or fail to meet our healthy lifestyle goals, or worse emotionally abuse our loved ones because of past anger and resentments.

What are your flat spots?

We must admit that we all suffer from those “flat spots” when we failed to listen and take responsibility for decisions that result in our suffering and the suffering of others.

God prays for us as we reflect: “I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will; go for us?’ And I said. ‘Here am I. Send me’” (Isaiah 6:8).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends whose voices bring tenderness and understanding to the suffering of others. Help us to focus our efforts to welcome your children “the little and the brittle” with great patience and surrender our “flat spots.”

Corrupted and Beautiful

What is happiness? Perhaps the most profound response, I ever read said: “Happiness is freedom from frustration, freedom from fear and freedom from guilt.”

Last week, I went online to create the annual calendar for my Sonshine friends. I reviewed hundreds of images and picked 13 that you can view now by clicking: http://www.drmatt.org/gallery/main.php

In addition to the national holidays, I added our holy days of obligation since they sometimes change, for example All Saints Day in 2010 while a holy day of obligation is abrogated because it falls on a Monday. But I believe if you go to church on Monday and pray to your saint I’m sure they will appreciate your effort. Nobody goes to hell on that day for missing Mass.

My frustration began when I uploaded all the holidays and holydays and discovered the following morning that the calendar “defaulted.” What that meant was that a holiday like Martin Luther King would be repeated three times in the box for January 18^th. Needless to say, this computer novice called the “Help” line and talked to twelve different customer service reps that had “no clue” why this was happening but simply helped me reload the entire calendar.

Imagine teaching a customer service rep in Jamaica, India and Canada what All Saints Day or the Assumption is all about. Online CCD. Despite their courtesy to reload and learn something about our Catholic tradition, the calendar would “default “again and again twelve times. Each time, I explain the problem, the young voice would hear the shrills of frustration and of despair and try their best to resolve the problem. Then comes the voice of a little angel by the name of Amry from Jamaica. This heavenly soul understood that the problem was a “corrupted file” and her best solution was to create a new calendar with a new template. She patiently loaded all 13 images and even complemented the work asking me if I would be kind enough to reload all the holydays and holidays for a twelfth time.

Sometimes, we feel like we are going out of our minds with the frustrations of daily life. We feel “corrupted” by all the defaults that come our way in the form of another layoff, or another illness or another lost. Life makes us panic with fear and worse we begin to think that we are “corrupt” with all the negative messages that fill our brain. Let me gently remind you, as we begin another season of Sonshine, that the God we pray to wants you to be happy both now on earth as it will be in heaven. Let us meditate for a moment as you gaze at the water or the clouds or look at the red reflection of the tree in the water and know that your angel knows who are not “corrupted” but a “beauty” made in his image. Happiness is this freedom from fear, freedom from frustration and freedom from guilt.

God prays for us as we reflect: “The spirit of the lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted…(Isaiah 61:1)

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine friends daily as we begin another season of sharing a heavenly love that desperately wants us all to be happy and free of the “defaults” of life. Bless us with your spirit of patience and perseverance.

Blessing Prayer for Father's Day 2009

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father.

Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.

Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives. Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing.

Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.

Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.

Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.

Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children.

And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine fathers that they realize we appreciate their love and sacrifices they make each day for their children. Bless them and keep them safe in your hands.

Time Out

I am driving along route 19 when I notice a farm to my left with a meadow of beautiful wildflowers and horses grazing in the field. Since 5am I have had five appointments and I am racing to get back home to do some household chores. Then the thought strikes me. Take a “time out.” I still driving home and asked myself, what’s more important cutting the lawn or turning back and taking a photo of those horses. A few nano seconds go by and I still driving home, when a “heavenly hand” takes the wheel of my car and turns me around back to that meadow.

It is a divine sign and I am encouraging you to take a TIME OUT. "Who...me?" you ask. Yes! There is no one in the whole world reading these lines (I have had e-mails from nearly 110 countries) who can not benefit from a "time out"

In sports such a time allows the players to take a break, to get rest, to plan their strategy, even to get strength for the rest of the game.

We have got to make it a habit to read the time out signal from the Lord daily. When we participate in that you will receive strength. That strength will be not just physical but spiritual strength. Strength for your soul. The soul is our mind, will and emotions. Getting the needed strength allows us to go on more confidently.

The time out also gives us a breather to ask God's direction in a particular matter. How important it is not to get so involved in the living activities that we forget the "life in the Spirit.”

Still, in our heads we hear this mantra: “I’m so busy!” How many times a day do you hear (or say) that? Our lives are hectic, in part because of the 24/7 culture we live in. But some of the stress comes from our own choices. We say, “yes” too often. We overload our schedules. We long for a simpler life, but we’re not sure how to get there. I once told a successful business person that it appeared that they were so busy making a living that they were failing to make a life.

So I have two questions to help us “catch our breath” from the busyness of our culture are: Am I joyful? And the second: How do I bring that joy to others?

Saturday morning was the Spirit encouraging me to take a time-out to play. A “divine signal” to turn around and take a time out. So the image I want to share conveys this joyful focus is these young foals kicking up their hoofs in the meadow celebrating life.

Take lots of moments to relax this summer, Bookmark and forward to your friends my Photo Gallery that mark the “divine signal” pointing us to play and relax to revive our spirits.
www.drmatt.org/gallery/main.php


God prays for us as we reflect: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” (Psalm 62:1)

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they understand that taking a time out is so important. May each of you be encouraged to do even more than you are. May they find the peace that is so crucial to a fast paced world. Encourage them to take a time out when they are confused, when they are troubled, when they are agitated and ...when they are feeling alone. I am taking a time out from writing “Today’s Sonshine, ” Bookmark and visit the “Photo Gallery” often to see where the “divine signal” leads me this summer: http://www.drmatt.org/gallery/main.php

Silence That Breathes

I am deeply troubled about two young people who have suffered a severe injustice. One poor lad died suddenly due to a drug overdose, that was given to him by his “best friend.” A co-worker said that this young man literally died in her arms after her efforts at CPR failed to relive him. She felt a failure and in shock from the incident. Later she discovered that his death was not the result of alcohol poisoning but his poor judgment as he continued to party with his friend using cocaine.

The other incident concerns a good and compassionate soul whose vocation has been to care for families when loved ones have died. His services are outstanding and his compassionate and professional model the best in his profession. Now he is in danger of losing his license and freedom.

I am on my knees praying for these two young men, one in heaven and the other waiting judgment. It is mercy I pray for. At times like this, I come before God shaking my head wondering where is Your compassion and healing to be found.

Despite our anger, confusion and doubt, we need to find the anchor to help us through these unspeakable times that make no sense. We need to get away from the distractions like those Ipods, cell phones and DVD’s that drive us away from the voice that brings peace when we feel most upset and afraid.

The great truth that the monks teach is that we need a center; we need to get in touch with that God who anchors our lives and gives them meaning. Lacking this holy anchor—and we see it frequently enough---so many anchorless young people, unknowingly clutching their cell phones, iPods, texting and blaring CDs to drown out their spiritual loneliness and emptiness.

The monks remind us of whom that Beacon is, without which our souls shrivel and life becomes unmoored. This truth was brought home when a renowned theologian went to visit the monks. He asked the master of novices, “What is the novices’ biggest complaint?” The master says, “they complain they have to be up at 2:30AM to attend the divine office and sing matins and lauds. They aren’t too happy about it. They tell me it’s so much better when they’re out in the fields and they feel ecstasy and love for God. So I ask them: “all right, I forbid you to come to any services, except for Mass.” Well, after a short while they come back and said, “We didn’t come here to be farmhands.” What happened to your ecstasies? The master said. They dried up, said the novices
So, the master wisely told them, Of course, you now realize that what you are doing at 2: 30 AM is what gives you the ecstasy in the fields.

Going into the Great Silence, connecting to the Beacon, the Anchor, the Center gives you the ecstasy in the fields of your life. You won’t need alcohol or dugs or your iPods and cell phones.
When you know something scary is coming, you must find and hold onto your own source of reassurance and wisdom. You must have a steady beacon to guide you through perilous waters.

God prays for us as we reflect: “For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. (Psalm 56:13).

Lord, I pray for these two special Sonshine Friends that they turn to you the Beacon of life for comfort and peace. Help all who face scary moments to find you in the silence where you come to stand by our side and take us by the hand and say: “I am here and there are no monsters under your bed.”

Prayer Forest

A number of years ago a pastor found an old abandon one room schoolhouse in the mountains. He made it a great retreat house. He transformed the one room into a hotel looking like lobby. He put in a free standing fireplace, old stuffed furniture, and hung his landscape and flower photos. Every Thursday morning after his 9:00 a.m. staff meeting, he would go there to study.

When he first got the place he ordered 500 small pine saplings. The house, while in the mountains, was in a large field of maybe 8-10 acres. No trees. So, he planted two rows of 57 trees on the long driveway leading up to the house. And the rest he planted on the fence line and other various places. Then there was an area quite large across a gully. He planted the trees there real close together like 3 feet, some less, some more. It was going to be a Prayer Forest. After the trees grew he was planning on going in and make a meandering trail to a large opening.

The prayer forest never occurred. The beautiful 2 rows of closely planted trees on the drive way are not there today. They never made it to what he had planned for them because of the hot spring/summer and lack of water. The only 11 that remain to this day are the ones close to the house. They were the ones that got his special attention. (There was no way to water hundreds of little trees so far away from water.)

In going through a drought in living - you know those hot times when nothing seemingly is going right, we need "the water of life" What I do, when I feel I am getting drained of sap is to go to Jesus and ask for refreshment and take a walk in my mind in my Prayer Forest. No, I can't see or physically taste the water, but there is something in my soul that responds to the refreshment. I can then lift my limbs in praise and thanksgiving.

God prays for us as we reflect: Jesus declares himself to be that water. “Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within them." (John 7:38).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are experiencing the drought of living and ask that they be like the 11 remaining trees which are strong, healthy and tall. Let us be the tree planted by the river that survives. May the spirit help you to drink deeply from the never-ending supply of life flowing water.

A Mother's Silence

I suppose every child remembers some special virtue their mother has, some piece of wisdom that saved them from disaster or a word that made the path infinitely easier. I love my mother for all the times she said absolutely nothing.

Our mother’s silence during the times I fell flat on my face, made a lousy judgment, and took a stand that I had to pay dearly for . . . I thank her for all her virtues, but mostly for never once having said, ‘I told you so.’

On this special day we are mindful that mothers are being remembered and celebrated and offer this prayer for the joys and sorrows this day brings.

For those who have a mother they dearly love, may we take time today to appreciate the gifts and graces that have come to them through their mother.

For those whose mother is dearly loved but no longer living, may we take time to remember the gifts and graces that have come to us through her.

For those who have recently lost or who are facing the imminent loss of their own dear mothers, may they find comfort in their grief, hope in their despair, courage in the love they have received.

We give thanks, God, for these good mothers who gave us birth. We give thanks for the mothers who support us in our living, who said absolutely nothing at the worse of times.

We pray, compassionate God, for those whose mother has been a source of hurt and pain, for all those for whom one or more members of their family has caused them to suffer. May they find refuge in your love. May their wounds be healed.

We give thanks to you, O God, for all those who, responding to the difficult lives of others, have stepped in to become surrogate mothers; for those who, in the absence of our own mothers, for whatever reason, have stepped into our lives to guide, to nurture and provide the stability and the love needed.

We remember single mothers and fathers who struggle to be both parents to their children--to provide all the emotional, physical and spiritual needs without the constant support of a spouse. May they find the strength, the courage and wisdom for their task.

Look now, loving God, upon all those who are mothers--biologically or by the role they play as teachers, mentors, professors, in the lives of others. We join all mothers everywhere in praying that their children may be a joy and a blessing.

We pray for those mothers who have been hurt, disillusioned, or disappointed in their role as mother. We pray for those who have been denied a longed-for chance at motherhood, and for those whose years of mothering have been cut short by the loss of a child. We turn to You, most compassionate God, knowing that you can bring consolation that seems impossible. May these mothers receive comfort for their soul and peace and hope for living that their gifts may not be denied to others.

Hear our prayers this day, O God, and give to us such assurance of your love that your love may spill forth from us into the lives of others.

River of Light

In his book The Art of Pilgrimage, Phil Cousineau writes that in every pilgrimage, there is a secret room, a place along the path that gives us insight into the deep mystery of our journey. In describing this hidden room, Cousineau draws on a story that poet Donald Hall tells of friends who purchased an old farmhouse. Cousineau writes,

“It was a ‘warren of small rooms,’ and once they settled in and began to furnish their new home they realized that the lay of the house made little sense. Peeling off some wallpaper, they found a door that they pried open to reveal a tiny room, sealed off and hidden, goodness knows why: They found no corpses nor stolen goods.” For Hall, the mystery of poetry to evoke powerful feelings finds its analogy here, in its ability to be sealed away from explanation, this is the place where ‘the unsayable gathers.’

And so it is on the pilgrim’s path. Everywhere you go, there is a secret room. You must find your own, in a small chapel, a tiny cafe, a quiet park, the home of a new friend, the pew where the morning light strikes the rose window just so. As a pilgrim you must find it or you will never understand the hidden reasons why you really left home.

Where is your secret room? Let me share my quiet room on Easter morning. I am perched high on a hill in Ellison Park. It is 6am. My fingers are freezing holding the camera on a monopod, waiting for first light. The predawn sky is showing signs of light with colors of red and purple. The clouds are quite strange and unusual.

The sunlight that peaks over the hill is harsh and bright. No cute orange ball here to show off to your friends. Rather, something more mysterious and profound is happening due to the cloud formation. The sun behind the clouds is creating a “river of light” that seems to flow from a waterfall cascading through the clouds. You see the stunning moment is not the sun coming over the horizon, but rather, how the light streams through the clouds in patterns and shapes that form a river of light.

Perhaps this is the true meaning of Easter, This is the place where ‘the unsayable gathers.’ Each second, the scene changes as the sun slowly rises piercing it sunlight through the clouds, each moment a living link with our maker, each an embodiment of his vision and love, each a threshold beckoning me deeper into my own creative path and reminding me why I set out on it in the first place.

And you? Did the pilgrimage through Lent offer you a secret room? Somewhere along the way, did you find a place that offered, not an explanation of your path, but a window onto it, a space within it that enabled you to see it anew, and the one who called you there? Where was it, and what did you find there? How does it illuminate the way before you?

God prays for us as we reflect: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.” (Psalm 46:4).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they remember that Easter is not just a day but rather a season. May the gift and challenge of the resurrection go with you, and may the path ahead be graced with secret rooms and sunrises that flow like a river of light.

Whos's Gonna Move That Rock, Ladies?

These three ladies--Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome--are making their way to the tomb with the intention of anointing the dead, lifeless body of Jesus with spices. So early Sunday morning, the morning after the Sabbath, these ladies got up with the intention of anointing the dead body of Jesus. That was their plan. That’s what they intended to do--nothing more, nothing less.

They were not expecting a miracle. They were not expecting the Resurrection. They were certainly not expecting Jesus to be alive. They were not expecting anything of significance to happen. They were simply going to the tomb for the gruesome, heart wrenching task of anointing the dead, lifeless body of Jesus.

As they were walking down the road to get to the tomb, it dawns on one of them, that they have a problem--a rather significant problem. A big question arises. The women ask each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

It’s a very good question. They can’t roll the stone away themselves. How are three little women going to make that rock roll? How in the world are they going to move that thing?

A family bought some boulders for landscaping--really, big rocks to use as part of their landscape design for the front of the house. One of the boulders seemed really, really big, and because of the tendency to change her mind someone reminded mom: “you tell us exactly where you want this rock because once it’s on the ground, it’s not moving.” This huge boulder is not like the end tables, couch and everything else that’s not nailed down in our house that seems to be moved every other Saturday. Once this baby is in place--it’s there until Jesus returns.”

Who is going to move the rock from in front of the tomb? Now you understand it’s a perfectly good question . . . if Jesus were still in the tomb. If Jesus were as dead as dead could be then that would be a very good question to ask. Who is going to remove the stone? It is a question that I hear people asking even today.

People say: “I have a huge obstacle to overcome. I was abandoned as a child, how can I ever feel accepted? Good question . . . if Jesus were still in the tomb. Or they say, “My life is in shambles after being laid off, when will I ever find work again?“ Or they say, “My alcoholic mother told me don't expect any help to care for my brat once my baby was born, how can I ever forgive her for her cruel and bitter attitude? My marriage is a mess, how could it ever be made right? Good question . . . if Jesus were still in the tomb. I hear students complain, “I’m failing the semester and in such a rut over a bad habit—alcohol and drugs or whatever--how can I ever break free?” Good question . . . if Jesus were still in the tomb!

But people, it’s a brand new day! Jesus is not in that old grave! He is not in the tomb. You won’t find a tombstone that reads: “Here lies Jesus Christ. May He rest in peace.” No! Jesus is alive. And just as He conquered death and defeated our ultimate foe He can defeat whatever burdens you are experiencing at this moment. This is a day for hope not despair. There is no obstacle in your life that He can not handle!

Who’s gonna move that rock, ladies? Jesus has already taken care of that problem! Who’s going to take care of obstacles in your life? Jesus Christ is more than able to handle anything that comes your way.

God prays for us as we reflect: “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!” (Psalm 18:46).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends on this Resurrection Day. With this prayer of faith. He was bruised and brought healing! He was dead and brought life! When I fall, He lifts me up! When I fail, He forgives! When I am weak, He is strong! When I am lost, He is the way! When I am afraid, He is my courage! When I stumble, He steadies me! When I am hurt, He heals me! When I am broken, He mends me! When I face problems, He comforts me! When I face death, He carries me home! God is by my side and all is well with my soul.

New Vision

So where are your palms this morning? Of course, you came to church yesterday because they were giving something away for free. But as you held those palms during the reading of the passion story, let me give you another insight on their purpose. You know these palms once dried will become next year’s ashes to mark the beginning of Lent. However, by holding these palms in your hands I like to take you back to the Stations of the Cross and have you stand at the Fifth Station: Simon is “forced” to carry Jesus' cross.

Let me give you a glimpse of what this station is really all about. These who stand a long time at this station are all the people who carry crosses they did not want or ask for or bargain for. No one wanted to lose his or her job, or home. No one wanted the bipolar spouse or dementia parent, the physically challenged child, the cancer, the addiction, the divorce, the depression unwanted crosses of all descriptions.

Too many of us have the name of Simon of Cyrene, and mildly put, we are steamed and angry with God and frustrated—not to say exhausted. But the longer we stand here, the more we absorb the tradition that says that if Simon started out with anger—he wanted no part of Jesus’ crosses; he was forced into it. Despite our major temper tantrums, when we scream, “not again Lord.” We find ourselves “forced” into dilemmas we never planned on and certainly don not need at this season of our life.

However, despite these crosses, something creeps into our vision. After a time of carrying the cross with Jesus, like Simon of Cyrene we are both moved to understanding, and from understanding we move on to love, and from love we move into our salvation, and became, as it were, a co-redeemer with Jesus. Could this be your calling?

God prays for us as we reflect: “Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. (Psalm 28:9).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends during Holy Week that we receive the grace of compassion to help carry the crosses that will be placed into our hands like those palms. With your strength, may we receive the grace to lift the crosses of our friends and gently lead them in their journey to your healing hands and heart.