She Knew

 

 

Last two weeks, I had the humble privilege of providing grief support to employees in Buffalo coping with the mass shootings. Family members whose love ones died are still numb and filled with hurt, frustration and anger. There are no words only tears and hugs from friends that help to ease the pain. This week 21 funerals will take place in Texas and again there are no words only emotions filled with sorrow, sadness and anger.

 

There is an ancient tradition that says over the gates of hell are inscribed the words, "Abandon hope, all you who enter here!” So let me share a story to bring back the hope.

 

There was a funeral for a little 9 years old girl by the name of Annie who had leukemia. She bravely fought this disease for nine months before she died. Her parents, relatives and friends came to listen to the word of God and receive His sacraments of life. During the funeral service, the grandfather shared Annie’s favorite bible story. She would read this story to her grandpa.

 

It was forty days after Jesus death on a cross, when He appeared to his friends, He promised them that he would send them the spirit who would guide and support them when he would leave. On that day, Jesus went up to heaven, and the clouds blocked their vision but angels came and stood beside the disciples and said. “Why are you looking-up in the sky He has returned to his Father but he will come back and take you with Him.”

 

After Annie read the story, she would look at grandpa with questioning eyes, then her eyes suddenly changed, She knew, she really knew. Her eyes said it all. Jesus prayed that we all would be with Him in heaven and Annie knew it was true. At that moment, the church went still, and you could sense that everyone in the pews were filled with hope and God was with people them.

 

You see in difficult times, mass shootings, deadly viruses, serious disease, we go numb with fear and lose hope. Then we fill ourselves with all kinds of emotions, grief, sadness, frustration, confusion and anger. Our noisy brains are filled with fear and negativity. The only way to get through this mess is faith. Annie knew. Annie knew and now we must know that every time we are confronted with a tragedy or feel the pain of lost, or struggle with the reality of war, discrimination or hate, we must have the hope that Jesus came to bring love into the world, and it is His love that Annie found peace.

 

Annie knew and every family in Buffalo and Texas, and Ukraine where pain is felt must know that only our faith and hope in God will bring us comfort and peace.

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who struggle with their fears and pain due to the tragedies of life. In hell, there is no hope, however, in heaven you will find little Annie with a twinkle in her eye that says, hold my hand and come and follow me and I will take you to see my friend Jesus who wants us all to be with him in glory. A glory not found in strength and power but in the blood of the cross where Jesus’ love brings us the hope of eternal life

 

Secret Dream of Glory

 

 

We all nurse a secret dream of glory. 

 

We daydream that in some way we will stand out and be recognized. And so we fantasize about great achievements that will set us apart from others and make us famous. The daydreams vary but, inside them, always we are at the center—the most admired person in the room, the one scoring the winning goal, the actor picking up the Academy Award, the author writing the best-seller, the intellectual winning the Nobel Prize, or even the one nominated to be the next bishop.

 

What we are chasing in all this is notice, appreciation, uniqueness so that we can be duly recognized and loved. We want the light to be shining on us.

 

And this isn’t all bad or unhealthy. We are built to stand in the spotlight. Scientists today tell us that the universe has no single center but that everywhere and every person is its center. And so it is not a big secret that each of us feels ourselves at the center and wants to be recognized as being there. We nurse a secret dream of glory and, partly, this is healthy.

 

What’s less healthy in our daydreams is how we envision that glory. In our fantasies, glory almost always consists in being famous, in standing out, in achieving a success that makes others envious, in somehow being the best-looking or the brightest or the most talented person in the room. In our fantasy, glory means having the power to actuate ourselves in ways that set us above others, even if that is for a good motive. For instance, some of our fantasies are daydreams of goodness, of being powerful enough to squash evil. Indeed, that was the messianic fantasy. 

 

Before Jesus was born, good-hearted and religious people prayed for a Messiah to come and, in their fantasy, that Messiah was generally envisaged as a worldly superstar, a person with a superior heart and superior muscles, a Messiah who would reveal the superiority of God by out-muscling the bad.

But, as we see from the gospels, real glory doesn’t consist in out-muscling the bad, or anyone else. When Jesus was being crucified, he was offered precisely the challenge to prove that he was special by doing some spectacular gesture that would leave all of his detractors stunned and helpless: “If you are the Son of God, prove it, come down off the cross! Save yourself!”

 

But, with a subtlety that’s easy to miss, the Gospels teach a very different lesson: On the cross, Jesus proves that he is powerful beyond measure, not by doing some spectacular physical act that leaves everyone around him helpless to make any protest, but in a spectacular act of the heart wherein he forgives those who are mocking and killing him. Divine kingship is manifest in forgiveness, not in muscle.

That is real glory, and that is the one thing of which we really should be envious, namely, the compassion and forgiveness that Jesus manifested in the face of jealousy, hatred, and murder.

 

So where is our glory if we still are hanging onto past grudges. At this very moment, I am deployed to help families and coworkers in Buffalo whose loved ones were killed by the evil of racial discrimination. Yes, Jesus is saying that you will taste suffering, everyone will, and that suffering will make you deep. But it won’t necessarily make you deep in the right way. Suffering can make you deep in compassion and forgiveness, but it can also make you deep in bitterness and anger. However only compassion and forgiveness bring glory into your lives. We all nurse a secret dream of glory. 

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who have been hurt and suffer the lost of their loved ones because of the evil of hate, prejudice and discrimination. Lord, make our suffering deep in compassion and forgiveness.

 

Anniversary

 

I am sitting in the conference room at Oishei Children’s Hospital across the table with two dedicated emergency transport nurse managers. I was deployed to provide support to their medical staff who experienced a terrible tragedy. The pilot of the Mercy Flight helicopter had died in a crash. While the staff was coping with the death of their co-worker they had to deal with their own fear of flying. This dedicated staff of respiratory nurses and pediatric doctors had gone on endless flights to transport newborn babies in distress or save the lives of countless children who had been in accidents and distress.

 

In our discussion, the nurse managers who had been working for over 25 years starting chatting about their retirement, They had devoted their lives to healing and bringing comfort. Now, perhaps with this incident it was time to pass on their compassion and expertise to the next generation.

 

While they were discussing when “enough was enough” I started to reflect on my journey as a priest. Today, May 6^th is my 45th Anniversary of my ordination. My mission has been and continues to bring healing and comfort to suffering souls.

 

It is interesting that when I made the decision to hand off Holy Family to the next generation, I was not steping down from serving as a healer, but simply redefining how best I could serve God at this stage in my ministry.

 

In the past year, I have had the privilege of helping Bishop Mack recruit several men from Pakistan, Chicago and Hawaii to serve as pastors and deacons in churches around the country. I serve as their “shepherd” meaning when they have a question about their ministry or training and they need to reflect about their ministry “I am here to help.”

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In addition, my clinical work has also taken on a new phase in that I have been asked to serve as consultant to three outstanding programs. I am truly humbled that Mary Cariola, The School of Holy Childhood, and CDS Life Transitions have asked for my help to serve their dedicated teachers, therapists, nurses and administrators to cope with the stress of Covid and everyday challenges of life.

 

I am grateful to many people who have supported my ministry and yesterday met with one of my early mentors, a master floral designer who 30 years ago when I walked into his floral shoppe to buy flowers for the retired Mercy Sisters on Valentiune’s day offered to teach me how to design flowers. He continues to send me a card every year on my anniversary and his card says it all “Mazel Tov” Happy 45^th Jubilee!

 

I am grateful to all the priests who shepherded my vocation: Fr. Alex, Fr. Siduara, Fr. Karp. Fr. Adamski, Bishop Peplowski, Msgr Leo, Fr. Bob. These men are all with God and I believe continue to guide and help me to bring Our Lord’s mercy, compassion and love to all his children.

I am also grateful to all my friends: Ted, Ken, Arnie, Gail, Tim, David, Jeff, Stan, Fr. Don, Fr. Corey, Bishop John, the list is endless and I am most appreciative of thier prayerful support.

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sionshine Friends who have enjoyed my journey of faith in these reflections the past 22 years. Hopefully a smile, a few tears but mostly comfort that we are never alone. We trust in You alone as you continue to guide, protect and give us courage to face all the challenges of life. Praise God!

 

PS The image I used today are the signs created by the children at St. Boniface School that I posted outside my office door located on the children’s unit when I worked as chaplain at Strong Memorial Hospital.

 

Tilling the Soil

 

This past week, I started a new garden plan based on an article entitled: “How to Create an Easy-Care Garden.” To be honest, “there’s no such thing.” However, this will be a good new challenge since my goal is to keep it simple and nearly effortless to take care of. I want to be able to garden for a long time to come, and that means keeping everything as simple as possible as I age. The goal is to make this a no-till gardening space. It will use the best gardening techniques from raised beds, to bucket planter and straw bale planters.

 

But first I have to take out the 90 concrete blocks that I have used for the past 11 years as a walking path. Only problem with that idea was the weeds kept creeping into the path. After lugging these blocks out of the garden, I laid down a commercial landscape fabric to block out the weeds. To keep it low maintenance, all the welking spaces will be covered in thick wood chips to eliminate weeding.

 

Creating a new garden is like digging deeper into our relationship with Jesus.

When we till the soil, we break through the hard surface layer, break up the clumps of soil, and remove the rocks and old roots, or concrete blocks.

 

What has hardened my heart? What clumps block the way when I try to open my heart to Jesus? What stones am I coming across? What old roots am I getting tangled up in as I try to grow my relationship with Jesus? Are there any bad habits that have taken root within me? Are there places where I need forgiveness or healing? Am I holding fast to any untrue beliefs that I need to discard, such as God doesn’t care; I could never be forgiven for…; or I’m not deserving of forgiveness?

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that as they start to create their gardens in their yard or hearts, help them to soften the hardness and get rid of the stones and clumps that block the growth.

 

I just called my wood chip supplier so I will be picking up a load and spreading the chips and pray this keeps this garden low maintenance.

 

If you don’t feel like starting a new garden that OK. Ask Jesus if there’s anything he would like to reveal to you that you might be holding deep inside that is not serving you well. If you’re feeling distracted, don’t judge yourself; just talk about that. This prayer time is all about honesty in the dialogue. Now, listen. What do you hear in response?

Change is Difficult

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Easter Ethel

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Easter Story

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Retreat & Be Still for Holy Week

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Unworthy

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Quinceanera

 

The Quinceanera refers to the traditional coming-of-age celebration for Latinas. It is an elegant party on the girl's 15th birthday, highlighting God, family, friends, music, food and dance. To mark her passage into womanhood, a ceremony is held in her honor, which presents the young woman to the community while giving thanks to God for his blessings.

 

On my deployment to Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Las Vegas, I have celebrated the Quinceanera Mass for Magali, Angie, Julia and Sophia. With all their young friends, most of them teenagers, this was my story to help bring them closer to Jesus.

 

One of my hobbies is to take landscape photos at national parks. I was humbled by the generosity of a parishioner who let me borrow her car to take a 24-hour trip to Death Valley National Park. However, before this adventure, I contacted a modest motel to stay overnight. The owner bargained that if I would take photos of their motel rooms to update their website, he would offer me a free room for the night.

 

When I arrived in Beatty, Roy, the motel owner, immediately took me aside to share that he had just brought his wife Roberta home from a Las Vegas hospital where she was diagnosed with stage four cancer. At the quinceanera, I shared that the devil is about getting. Jesus is about giving.

 

I asked Roy if I could visit his wife and give her a blessing. He said that he was not a Catholic, like this really matters to Jesus. Within minutes, Roy says, “Come” and I am walking into their humble home, knelling down at the side of his wife’s wheel chair, taking hold of her hand and offering a blessing prayer asking Jesus to heal her and give her courage for the next step in her treatments. I reminded her that God loves us and especially wants to be close to us in our time of suffering. A prayer of hope, healing and compassion. Roy cried as we walked outside their home to express his thanks.

 

I finally drove into the park and stopped at the visitor center to get my day pass, where I met a young park ranger who said she lived in Rochester. I replied with delight, “that’s my home too.” Then I thought, what a wonderful image for God. I told our 15 year old quinceanera and her young friends to think of God like a park ranger.

 

A person who serves. A park ranger serves her visitors by giving out maps so they won’t get lost, Jesus helps us who are lost in this life. Our ranger points visitors to find the best places to visit and see God’s beauty. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The ranger suggests hiking trails and shares information how to stay safe. Jesus teaches that the most important word in life is forgiveness. The ranger leads special classes about the environment and local animals that inhabit the land like the coyote and mountain goats.

 

What a wonderful image for God. Jesus is about giving and this young ranger was giving me ideas where to find the best spots to take my landscape photos.

 

On this special day of your quinceaneras, where do you think Jesus is calling you to serve?  For a young teenager, it might be the time you are asked to babysit your younger brothers and sisters, or volunteering to help visit your grandparents, a lonely neighbor or family member. There are tons of ways a young person can serve Jesus. Maybe sing in your church Hispanic choir.  

 

My dear Sonshine Friends, what about you? Where do you think Jesus is calling you to serve?

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends, that God inspires us to choose where we can use our special gifts and talents to serve God and be the best Christian we can be

 

After I taught our young peopel that Jesus is about giving, this is the prayer the young lady recites asking Jesus for His help to serve Him.

 

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of life for creating me in your image and likeness and for calling me to be your daughter through baptism. Thank you for sending your Son Jesus to save me and your Holy Spirit to sanctify me. To that which in your goodness and love you will for me, I say “yes,” With your grace I commit myself to serve my brothers and sisters all my life.
 

Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, I dedicate myself to you. Since you are my model of faith, help me to continue learning from you what I need to be a Christian woman. Help me to hear the Word of God as you did, holding it in my heart and loving others, so that, as I walk with Jesus in this life, I may worship Him with you in all eternity. Amen.