You Want ME To Do What?

Thanks be to Pope Francis, the Jubilee Year of Mercy has begun! There is a renewed sense of serving others that is palpable in our church. Even projects we have done for years have a new feel to them. 

My parish hosts a "Giving Tree" every Advent. Many parishes and organizations do some version of the giving the tree, possibly with a different name.

Ours is a Christmas tree with paper ornaments. Each ornament has a Christmas gift request written on it; for instance, it may say, "Women, 25, size 8" or "Boy, 9, toy" etc. 

Simple. Purchase an item that fulfills the request for a family in need and return it to the parish in time for distribution. 

This past weekend, when my family and I arrived at the 12:30 Mass (we tried really hard to make the 10:30 AM, but it just wasn't happening!), the vestibule of the church was crammed with packages! It felt great to be part of a community that is living the Year of Mercy. 

At the end of Mass, an announcement was made, asking if we, the parishioners-who-woke-up-late-and-had-to-attend-the-afternoon-Mass, would mind carrying some of the gifts to the church basement for sorting. 

I looked at my children, ages 13 and 16, and said, "Let's go help!" My wife and I headed in the direction of the gifts.

Looking over my shoulder, I noticed they had not moved. They stood frozen in shocked silence. Their faces dismay with the prospected of physical labor. Their entire body language shouting, "You want ME to do what?"

Mind you, my kids do their fare share of work for others. My son is a Boy Scout and is usually quick to lend a hand to anyone in need (except me, for some reason). My daughter is involved with several clubs service minded clubs at school; and she has a part-time job, as she is learning the value of earning her own keep. Point being, both have proven themselves capable of the task at hand.

I was surprised by their resistance. "We have to go," my daughter said, implying that we were much too busy for this spontaneous act of kindness. 

I pictured Jesus standing with the sheep on one side, and the goats on the other. I pictured Him asking, "When I was hungry, did you give food? When I was thirsty, did you give me drink? - When I asked for help of any kind, did you?

Matthew 25:34-40

As their father, I knew it was my duty to show them, not just tell them, the right thing to do. Much as my father had done for me many years ago.

When I was in 8th grade, I was lucky enough to receive a Commodore 64 computer for Christmas (that's right kids, a computer that had a grand total of 64K memory! And, we were happy to have it!). 

My father and I went to pick-up a desk for the computer at a big-box store. Nothing fancy. One of those put-together-yourself pieces of furniture. I couldn't wait for us to get home and assemble it! 

Once outside the store, with the desk's boxes balanced precariously on a shopping cart, a woman and her two daughters approached us. Her car broke down in the parking lot and she had no way of getting in touch with her husband. Back in the mid-1980s, cell phones were barely a thought, let alone an item the average person had. 

After chatting for a short while my father offered to give her and her children a ride to their home. "What is happening here?" I thought, "We have to go!" 

Yes, we have to go take care of MY business right now. We have plans that are far to important than driving a full 15 minutes out of our way to drive these people we don't know!

Much to my dismay, and stunned, silence protest, we helped the woman and her children get home that evening. 

After dropping them off, my father explained to me that even though we go to Mass on Sundays, there is much more to being a Christian. Helping others, he taught me, is as important as getting to church. 

It's a lesson than I never forgot. In fact, more than 30 years later, I'm reminded of it every time I sit at that desk, which I still own! It's become a symbol for me that we are called to serve others. That sometimes we need to decrease, so there is room for Christ to increase in us.

So, when my own children looked at me the way I looked at my father that night, many years ago, I knew the correct and best response was to simply say, "This is the right thing to do, right now." 

I'm not sure if they will remember. I'm not sure if I will make as much an impression on them as my father made on me. All I can do is HOPE! 

Safyre's Giving Us More Than She is Receiving

When I read the subject line, "we should do this at our next meeting," I figured my wife had sent me a link to a wacky icebreaker game for our youth group meeting. To my surprise, the link was to an article about an extraordinary young lady, Safyre Terry, who survived a fire that took the lives of her siblings and father, who has a special wish for Christmas 2015.

Nearly 3 years after the fire and having undergone nearly 50 surgeries to help heal the burn wounds that affect 75% of her body, according to People Magazine, Safyre's Christmas wish is to receive Christmas cards from around the world.

Safrye Terry with some of the many
Christmas cards she has already received.
Photo credit: SAFYRE SCHENECTADY'S SUPER SURVIVOR/FACEBOOK

What started as a simple Facebook post by her aunt, Safyre's request has gone viral, with cards and gifts coming in from, literally, all over the world. 

Last night, we joined the 1,000s of world-wide well-wishers by having our youth group members make cards for Safyre. It made perfect sense, after all, we have just begun the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

During the evening, something was happening in the room. I saw it during the youth group meeting as teens were asking each other if their card looked right. "Should I put the Christmas tree in the middle of the card or to the side?" one asked a friend. "Put it in the middle," he replied while glancing the card up and down to make sure his choice was correct. 

I watched as teenagers grabbed markers, paper, glue and scissors to craft their cards. They took their time. They wanted the cards to be the best ones ever made. Not because they were being graded or that Safyre would ever know them personally. No, they wanted them to be perfect because they were sincerely serving another person while their own hearts were full of mercy, whether they realized it or not.

Pope Francis has declared December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016 as the Jubilee Year of Mercy. 

Complete with a logo, catch phrase, and specially designated Doors of Mercy, the Jubilee year invites Catholics (and all of humanity) to engage in acts of mercy. In short: share some love; complete a random act of kindness; feed the hungry; convert a sinner (or two!). Bottom line, let's try and be nice to each other by seeing the other's needs first, and then doing what we can to fulfill those needs. 

Without realizing it, Safrye saw our collective need to love. She shared her story with the world and asked for little more than a simple token in return. In so doing, she gave us the chance to feel how good it is to help others; she allowed us to feel the joy of showing mercy.

Thank-you Safrye, for allowing us to walk through a "Virtual Door of Mercy." You have given us a Christmas gift beyond measure. You, my dear, are a true Beacon of Hope. 

Fear Not, Charlie Brown!

Advent is upon us! A time of Hope, Love, Peace and Joy. A time to celebrate Christ's incarnation, a time to anticipate His return and a time to watch "A Charlie Brown's Christmas" for the 50th time!

I've seen "A Charlie Brown Christmas" more times than I can remember. Snoopy's antic's were always my favorite. From skating with the girls to winning 1st Prize for his house decorations, Snoopy's comic relief was what I loved most about the television special. 

That is, Snoopy was my favorite.

While I'll still watch every year and giggle as Lucy runs from Snoopy's kiss to find some iodine to cleanse herself, I will be paying extra attention to Linus. Even as a youngster, the importance of Linus's speech, quoting from Luke's Gospel was not lost on me. But, I never caught the visual significance of his security blanket, until this year. 

During the infamous moment when Linus takes center stage, he is holding his blanket. He then proceeds to quote the Gospel. When he gets to the line,"Fear not, for I bring you tidings of great joy ..." his blanket holding hand disappears from the frame for a moment, then returns to clasp his other hand, this time not holding a blanket! As the camera pulls back, we see his blanket lying on the floor. 

So, what's the significance? Well, Linus holds his blanket for security and comfort. But, at the sound of the Angel saying "Fear not," Linus symbolically lets go of his earthly comfort to trust in the Lord. After all, isn't that what our Hope in Jesus is all about? We do not have to be afraid; of anything!

A short while later, Linus and his blanket take center stage again. This time to help the puny tree that Charlie Brown picked. Linus explains as he wraps his blanket around the base of the tree, "maybe it just needs a little love." In that act, it is as if Linus is sharing the comfort and joy he has received from Christ with others. (Fast forward to 5:30 below).

We live in a volatile world. Bad things happen. We have a choice: give into the fear and hide in our rooms or step into the unknown, trusting that Jesus will be there for us.  

It's not always easy, but like Linus, I'm ready to set down my security blanket and trust that Jesus has a plan for me. Whether or not I get some bumps or bruises along the way is okay with me. It can be difficult to follow Christ; but I have found it to be a rewarding and exciting ride.

As Christmas inches closer, I'm keeping my heart open, full of hope, love, peace, and joy! 

"There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Savior was born - Christ the Lord! And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:8-12