Author: ANTONINO

by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

I always use two handkerchiefs. One in each pocket. The handkerchief in my right pocket is coloured, and I use it for everything I might need. It is my handkerchief. When I change my daily clothes, the handkerchief in my right pocket goes to the laundry basket.

The handkerchief in my left pocket is white and I never use it for anything. It is not mine. It is always ready for emergencies that are very rare. It goes directly from my pocket to the laundry basket without being used. It is always clean and ready.

One day I was with my family on a mountain top in Brazil. A lady’s son had smashed the door of her car on her finger, and it had started bleeding painfully. I offered her the handkerchief from my left pocket and I assured her that it had never been used. She took it, and I left the handkerchief of my left pocket there, to stop the bleeding of a woman I had never seen before, and that I would never see again. I prayed for her, and thanked God for the gift of the handkerchief in my left pocket.

For a few years my niece, Ana, lived with me in California. Before she took her driver’s license she was always a passenger and I was the driver of my car. One thing that started bothering me was that, very often, she used and abused the handkerchief from my left pocket. And of course she knew that that handkerchief would never be returned.
One day she sneezed, and as usual she asked me for the handkerchief from my left pocket. I gave it to her but impatiently remarked, “Ana! You know that a handkerchief is something very personal that you always need. Why don’t you start bringing your own tissues?”

A little embarrassed, she answered, “Tio” (that means Uncle), you will never know how good it is to travel in life with someone who always carries a handkerchief that I can use. In any situation, every time I need, to wipe my tears, blow my nose, with no questions asked. Thank you Tio for always carrying a handkerchief in your left pocket. Please never stop doing it. You may find, in your life, other people who might need the handkerchief from your left pocket, with no questions asked.”

Of course I felt tears in my eyes and since then I never forget to carry a white handkerchief in my left pocket. It is always clean and always available for anyone who needs it with no questions asked.

by Father Bernardino Andrade

Part of Mozambique, where I started my priestly life, makes frontier with the country of Malawi. It was not uncommon for me to travel between the city of Quelimane and a village called Milange, next door to Malawi to help with some pastoral service or just to accompany my Bishop in his Pastoral visits to this local Mission. The trip could be done by car which would take hours, or by small airplanes.

The most beautiful trips in my life happened in between these two places. The airplanes were very small. Like in a car, my favourite seat was on the side of the pilot, listening to his stories and having him like a tour guide. But the most fascinating thing was to look down and see herds of buffalos, elephants, lions, large tea and palm tree plantations, black people working and walking around and other wonders that make the beautiful green Africa so peculiar.

This was the kind of trip that I had on that sunshine day, from Quelimane to Milange.

I spent a few days doing my job and returned home during the Holy Week. It was a very frightening experience. This time, I was seated in the back of the plane. There was no sun during the entire trip. The clouds were dark, the rain was heavy, and the wind was violent. Nobody had strength to talk. Not even to cry or to scream. The only strength we had was to hold on hard to the chairs and be silent. Some were praying, and some were just deadly scared and silent. The airplane was dancing like a dry leaf falling from a tree. If the airplane fell, nobody would find us.

I knew that if we found a little sunshine, the airplane would stop going up and down and we would have a smooth trip. I was praying and always thinking: «I know that after that dark cloud there will be sunshine». But after that dark cloud, instead of sunshine, there was another darker cloud. Then the same routine as if I was praying the Rosary: «I know that after that dark cloud there will be sunshine». «I know that after that dark cloud there will be sunshine». But after that dark cloud there was no sunshine. Finally we approached the airport. And we never saw any sunshine. But… alleluia…. We got something much better than sunshine. We got a safe landing. Then I relaxed. And thought: «Better than sunshine is a safe landing».

We are so used to the story of the Passion and death of Jesus that it is hard to feel the torture and the agony of that week until Jesus was nailed on the cross and died like a criminal. But three days later he rose from the dead. A healthy and vibrant man again. Death never had the last word. Jesus is alive. «I will be with you always» (Mat. 28:15). Shalom. Peace. Do not be afraid.

A small virus is keeping the world in a scary agony, in the middle of very dark clouds. The Risen Lord tells us that after Good Friday there will be Resurrection Sunday. After a dark cloud there will be a safe landing. Scientists are working twenty four hours a day to save their children, their spouses, their parents, and the entire world. I know that pretty soon, very soon, the world will be surprised with a bombastic good News: «A vaccine was found». Alleluia. The bells of the churches are going to ring, people will hug each other and will run to fill up the churches and pray and sing ALLELUIA. «GOD’S DELAYS ARE NOT GOD’S DENIALS» (Rev. Dr. R. Schuller).
HAPPY EASTER!… HAPPY EASTER!… HAPPY EASTER!… JESUS IS IN CONTROL!

Love & Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

by Fr. Bernardino Andrade
(bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)

It was in 1984 when I made my first visit to Chicago. I was very lucky to be invited by a Jesuit friend to stay at a Jesuit Residence. Every moment was a learning experience. But I forgot all of them, even if I am sure they all stayed ingrained into my life. However there was one of them that I will never forget. I was very lucky to sit down with Father Freddy for dinner. Father Freddy was confined to a wheelchair after a long battle of recovery from a severe stroke. It was a stroke that left him paralyzed for a long time. Thank God it didn’t affect his mind. He was as brilliant as ever. Even very slowly he was able to tell his story and express his thoughts and his feelings.

Fr. Freddy had been a brilliant professor at the University and a brilliant speaker in special occasions. After hearing his experiences it was the first time, in my life, that I started disliking the word «disabled» or «disability». That word started making sense to me when referring to things like cars, cell phones, and other material instruments. After hearing Father Freddy’s story I decided to call that period of life with a simple word. The word is «change». Father Freddy didn’t become «disabled». Father Freddy just changed his way of ministering and serving the Church and the world. Which period was more meaningful and powerful? Before, or after the stroke? I dare to say that both were equally important. Dr. Robert Schuler used to say that «Any person can count how many seeds are inside of an apple but only God can count how many apples are inside of a seed».

This happened when Fr. Freddy told me: «I have never felt so identified with Jesus, especially with Jesus on the cross, as when I was paralyzed in a bed without being able to move any part of my body. That’s when I realized for the first time that I was going through the same experience of Jesus on the cross. Jesus was paralyzed on the cross like a mosquito smashed against a windshield of my car. He was not able to move any part of his body not even to swat a fly that had landed on his forehead. I was feeling the same. Like a helpless mosquito».

HOLY WEEK

PALM SUNDAY: Today is Palm Sunday. It is the day when the Church celebrates triumph and Glory. Hosanna… I cannot imagine the excitement of the crowds applauding Jesus. However the Church offers the reading of the Passion of Jesus. It sounds like a contradiction. Jesus was smashed against the cross like a mosquito against the windshield of my car and we are singing Hosanna.

HOLY THURSDAY: Next Thursday is Holy Thursday: Jesus becomes a «Feet Washer» and inaugurates his friends and followers as a community of «Feet Washers». If it was not enough He transformed Himself into a «Thing». He transformed Himself into Bread that made Him say: «I am the Bread of Life». It was like saying «I am food» to nourish you and be with you fo-re-ver. Bread is a «thing». But how much power and love in that «thing» that is the Eucharist. Jesus became a «nobody» in order that the “nobodies” can become “somebody”.

GOOD FRIDAY: The church celebrates the moment when Jesus became like a «mosquito smashed against the windshield of a car». Jesus died and was buried. It seemed like the end.

EASTER SUNDAY: Three days later the stone was removed, the tomb was empty and He became alive. Since then the Church started celebrating the Death and Resurrection of Jesus together. He is among us. Jesus is the «certain friend in our uncertain times».

This is going to be the most special, dramatic and confusing Holy Week of our lives. Pope Francis reminded us that the Passion of Jesus continues in our suffering. The world is going right now through an unpredictable suffering and great confusion. A cruel virus is changing the world. A cruel virus is causing lots of confusion, fear and suffering. But at the end I strongly believe that we are going to triumph over any virus as Jesus triumphed over death.

«Courage is not to have strength to continue. Courage is to continue when we don’t have any more strength». «If God is for us who can be against us?». «To live is to believe that tomorrow is going to be better».

Love & Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade April 5th, 2020, Palm Sunday