Author: ANTONINO

Scripture Readings 27th May 2018, Holy Trinity Year B

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Deut 4: 32-34, 39-40; Psalm 32(33); Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28: 16-20

Deuteronomy, the second book of the Law, consolidated Israel’s beliefs and rituals. A long introductory teaching by Moses emphasises the requirement for Israel to keep the Law, as its part in their covenant with God. In today’s reading Moses emphasises the uniqueness of God, who has made himself known to Israel, speaking out of a fire, and who has made a covenant with them: He will be their God and they are to be his people. Moses then repeats the ten commandments, given by God.

The Psalm picks up God’s omnipotence, who created even the heavens and the stars. We can rely confidently on His promises.

God’s revelation in Christ fulfilled this covenant relationship: Paul tells the Romans that if we are in the Spirit we are not in the flesh. We are no longer dominated by our human tendency to turn from God. We are now God’s children, sharing in Christ’s inheritance, in his suffering and in his glory.

There only two resurrection appearances in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus appeared very briefly to two Marys. Then the Gospel ends with Jesus commissioning the eleven disciples to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. And He promises to be with his people always.

Psalm Response: Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.

(Deut 4: 32-34, 39-40; Psalm 32(33); Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28: 16-20)

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART

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FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART
– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade (bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)

VI SUNDAY OF EASTER.
Introduction: Today’s Scripture passages declare the profound truth that those who believe in Christ are to obey his commandment of love – “Love others as I have loved you.” When we celebrate Mother’s Day, let us remember with gratitude that it is generally our mothers who practice the agápe love of Jesus

1 – THAT IS THE KIND OF LOVE I WANT IN MY LIFE

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80’s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. The medic took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. Since he, himself, was not busy, the medic took time to evaluate the man’s wound.

The wound was well healed, and so he talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, the medic asked his patient if he had another doctor’s appointment as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman said that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. In answer to the medic’s question about her health, the old man responded that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer’s disease.

When the medic asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late, the man replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. The medic was surprised, and asked him why, if his wife didn’t know who he was, he went every morning faithfully for breakfast with her. The old man smiled and said, “She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.” The medic, with tears in his eyes, said to himself, “That is the kind of love I want in my life.”

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. In today’s Gospel Jesus commands us to practice this type of sacrificial and selfless agápe love as he practiced it.

2 – RUNNING TO HER MOTHER’S ARMS

Claudia, a successful 31-year-old girl, has lived with her mother in her mother’s apartment all her life. Her mother is a very simple woman with no studies, no driver’s license and no job.

Because she was already 31 years old, Claudia decided that it was time to leave the nest and decided to rent an apartment close to her mother’s house. All the arrangements were finalized. According to her, to avoid the «temptation» of returning to her mother’s home she even bought new furniture. The day came and she moved. Claudia changed her clothes and was ready to go to bed. Then all of sudden she got this strange feeling: «This is my first night alone. This is my first night away from my mom. What if I am afraid? ». Claudia got up, changed her clothes again to her working clothes and went to bed properly dressed just in case she felt the need during the night to run to her mother’s arms. Just in case.

Looking at that beautiful and professional woman, who would ever guess that inside of her there was this «baby» permanently in need of a mother’s presence, affection and protection? Then I realized that inside a gentle lady or inside a tough man there is always a baby in need of a mother’s presence, affection and protection.
I keep believing that a mother’s love is the most profound image of God’s love for us. Even when we try to run away from God we always have this strange feeling. Away from God is very dangerous, very lonely and very scary.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Love and Peace, Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Scripture Readings 20th May 2018, Pentecost, Year B

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Acts 2: 1-11; Psalm 103(104); Gal 5: 16-25; John 15: 26-27, 16: 12-15

Pentecost, 50 days after Passover, was one of the three Jewish pilgrimage feasts. Nomadic Hebrews sacrificed lambs in the spring to ensure adequate water for their flocks through the dry season. Settled into agriculture, they celebrated the barley harvest a few days later. These two linked feasts became associated with the Passover in Egypt: the plague “passed over” houses with doorposts marked with the blood of a lamb. Tabernacles, when everyone slept in tents on the hillsides for the grape harvest, was associated with the temporary shelters during the 40 years of wilderness wandering.

The Dead Sea Scrolls associated Pentecost with God giving the Covenant on Sinai, and they enrolled new community members at this feast. Pentecost therefore fits neatly with the formal birth of the Christian Church and the commitment and strengthening of the Christian community for its task.

This magnificent psalm praises God for his creative wisdom and power. God takes joy in his creation.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit not only enabled the disciples to speak in foreign languages: it gave them the courage to travel throughout the countries listed in the first reading, fearlessly proclaiming “the marvels of God”. The Holy Spirit gives each person the skills they need. And the Spirit clarifies Christ’s teaching through the Church.

Psalm response: Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

(Acts 2: 1-11; Psalm 103(104); Gal 5: 16-25; John 15: 26-27, 16: 12-15)

Scripture Readings 6th May 2018, 6th Sunday of Easter, Year B

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Acts 10: 25-26,34-35,44,48 ; Psalm 97(98):1-4 ; 1 John 4: 7-10 ; John 15: 9-17

The readings from Easter to Pentecost from Luke’s Book of Acts show Jesus continuing his ministry through the Church. The Pentecost reading will describe the visual effects of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. After Saul had left for Tarsus, Peter brought Tabitha back to life, and a vision showed him that nothing made by God is unclean. Immediately he is invited into the “unclean” house of Cornelius. While Peter hesitates, the Holy Spirit comes down on Cornelius and his household. The visual effects of this bring Peter to realise that the gospel must go to “the (Gentile) nations”.

The psalm urges all creation to praise the Lord for His victorious salvation.

The Easter season readings from John’s first letter conclude with this passionate demand that we “love one another”. God’s love for us was revealed when He sent his Son “to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away”.

Jesus’ long last supper teaching is drawing towards its climax on Pentecost Sunday, his promise to send the Advocate. Today’s reading continues from last weeks’ description of Jesus as the vine: we are to show that we abide in Jesus by keeping the commandments, just as Jesus has kept the Father’s commandments. Jesus’ commandment is that we should love one another.

Psalm Response: The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.

(Acts 10: 25-26,34-35,44,48 ; Psalm 97(98):1-4 ; 1 John 4: 7-10 ; John 15: 9-17)

Madeira’s Flower Festival – 22nd April, 2018

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MADEIRA’S FLOWER FESTIVAL
flower festival
The Flower Festival is a Madeiran tribute to spring. Today is the highlight of Madeira’s famous flower festival. At 4pm today, the main streets of Funchal will be transformed with dancing children and flower-filled floats. The flower parade takes place every year, two weeks after Easter, and has been a tradition here on the island since 1979. This year there will be 11 groups taking part in the parade, with a total of approximately 1500 participants in all.

flower_festival_1
Next week Saturday, as part of the flower festival, hundreds of children will gather in the Praça do Município (the town square in front of the Colégio Church) where they will build a ‘Wall of Hope’, made of flowers. The children will each place a flower on the wall to symbolize the hope for a better and more peaceful world. Other activities that have been taking place in Funchal this week is the making of flower carpets in the streets, folklore performances, flower shows, classical music concerts and variety shows.

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART – The Smallest And The Greatest Wedding Ceremony

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– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade (bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)
beata_and_Vitorio_1

Dr. Vittorio Ventura (from Italy) and Beata Balazova (from Slovakia) have been, for a while, members of the Penha de França Community. Don’t ask them to read during Mass or to do anything in front of people because they will show their kind smile but they will decline the invitation. Not because they don’t like to help but only because, according to them, they are too shy. That’s why last Saturday when I invited them to take a special picture they said yes but with one condition. They had to wear a mask, ha… ha… ha… Well ! I think that we both exaggerated a little bit.

Any way if you come to the Sunday Mass and if you want to meet Vittorio and Beata don’t look for them among the «normal» community. If you want to meet them you have to climb a stairway and find them in the choir loft among a small group of shy people. They may be too shy but with a deep spirituality and a profound sense of community. But what I most admire in their spirituality is their option for the poor, for the suffering and for the «subversive» project of Jesus that is to «bring good news to the poor» (Lk. 4: 18). For them, this option is not negotiable. It is the center of their spirituality as it was the center of the Mission of Jesus and the center of the Bible.

Dr. Vittorio and Beata exchanged their Marriage vows in this Chapel last Saturday, April 14th. They had told me that it was going to be a small wedding, meaning a small number of attendants. It really was. Less than 10 people. But I have to tell you that it was the greatest Wedding ceremony I have ever performed during my entire life as a priest. What made this ceremony so special, besides the beautiful and different bride’s dress, so different and so beautiful, was that they decided to give their friends and guests an envelope, addressed to the “People Helping People” project and instead of wedding gifts they suggested a donation for the poor.

Beata_and_Vitorio

The returned envelopes were supposed to be anonymous. I confess that I have been smiling while writing this story. It has been written with a little bit of humor. But now I stopped smiling and have tears in my eyes. The result of the envelopes of that «small Wedding» was the amount of 900.00 Euros. Vittorio and Beata’s «small» Wedding ceremony was without any doubt the «greatest» Wedding ceremony of my entire life.

I strongly believe that when a couple makes room in their hearts for the poor, for the suffering, for God and for the world they are building a bigger room for their spouses. If in the hearts of a woman and a man who get married there is no room for Jesus, for the poor and for the world that means that they are two selfish people with shrinking hearts that take the risk of not finding room for each other anymore.

Congratulations Vittorio and Beata. You have been a 5th Gospel announcing to the world the arrival of the Kingdom of God. Have a happy journey.

Love and Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

PS. When I mention the 5th Gospel is because there are 4 Gospels of Jesus, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But I believe in the 5th Gospel. It’s the Gospel or Good News of Jesus Christ according to the life of each one of us. There are lots of people in the world who will never read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The only Gospel they will read is the life of each Christian. Martin Luther King said that the biggest tragedy of the world is not the evil done by evil people. The biggest tragedy of the world is the silence of the good people. The world needs to read these Good News.

Scripture Readings 29th April 2018, 5th Sunday of Easter, Year B

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Acts 9: 26-31 ; Ps 21(22):26-28,30-32 ; 1 John 3: 18-24 ; John 15: 1-8

Much has happened in Acts since last Sunday’s reading: Peter and some apostles have been imprisoned and beaten before being set free again. Seven Greeks were appointed to look after the Hellenists – apparently Greek-speaking Christians. Stephen was arrested and his speech to the Jewish leaders suggests that the Hellenists were persecuted by the Jews because they did not join in the Temple worship. They were driven out to Judea and Samaria – and so the Gospel began to spread.

Today we hear how Paul returns from his conversion near Damascus. He is accepted by the Hebrew Christians, but not by the Hellenists, so has to be hustled out of town.

The ending of this Messianic psalm, uttered by Our Lord on the Cross, rejoices in the triumph of God’s justice: God’s promises to Israel are fulfilled in Jesus.

In his first Letter John insists that we must show our faith by our actions: keeping God’s commandments. We can be sure we are doing right if we obey our conscience guided by God’s Spirit dwelling in us.

In John’s gospel Jesus gives his disciples detailed teaching at the last supper, just before his arrest. We must be bound closely to Christ: He is the vine, we are the branches, gaining sustenance and support from him.

Psalm Response: You, Lord, are my praise in the great assembly.

(Acts 9: 26-31 ; Ps 21(22):26-28,30-32 ; 1 John 3: 18-24 ; John 15: 1-8)

Scripture Readings 22nd April 2018, 4th Sunday of Easter, Year B

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Acts 4: 8-12 ; 117(118); 1 John 3: 1-2 ; John 10: 11-18

After healing the cripple in Jesus’ name and calling on the people to repent, Peter and John were put in prison overnight. Peter then repeats his preaching to the Jewish leaders. The leaders cannot deny “a notable miracle has been worked”. Undecided, they order the Apostles not to speak in Jesus’ name again, and release them without punishing them – at least this time.

The psalm is from the Passover psalm heard on Easter Sunday, thanking and praising God for repeatedly saving us.

John’s first letter insists that the love the Father has given us makes us his children now, anticipating already in some way what we shall be “when he appears”. John goes on to contrast the righteous who do not sin with those who commit sin. You are either for God or against him – there is nothing between.

In John’s gospel, after healing the man born blind, Jesus describes himself both as the door through which we can enter and be saved, and also as the good shepherd, whom the sheep know and follow. In contrast to the false shepherds criticised by Ezekiel, the good shepherd cares for his sheep, even at the cost of his life. Jesus emphasises that he is in control of his life, causing division among the Jews.

Psalm Response: The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

(Acts 4: 8-12 ; 117(118); 1 John 3: 1-2 ; John 10: 11-18)

From my Heart to your Heart – How to say “Happy Easter”

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For Easter, many different cultures have many different ways of greeting one another. In the English culture we say «Happy Easter!». In the Portuguese culture it’s «Felizes Páscoas!». In the Russian Orthodox culture they say: «He Is Risen!» and the answer to that is «He Is Risen Indeed!

Many years ago Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin was one of the most powerful men on earth. A Russian Communist leader, he took part in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. He was the editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda and was a full member of the Politburo. His works on economics and political science are still read today.

There is a story told about a journey he took from Moscow to Kiev in 1930 to address a huge assembly of Communists. The subject was atheism.

Addressing the crowd, he attacked Christianity, hurling insults and arguments against it. When he had finished, he looked out at the audience: “Are there any questions?” he demanded.
Deafening silence filled the auditorium.

Then one man stood up, approached the platform and mounted the lectern. After surveying the crowd, he shouted the ancient greeting of the Russian Orthodox Church:

– “CHRIST IS RISEN!”
The crowd stood up and shouted in a thundering voice:
– “HE IS RISEN INDEED!”

Amazed and dejected, Bukharin left the stage in silence. Finally, he had learned the lesson that Faith in Christ’s Resurrection was deeply rooted in his Russian Orthodox Communist followers!
HAPPY EASTER… FELIZES PÁSCOAS… JESUS IS RISEN…

Scripture Readings 8th April 2018, 2nd Sunday of Easter, Year B

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Acts 4: 32-35; Psalm: 117(118); 1 John 5: 1-6; John 20: 19-31

During the six weeks of Easter the first readings are from the Book of Acts, in which Luke describes Jesus continuing his ministry through the Church after his earthly life ended. Not intimidated by his arrest, Peter continued to attract many Jews to follow Jesus. Today we hear how this growing community held their assets in common. The next verses give two examples: Barnabas who gave the proceeds from selling a field; and Ananias and his wife, who held back some of the proceeds and were struck dead by Peter in his Apostolic role as a Judge of Israel.

The dramatic Passover psalm from Easter Sunday is repeated today more fully, thanking God for repeatedly coming to our rescue and saving us.

The second readings in Eastertide are from the first letter of John, whose gospel said little about Jesus’ humanity and his moral teachings. Some members of John’s community needed to be reminded that our faith is in a man, Jesus, who is Son of God, God’s Christ. Loving God means keeping his commandments.

The gospel reading is the beautiful first ending of John’s gospel, after Thomas, in the highest expression of faith in any of the gospels, acclaims Jesus as “My Lord and my God”.

Psalm Response: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end

(Acts 4: 32-35; Psalm: 117(118); 1 John 5: 1-6; John 20: 19-31)