1. From My Heart to Your Heart by Father Bernadino

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

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

There was a Church where the pastor and the minister of music were not getting along. As time went by, this began to spill over into the worship service:

The first week the pastor preached on commitment and how we all should dedicate ourselves to the service of God. The music director led the song “I Shall Not Be Moved”. The second week the pastor preached on tithing and how we all should gladly give to the work of the Lord. The music director led the song “Jesus Paid it All”. The third week the pastor preached on gossiping and how we should all watch our tongues. The music director led the song “I Love to Tell the Story”.

With all this going on, the pastor became very disgusted over the situation and the following Sunday told the congregation that he was considering resigning. The musician led the song, “Oh Why Not Tonight?”.

As it came to pass, the pastor did indeed resign. The next week he informed the Church that it was Jesus who led him there and it was Jesus who was taking him away. The music leader led the song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.

Is there anybody you have trouble getting along with?

REFUSE TO BE THEIR PRISIONER

When Bill Clinton met Nelson Mandela for the first time, he had a question on his mind: «When you were released from prison, Mr. Mandela,» the former President said, « I woke my daughter at three o’clock in the morning. I wanted her to see this historic event.»

Then President Clinton zeroed in on his question: «As you marched from the cellblock across the yard to the gate of the prison, the camera focused in on your face. I have never seen such anger, and even hatred, in any man as was expressed on your face at that time. That’s not the Nelson Mandela I know today,» said Clinton, «What was that about?».

Mandela answered: «I’m surprised that you saw that, and I regret that the cameras caught my anger. As I walked across the courtyard that day I thought to myself, “They’ve taken everything from you that matters. Your cause is dead. Your family is gone. Your friends have been killed. Now they’re releasing you, but there’s nothing left for you out there.” And I hated them for what they had taken from me. Then, I sensed an inner voice saying to me ” Nelson! For twenty-seven years you were their prisoner, but you were always a free man! Don’t allow them to make you into a free man, only to turn you into their prisoner! “. You can never be free to be a whole person if you are unable to forgive. You see that, don’t you?».

There are many people who are imprisoned by their own anger, their own hurt, their own inability to let go of the past and move on. Here’s the other thing we need to see about forgiveness: THERE IS ONLY ONE PLACE YOU CAN FIND THE ABILITY TO FORGIVE. It is at the throne of Christ.

Love and Peace,

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

I WILL FIGHT

Remember the words of General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army and a friend to the down and out? Three months before his death he wrote: “While women weep as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight – fight to the very end.” What has happened to us? “If any man or woman would be my disciple,” Jesus says to us, “Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” That is the word we desperately need to hear.

THAT’S THE REASON, RUTH

You may know the thrilling story of Glen Cunningham, a young man whose legs were so badly burned when he was a boy that doctors said he would never walk again. However, this determined champion went on to win an Olympic gold medal as a miler. Even more importantly, Glen Cunningham devoted his life to helping troubled young people. Once, his wife asked, “Glen, why do we have to give so much more than others? No one else is doing what we are.” Glen answered, “That’s the reason, Ruth. No one else is doing it.”

THE LEAST COMPASSIONATE PEOPE I EVER KNEW

Michael Slaughter in his book, Unlearning Church, tells about a religion editor from a local newspaper who came to his Church to interview him about a conference they were having. At the end of the interview, he asked if she went to Church. He assumed she did, since she was a religion editor. She said, “No, I am a Buddhist. I was raised in the Church,” she went on, “but about ten years ago, I became interested in Buddhism because the highest value of Buddhism is the value of compassion.” Michael Slaughter says her next comment made him feel as if she had put her hand in his chest and squeezed his heart. “The people I grew up around in the Church,” she added, “were some of the least compassionate people I ever knew.” “Ouch,” says Michael Slaughter, and then he adds, “Yet Jesus is compassion made visible.” And he’s right. Jesus is compassion made visible. Having Jesus’ name, but not his heart is a dangerous combination. It can make us turn away people that Jesus is calling us to embrace.

Love and Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

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

Cátia and Helena, our musicians on Sunday morning Mass, often sing a Portuguese Hymn for the Thanksgiving. The Hymn is called “Encontrei Deus de Surpresa” (I found God by Surprise). The words of the song are so beautiful that I wanted to share it with the English community who will be attending Mass today. Translations are always difficult, and hymns and poems are even more difficult. I did my best to translate the Hymn. Here it is, in Portuguese and in English:

Encontrei Deus de surpresa	I found God by surprise
no caminho que eu seguia.	On the road that I was following
Encontrei, tenho a certeza,	I found Him, I am very sure
como do sol que me guia!	As the sun that guides me.
1) Tão perto de mim O vi	1. Very close to me I have seen Him
e de mim tão diferente	And from me He was so different
que todo me confundi	That I was so confused
ao vê-Lo assim tão presente.	When I saw Him very present.
2) Quis escusar-me, confesso.	2. I wanted to escape, I confess
Ele Senhor, eu vassalo,	He was my Lord and I was his servant
mas o único processo	But the only way to escape
de fugir é abraçá-lo.	Was to run and hug Him3)
Preferi Jesus antes de mim.	3. I have preferred Jesus over me
Tudo fiquei a lucrar.	And I gained everything.
Minha alegria é sem fim!	There is no end to my joy!
Só me apetece chorar!	I only feel like crying!
4) Preferi Jesus antes de mim	4. I have preferred Jesus over me
Tudo fiquei a lucrar	And I gained everything
Minha alegria é sem fim	There is no end to my joy!
Só me apetece cantar!	I only feel like singing!

“Is he a homeless? Is he a drunkard? Is he a thief? Is he an angel in disguise”, these were some of the questions that crossed my mind before I knelt by his side. Then I remembered Mother Teresa’s words: «When you start by judging you have no time to love».  Then I discovered who he was, and before I blessed him, I started singing: “I FOUND GOD BY SURPRISE”

Love and Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

 

 

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

“Throw them out! Throw them out!”

The year was 1770, and in a small Italian church, two altar boys prepared for Benediction. Annibale Della Genga and Francesco Castiglioni entered the sacristy, put on their albs, and grabbed the heavy brass candlesticks.
And then they began to bicker, arguing over who would stand on the priest’s right for the procession. Their quibble escalated into a shouting match. Alarmed parishioners turned their heads to the back of the Church to see the commotion, and that’s when it happened: Castiglioni cracked Della Genga over the head with his candlestick. Blood dripped from Della Genga’s injury, and both boys began shoving each other.

Shocked, parishioners screamed: «Throw them out! Throw them out! ». So, the embarrassed priest grabbed the boys, led them to the door, and tossed them out of the church.

Now fast-forward several decades to 1825… Half a million-people gathered in Rome for the great Jubilee celebration. The Jubilee occurred every 25 years, and its grand climax was the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. Traditionally, the Pope would knock on the door three times with a large silver hammer and sing: « Open unto me the gates of justice! »; on the third knock, the door would swing open and the Pope would lead his people through. The symbolism was rich: pilgrims from all over the world coming back home to the Church, following their leader through the great porta fidei, the “door of Faith”.

That Jubilee year, in front of thousands of pilgrims, Cardinal Della Genga made his way to the door. It was fifty-five years after the candlestick incident. Cardinal Della Genga who had become Pope Leo XII neared the door. Turning to the Cardinal beside him – Cardinal Castiglioni –, the Pope said: « Let me have the hammer. ». With a sly grin, Castiglioni replied «Just like I gave you the candlestick? ».

Amazingly, four years later Castiglioni succeeded his friend and became Pope, taking the name Pius VIII. Now if you told any of those pew sitters back in 1770 that they had two future-Popes in the back of their church, they’d have laughed you out of the building: “Those two boys? The ones shoving and whacking each other with candlesticks? ”.

I Am Also A Suspect

A Bishop was sailing for Europe on one of the great transatlantic ocean liners. When he went on board, he found that another passenger was to share a cabin with him. After unpacking his bags, he went to the purser and inquired if he could leave his gold watch and other valuables in the ship’s safe. He explained that he had just met the man who was to occupy the other berth in his cabin and he was afraid that the man might not be trustworthy. The purser smiled, accepted the valuables and remarked: « It’s all right, Bishop, I’ll be very glad to take care of them for you. The other man has just been up here and left his valuables for the same reason! »

Love and Peace, Fr. Bernardino Andrade

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

When Father Luke was appointed the new pastor for the Good Shepherd Parish he asked the Bishop if he could take a two-month vacation before entering his new parish. The Bishop made some arrangements and said yes.

Fr. Luke didn’t rest during those two months. He just spent that time trying to study his new parish: visited people, attended a few Sunday and weekday Masses, asked many questions, visited a few homes and took many notes. He got in touch with a few institutions, visited a few bars and a few large and poor families; spent time with the homeless, the drogatics and some people who were excluded and avoided by the society.

During Sunday Masses he could see some «good choirs» performing beautiful hymns but the people were just listening. People were not involved in singing. The readers and ministers of Communion were the same Sunday after Sunday. Two or three people acted like they owned the Church. Hospitality was not the strength of the Good Shepherd Church. He also saw many beautiful and exciting things he wanted to preserve. He was careful in writing everything down… things that needed to be changed… but he was also surprised by some beautiful things and events that were great contributions towards a living Parish.

Finally the day arrived. People were prepared to welcome their new Pastor. Father Luke said a few Masses but there was one of them that was his inaugural celebration with a beautiful choir, lots of flowers and a very well organized procession. The highlight of the day was his homily. Everybody listened with amazement and admiration to his homily. It was beautiful. From the beginning they realized that their pastor was a great preacher. After Mass, all those who could approach him congratulated Fr. Luke for his beautiful homily. Actually, Fr. Luke’s first homily was the theme of the week.

Then the second Sunday arrived. Everybody was excited to hear Fr. Luke. Even those who were not regular Mass attendees were curious to hear him. As usual, after reading the Gospel, Father Luke gave his inspiring homily. Most of the people enjoyed it but were surprised and disappointed that Fr. Luke repeated word for word the homily he had given on the Sunday before. After Mass the compliments were not so abundant and most of the people were not so happy.

The third Sunday arrived. The Mass was beautiful, the same homeless were begging outside the church, the choir kept singing and people listening. This was the Good Shepherd Church. Then came the time for the homily of the so-called great preacher. Beautiful, but nothing new. Father Luke repeated the same homily again, word for word. Of course, the disappointment was becoming very uncomfortable.

Finally a parish organization (including the owners of the church) decided to talk with their new pastor: « Father! We hope you don’t mind but we want to tell you that many people, including us, are very disappointed with your homilies. Everybody enjoyed your first homily. But have you realized that it is the third time that you are giving exactly the same homily that you gave on your first Sunday at our Parish? ».

«Yes, I have realized that. But I have not seen, yet, anybody doing anything about what I said on my first Sunday ».

Love and Peace
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

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

Four brothers left home for college and became successful doctors and lawyers. Some years later, they had a reunion. They chatted after having dinner together. They discussed the gifts they had been able to give their elderly mother who lived in a faraway city and decided to open their mother’s thank you letter to each.

The first brother said «I had a big house built for Mama. »
The second said, «I had a hundred-thousand-dollar theater built in the house. »
The third brother said «I had a Mercedes dealer deliver an SL600 to her. »

The fourth brother said «You know how Mama loved reading the Bible, and you know she can’t read anymore because she can’t see very well? Well I met a preacher who told me about a parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twenty preachers 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $100,000 to the church, but it was worth it. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse and the parrot will recite it. ». The other brothers were impressed.

Then they solemnly opened the thank-you letters sent to them by their mom. Mama wrote:

“Milton, the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway.”
“Michael, you gave me an expensive theater with Dolby sound, it could hold 50 people, but all my friends are dead, I’ve lost my hearing and I’m nearly blind. I’ll never use it. Thank you for the gesture just the same.”
“Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay at home and I have my groceries delivered, so I never use the Mercedes. The thought was good. Thanks.”
“Dearest Gerald,” – she wrote to her fourth son. – “You have the good sense to know what your mother likes. I cooked the chicken you sent. It was absolutely delicious!”

Love and Peace
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

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

I met Jose a few years ago during a Spanish Cursillo. He had come to California from Nicaragua, was a University professor and a politician. He had enjoyed a “good life” until he was forced to flee the country for serious reasons.

Visiting his family in California, Jose was invited to take part in a three day Cursillo. Jose “had no choice” because his brother-in-law was going to be the Coordinator of the retreat. The only reason he said yes was because he felt embarrassed to decline his brother-in-law’s invitation. Jose had no faith at all. His last time in church and his last Communion had taken place 40 years before.

The first day of the Cursillo was a struggling and painful journey. Then he felt something different. He discovered “a different God”. He discovered that “his” God whom he had left behind was not the God of Jesus.

On the second day of the Cursillo Jose was uncontrollably in love with “his new God”, the God of the Bible, the God of Jesus, and the God of the Lost Sheep and of the Prodigal Son. Jose was fascinated by the person of Jesus. He made his Confession and I had the privilege of giving him his First Communion after 40 years of absence.

During one of the breaks he confided to me that the «hardest thing for me to understand was that during these 40 years, God performed so many miracles in my life and I didn’t even believe in Him». I put my hand on his shoulder, looked in his eyes, and also confided to him: «Jose… a mother never asks permission from her baby to love him… to help him… to feed him. God will never ask you permission to love you and to help you. God will never ask “May I love you, please?” That’s free. The blessing and the tragedy is that we have the power to say “yes” or “no”».

The religion of Jesus is a religion of the YES.

Love and Peace
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

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

When «People Helping People» was born on February of 2010 as a small «grain of sand» to help in rebuilding lives after the tragedy that destroyed part of Madeira Island, I never thought that we were going to get so many rewards. We have seen many moments of deep joy in the eyes of hungry children and especially in the smiles and tears of many families who had no money to buy medicine, who had no money to buy food, no money for transportation and especially no possibilities to pay the rent of their houses. Fear for the unknown has always been one of the biggest daily companions of the poor.

But when we started this exciting project we never imagined that we were going to go through so many painful agonies without being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Very often we agonize with the agony of the poor who have in People Helping People their only sign of hope. Last week was one of those weeks. Last Sunday was one of those Sundays.

It was Monday morning. I was having a cup of coffee with two members of People Helping People while waiting to start a meeting.

Dalila, the lady in charge of the finances, showed her concern telling me: «I don’t know what to do. We need this amount of money to respond to these specific needs that cannot wait and the bank account of People Helping People is reduced almost to zero euros».

I picked up my cell phone to see if there was any email from Tracy informing the results of the Sunday collection. I was shocked. An angel had attended Mass the Sunday before and had left inside the bag at the church door an anonymous envelope with a substantial donation for the poor. We had no words. Just moments of silence.

Dear Angel who attended last Sunday’s English Mass, whoever you are, or wherever you are, please accept our sincere thank you. We are going to «persecute» you with our prayers, our love and our deepest gratitude.

Love and Peace
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

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

One of William Barclay’s friends tells this story.

In the Church where he worshiped, there was a lonely old man, old Thomas. As he had outlived all his friends, hardly anyone knew him. When Thomas died, his only old friend had the feeling that there would be no one else to go to the funeral. So, he decided to go, so that there might be someone to follow the old man to his last resting-place. There was no one else, and it was a miserable wet day.

The funeral reached the cemetery, and at the gate there was a soldier waiting, an officer, but on his raincoat there were no rank badges. He came to the graveside for the religious ceremony. When the pastor finished his prayers, the officer stepped forward and gave a solemn military salute to Thomas in the closed coffin as if to a dead king. The friend walked away with this soldier, and as they walked, the wind blew the soldier’s raincoat open to reveal the shoulder badges of a brigadier general.

The general said,
“You will perhaps be wondering what I am doing here. Years ago Thomas was my Sunday school teacher. I was a wild lad and a sore trial to him. He never knew what he did for me, but I owe everything I am or will be to old Thomas, and today I had to come to salute him at the end.”

Thomas did not know what he was doing. No preacher or teacher ever does. Keep sowing the high-yielding seeds of the word of God.

My Rector during my time of Seminary used to say: «Nobody knows the good he does when he does good. Nobody knows the evil he does when he does evil».

Love and Peace
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

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

Reporters and city officials gathered at a Chicago railroad station, one afternoon in 1953. The person they were meeting was the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

A few moments after the train came to stop, a giant of a man, with bushy hair and a large moustache, stepped from the train. Cameras flashed. City officials approached him with hands outstretched. Various people began telling him how honoured they were to meet him. The man politely thanked them and then, looking over their heads, asked if he could be excused for a moment.

He quickly walked through the crowd until he reached the side of an elderly black woman who was struggling with two heavy suitcases. He picked up the bags and with a smile he escorted the woman to the bus. After helping her aboard, he wished her a safe journey.

As he returned to the greeting party he apologized, «Sorry to have kept you waiting.»

The man was Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the famous missionary doctor who had spent his life helping the poor in Africa. In response to Schweitzer’s action, one of the members of the reception committee said with great admiration to the reporter standing next to him, «That’s the first time I ever saw a sermon walking. »

After the Eucharist do I become a walking sermon? How? If worship is not transformed into service we miss a lot of our worship. Maybe we misunderstood our worship. Worship is a school where we learn how to wash feet.

Love and Peace!
Fr. Bernardino Andrade