1. From My Heart to Your Heart by Father Bernadino

Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was, and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But, before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face; and he asked, “Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?” She replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” But, before her son responded, she added, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected!”

It is so easy and so rewarding to have lunch with God.

Life is about looking around with the eyes of our hearts to meet and have lunch with God.

God loves you and so do I,

 

Isaiah 35:1-6,10; Psalm 145; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

To encourage and console all whose confidence in God falters, Isaiah continues his triumphal vision of the peace that will come from God, when those ransomed by the Lord will go to Zion, singing God’s praises. It was written in Babylon shortly after 540 BC, when the Persian king Cyrus had unexpectedly authorised Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem. Isaiah’s portrayal of the people’s expectant joy was later seen by Christians as describing their expectation of the peace Jesus Christ will bring to all people.

The letter attributed to James, probably the brother of the Lord, the leader of the Jerusalem Church, was written late in the first century. It is full of pastoral advice and warnings against riches and presumption. Religion is not a private matter – the Christian community is in a covenant relationship with God, and our faith in God must be visible in love of our neighbour. So we must persevere patiently in practising our faith, not swearing but letting our “yes” mean “yes”, leaving justice to God.

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s vision – he is already enabling the blind to see, the lame to walk – his kingdom is already coming into being. But this deputation from John the Baptist in prison introduces two chapters describing growing opposition to Jesus by the Jewish leaders.

Psalm Response: Come, Lord, and save us.

Isaiah 35:1-6,10; Psalm 145; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART – An “Idiot” Old Man Reciting His Rosary
– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

A train was racing for Paris.

In one of its compartments two men sat opposite each other. The first was a young medical research student who was bored by the long journey. The other was an old man reciting his rosary with closed eyes.
The young researcher began to ridicule the old man for his superstitious beliefs. He then went on to tell of the wonders of medical science. The old man just nodded, smiled and continued his prayer in spite of the humiliating comments of his fellow passenger.

When they reached the Paris station, the old man enquired where the youngster was going. The young man proudly announced that he was going to attend a lecture by the world famous scientist, Louis Pasteur. The old man took out a visiting card from his pocket, gave it to the young man and bid him farewell.

The card read:

« Dr. Louis Pasteur
Academy of Science
Paris »

God loves you and so do I,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

In his book, “Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace”, Kent Nerburn writes about his experience driving a cab for living. He remembers one night in particular when he received a call at 2:30 AM to go to a small brick fourplex. Thinking he was going to pick up some late night partiers or someone who had just had a fight with his or her spouse, he was surprised when a small woman in her eighties answered the door.

She wore a print dress and an old fashioned pillbox hat. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment was empty, except for a few pieces of furniture covered with sheets and a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. The driver picked up her bag and helped her to the cab. She gave him the address and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”. “It’s not the shortest way”, he answered. “Oh, I don’t mind”, she said. “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice. I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”

The driver reached over and shut off the meter. “What route would you like me to go?”

For the next two hours, they drove through the city. She pointed out the building where she worked as an elevator operator, the house where she and her late husband lived as newlyweds, the furniture store that was once a ball room where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask to slow down in front of a particular building or corner; there she’d just sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the dawn broke over the horizon, she said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.” They drove to the small house that served as the hospice. Two attendants came and helped her out of the cab and took her bag.

She asked the driver how much she owed for the fare. “Nothing “, he said. “But you have to make a living,” she insisted. “There are more passengers,” he replied.

Almost without thinking, he bent over and gave her a hug. She held him tightly. “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,” she said. “Thank you”.
Then, in the dim morning light, he watched as she walked into the hospice.

***
Kent Nerburn remembers: “We are so conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware. When that woman hugged me and said that I brought her a moment of joy, it was possible to believe that I had been placed on earth for the sole purpose of providing her with that last ride. I do not think that I have done anything in my life more important”.

– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Ivory was the only Black person in my parish. I met him for the first time, on a Sunday Mass.
I used to start Mass from the back door. During the entrance procession, all walked and behaved properly, except their Pastor, who happened to be me. I would scoop a baby from his mother’s or father’s arms and take him with me to the altar, I would tell somebody to sing louder, I would ask a lady how her sick husband was doing, I would gently slap somebody on one of their shoulders…
Arriving at the altar, yes, I would start being serious, after giving the baby back to his proud father or mother. Yes, I remember gently slapping this black man on his shoulder. I remember how neatly he was dressed with his neat suit and his neat tie which was not usual in a rural church like mine. He looked like an executive of some wealthy company. Yes! I remember touching him and processing as usual.
During the week, Ivory called to make an appointment. He wanted to talk with me. I welcomed him with my usual hug and invited him to sit down. Wonderful conversation. All of a sudden I was surprised when he told me the reason for his appointment: he wanted to be baptized. I called the lady who was in charge of the Catechumenate (RCIA) and put them in contact with each other. It took two years of preparation.
Like the other Catechumens he came to Mass every Sunday and after the homily all the Catechumens would leave the church and go to another room to share the Word of God and their life experiences related with the readings.
What kept intriguing me was that he kept sharing in his group that the reason why he asked to be baptized was because « Fr. Bernardino touched me ».
One day, casually, I met Ivory and told him: « Ivory, some people from your RCIA group, keep telling me that the reason why you asked to be baptized was because I touched you. Was it any story or any special homily that touched you in a special way? ».
I was speechless with his answer: « When I say that you touched me I mean the first day I went to church, I was new in town, I was feeling lonely, and when you were walking to start Mass you touched me on my shoulder when you didn’t even know me. That made me feel very special. That’s when I decided to ask for my Baptism and belong to a church that touches strangers and makes people feel special. ». On that day I discovered that that HOSPITALITY was the eighth Sacrament of the Church.
One day I told this story to a Brazilian priest visiting my Parish and told him about my discovery of Hospitality being the 8th Sacrament of the Church. His answer was that Hospitality was not the eighth Sacrament. Hospitality was the ONLY Sacrament of the Church. Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Priesthood and Marriage without Hospitality are good for nothing.
Let us welcome each other with the greeting of peace and being aware of the person who worships at our side. Maybe he or she needs to be touched. Then, when we leave the Church, for sure we will find lots of people who will need our touch.

God loves you and so do I,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Little Joan grew up with a big dream. Her big dream was to be able to visit Disneyland in California. One day her grandmother decided to give her a special birthday gift – a trip to Disneyland. Joan was on cloud nine. “Finally I am going to go to Disneyland and have a street artist paint Mickey Mouse on my face!”
The day came and there they went. Grandmother and granddaughter (who was flying for the first time) both in love with each other, enjoying every minute together. Hotel accommodations had been reserved in advance and Joan would not believe she was going to sleep in a real hotel with a swimming pool.
That day Joan woke up earlier than usual and, after some prayers, she left the Hotel to spend the day in Disneyland with her grandmother. Everything was going well according to her dream. Until this moment.
Joan saw a street artist approaching her, so she went and asked to please get Mickey Mouse painted on her face, while her grandmother was in the same area doing some shopping. A few moments later, Joan came to her grandmother very sad and crying with abundant tears. 
« What happened, sweetheart? You were so happy and all of a sudden you are so sad. Please tell your grandmother what happened. I never took my eyes off you and I didn’t see anything wrong. Please tell me. » – Grandmother knelt before Joan, hugged her and insisted: « Please tell me what happened. »
« I am ugly. I am very ugly. And I don’t like to be ugly. »
« Why do you say that? »
« When I asked the lady to paint Mickey Mouse on my face she told me that she couldn’t because I have freckles. I am very ugly. But it is not my fault. »
« Honey! That lady is very wrong. Forgive her. You are very, very beautiful. Freckles are very beautiful. Freckles are kisses from angels. I always wanted to have freckles to make me more beautiful but I have not been that lucky, that’s why I am so proud to travel with you because I know that I am travelling with the most beautiful girl in the world. The most beautiful girls in the world have freckles. »
At this point Joan already had her eyes almost dry. But her grandmother kneeling before her to be closer to her face kept insisting with her:  
« Joan, tell me, have you seen anything more beautiful than freckles? » – Now grandmother was emotional and said: « Tell me. What in this world is more beautiful than freckles? »
At this point, Joan looked in the eyes of her grandmother, smiled, raised her hand, gently touched her face and said:
« More beautiful than my freckles are the wrinkles on the face of my grandmother. »
God loves you and so do I,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade
1.
It was the feast of the patroness of the parish dedicated to Our Lady of Piety (that means mercy, compassion). It was one of those big festivals that congregate the entire parish and attract many pilgrims from other locations of Madeira Island.
I had been invited to preach the sermon of the solemn vigil. The Church was packed with people, the Pastor of the Parish was seated at the presiding chair and I was in the pulpit giving my sermon about Our Lady of Piety (Mercy). There were speakers outside broadcasting my sermon to the entire Parish.
It was the moment when I was sharing about the meaning of piety, mercy and compassion. I was saying that mothers have their favourite children. The favourite son or daughter of a mother is the one who is suffering the most. Also the most disturbing thing is that sometimes he or she is the one who most embarrasses the family; sometimes he is a drug addict, a drunkard and even a criminal. Sometimes he is the one for whom the mother most cries, prays and loses her sleep over. He or she is the one nobody likes. Sometimes he is, or she has, been in jail and the newspapers and TV have condemned the entire family because, when their names are written or broadcast in the news, everybody recognizes his or her family name. He or she is the «black sheep» of the family. He or she is the lost sheep (Luke 15). Nobody likes him or her. But he or she is the mother’s favourite. This was the message I was trying to convey.
In this moment I saw a man walking towards the altar. He was very inebriated, stopped right in front of the Pastor and started yelling at him about his rights to be in that church because he had been baptized and made his First Communion there. His voice was very loud and he could hardly keep standing. He was really full of alcohol. Because it was impossible to compete with him, I had to stop my sermon.
And now? What to do? Call the police? But would arresting this man match my sermon about mercy and compassion? Actually my decision was easy: I just left the pulpit and in front of the entire congregation I hugged him and spent a few moments with him in my arms. Then I helped him to walk and helped him to sit in a comfortable chair. A few moments later he was sleeping.
Then I returned to the pulpit and said: « If this was rehearsed it would not have worked better ». Then I also felt like saying «This was what I wanted to say. Amen». Unfortunately, I kept going with my words, but I think they ruined my action.
2.
Last Sunday when I was coming to say the English Mass I stopped by a bar-coffee shop for a cup of coffee. It was 9:00 AM. Leaned against the counter there was a man holding a beer and visibly inebriated. I started talking with him. I could see that he was in pain. I told him: «You look sad. Are you OK? ». He was very polite and confirmed that he WAS really sad. I didn’t make any reference to the beer he was holding in his hand. In words I expressed my compassion for his pain, but I was in a hurry to say Mass. I left him with his beer, his loneliness and his pain. I felt like the priest of the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37). I was a «good» priest on my way to worship God and do «good» things. I had no time for people who are already drunk at 9 o’clock in the morning. I really felt bad about my action.
I felt a big temptation, but I think I was too much of a coward to «fall» in it. My temptation was to invite him to enter my car, invite him to take the first pew of this chapel, and be ready for any unpredictable event. But then I thought « How will my worshipping community made up of tourists and residents react? » Yes! How would you react? Worship that is not transformed into service, with a special preference for the last, the least and the lost, is good for nothing.
God loves you and so do I,

– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade
Cecil John Rhodes was an enormously wealthy man. He was an English-born business, mining magnate, and politician in South Africa. He was the founder of the diamond company De Beers, which today markets 40% of the world´s rough diamonds and at one time marketed 90%. An ardent believer in colonialism and imperialism, he was the founder of the State of Rhodesia to perpetuate his name.
One day a newspaperman asked him: « You must be very happy. », Rhodes replied, « Happy! No! I spent my life amassing a fortune only to find out that I have spent half of it on doctors to keep me out of the grave, and the other half on lawyers to keep me out of jail. »
Does being rich mean being happy?

Two special couples attended the English Mass here at the Chapel last Sunday. At the end of Mass both approached Fr. Bernardino for a special blessing.

The older couple, Arthur & Margaret, informed that they had been married for 57 years. The younger couple, Jacinta & Declan, for only one week! They had been married a week earlier in Ireland.

Declan, the younger husband said «We need to talk with them». And they did. The piece of advice that Arthur, the older husband, gave to the younger was very simple and according to him was the “secret” of their very successful marriage. It is very inspiring advice, and it also applies for every relationship and it is very simple. Here it is: «Forget everything you learned until now about Marriage. Just keep this piece:

“BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER”. »

Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Lise, an English army girl, falls on hard times and becomes a prostitute after the liberation of Paris in World War II. Within a short time, she becomes the leading Madame in one of Paris’ smartest brothels owned by a man named Patrice. But Patrice soon tires of Madame Lise as his mistress and she is humiliated. In trying to help a younger prostitute escape from the same fate she suffered, Lise shoots and kills Patrice. So she is sent to prison where she meets the French Dominican Sisters of Bethanie.
The French Dominican Sisters of Bethanie is a community dedicated to serving prostitutes, drug addicts and vagrants; some of the sisters were once themselves such unfortunates.
Lise becomes one of the Sisters of Bethanie. Sister Lise is a prototype of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son (Lk 15). God’s Grace is greater than our sins.
The story of the Good Shepherd, told by Jesus, is a «scandalous» story. In the Religious Community of Bethany there are former prostitutes, drug addicts and dirty homeless who became nuns, passionately in love with Jesus and His project. Only love, not cruel rules, are able to save and free people from their miseries and their sins and restore their dignity.

My friend Claudia Silva (Rosario Santos’ daughter) told me during supper at her mother’s house:
– « If you tell a homeless, a drug addict, a prostitute, a robber, a murderer, a sexual abuser: “You have dignity, you are beautiful, there is hope for you, heaven is waiting for you, you deserve to be happy and make other people happy, the world needs you because you are a human being and you have many talents, there’s a special place reserved in heaven for you, because God loves you without any conditions.”, he/she will not believe you; But if you treat him/her like an animal and say: “You are no more than a piece of garbage, hell is waiting for you, you deserve all the suffering you got because it is all your fault, all the world wants you to be dead, all the ‘good’ institutions are tired of you and would be happy to get rid of you.”, he/she will believe you. ».

« God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. » (John 3: 16).
« The biggest atheist is not the one who says he doesn’t believe in God. The biggest atheist is the one who doesn’t believe that God is able to change the heart of a person. » (L. Évely)

In the eyes of God there are no lost causes. «In the eyes of God there is not one irrecoverable human being.» (Pope Francis)