Champaign-Urbana Deaf Catholic Ministry

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!!!

As I'm writing this, the sun has decided to come out on a chilly Thanksgiving Day.  It's so good to take some time to sit and think about the things for which we are thankful.  God is so good to us!  He gives us everything that we need - even if we don't always see that.  This year, I am thankful for many things.

First, I'm thankful for my health, the fact that I have a job, a house, a car, and food on my table.  So many people do not have these things, right here in the US. I'm thankful that the job comes with people that I enjoy working with - which is good because we are together a lot! 

I am thankful for my family.  We don't get together nearly as much as I think we'd all like.  Our recent family Thanksgiving was very nice and gave me my favorite picture of the year:  my mother with my youngest nephew, Oliver.  We had the "wisest" of the family with the youngest - and it turned out beautifully.  I am also thankful for the lovely way that my mother plays with her grandkids and great-grandkids.  It's so wonderful to see how uninhibited she is as she is playing - she's not afraid to be silly.  I need to be reminded of that more.

I am thankful for my four-legged family, Molly.  She is now 4 3/4 years old and I can't imagine life without her.  She acts as my backup (sometimes primary) alarm clock, makes sure I don't dawdle on our walks, showers me with love and plenty and plenty of licks ("kisses").  She also gives me many hugs when she brings her paws up to my chest - and always lets me know when someone is coming to the door, or to the neighbor's door!  She's a great companion as I travel for work.  I'm also very grateful for the great help that my twin sister gives me with Molly.  Without her help, I would not be able to have Molly and do all the travel that I do for work. 

I am thankful for the many men and women who serve our country - both in the armed forces and as police officers, fire personnel, paramedics, and other first responders.  They put their lives on the line every day to help each and every one of us.  They work 24/7, 365 days a year, including all the holidays we like to be home taking it easy, and I've personally benefited from their help.  So - I am thankful for all that they do. 

I am thankful for our medical care professionals - doctors, nurses, techs, and different therapists (physical, occupational, etc).  This has been a year of several challenges - and God has continually reminded me that HE is the one in control, not me.  I am sure some of those health care professionals have felt at times like I'm a thorn in their side - but I am very grateful for their kindness, skill and generosity in sharing their many gifts with me and others who need them. 

I am thankful for the many spiritual guides that God has placed in my life, from parish priests who recognize that the parish is about helping people become more like the people of God, to religious who teach me about different ways of approaching God, to the "ordinary" men and women who aren't so ordinary and share their lives and faith with me.  I'm not always immediately thankful for their messages - but as I look back in my life, I realize that those were messages that I needed to hear. 

Finally - and last is definitely not least! - I'm thankful beyond words for the great gift that God has been in my life; for his Son Jesus Christ who suffered, died on the cross, and rose so that all of us could have eternal life; and for the Spirit that is sent to inspire and lead us until Christ comes again.  I would not be the person I am without God and I am thankful for His patience with my stumblings, guiding words in times of darkness, and shared joy in times of light.  May He lead me ever more closely to His light and His presence!

My wish for each person that reads this is for a Thanksgiving - and a year - that is filled with a grateful heart.  And now, in the words of an Irish blessing,

May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.

God bless each of you and angels watch over you! 

Bucket List

I'm currently at grad school taking a class in human and faith development.  Today, we watched "The Bucket List", a movie starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.  In the movie, both men are older and are told they have terminal cancer with a certain amount of time left to live.  They develop a "bucket list" of things they want to do before they die - skydive, see something majestic, laugh until they cry, the list goes on.  So, they take off together to try to fulfill all the things on this list.  Jack's character is very wealthy so he is easily able to finance the trip.  As they are sitting at the top of one of Egypt's great Pyramids, Morgan's character tells Jack's character that the Egyptians believed that when you go to heaven, before you are allowed entrance, you are asked two questions.  Your answers to those questions determine whether you enter or are turned away.  The questions:

1.  Have you experienced joy in your life?

2.  Have you given joy to others in your life? 

These two questions struck me - and still do as I write this.  They are actually not a bad way to think about living your life.  Everyone needs joy.  Maybe not all the time, maybe not even every day, but I believe everyone needs to experience joy at some point in their life.  As my professor noted, it's not the same as being happy.  Joy is deeper, more grounded, more fulfilling.  And, as a Christian, God tells us to share the gifts we have been given.  Joy is a gift, and it is a gift well worth sharing.  So - for myself, I'm going to be thinking about these two questions more as I go through life.  "Is this something that could give someone joy, or is this something that could give someone pain?"  If it could give someone pain, is it really worth doing?  Maybe it is.  Doctors often have to hurt patients while they heal them, especially those with cancer.  But, if I have a choice between joy and pain, I will definitely try as best I can to choose and practice joy.

Blizzards and God

As I write this, Champaign-Urbana is in the midst of what some are calling "Snowmageddon".  It's a very dangerous winter storm.  We have already had freezing rain, some of which started yesterday, and sleet.  Snow is on the way and is to continue tomorrow.  Schools have closed (even in Chicago!), and even the medical clinics here in town have announced they are closing tomorrow so their employees can stay home and be safe. (The hospitals will, of course, still be open and have staff!)

So - what does all this have to do with God?  Well, God created the Earth and everything in it, including the seas and other things that affect our weather patterns.  Once he was done, he proclaimed everything "Good"!  Humans have, of course, had a significant effect on some things that affect our weather patterns but there are still things in nature that can have a pretty big effect on things here in the Midwest.  I've read that sometimes an event that is very small in the Pacific Ocean can start a process that causes a big rainstorm or event across the US. 

And so it goes with God.  Sometimes the smallest event in our lives, something as simple as a beautiful sunset or how beautiful the trees look covered with ice, can have a profound effect on how we feel about Him.  We often notice the "big events" more - the graduations, the new jobs or babies, the marriages - just as we tend to notice the "big weather events" more.  But, God can sometimes speak even more eloquently to us in those still, small moments when it's "just Him and me". 

For those of you in the Midwest, then in the East as the storm moves, please stay safe during this storm.  Do NOT go out and travel unless you absolutely have to.  If you do, PLEASE drive responsibly and keep plenty of space between yourself and everyone else.

For those of you NOT in the Midwest, please pray for us! 

Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday

Happy Easter!  Just like Christmas, the Catholic Church believes Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, is too wonderful a day to limit to just one Sunday!

Today is the 2nd Sunday of Easter and is now also known as Divine Mercy Sunday.  Father Mike Depcik has some good explanations of the Divine Mercy at his blog site, Fr. MD's Kitchen Table.  Today's Gospel reading tells the story of Jesus appearing to the apostles in the Upper Room on Easter Sunday night.  All of them (except Thomas) are there, quaking in their sandals and trying to figure out what to do, because none of them understand what an empty tomb meant.  All they knew was that Jesus' body was gone and the Romans and the Jews were probably thinking they had stolen it.

Then, Jesus appears in front of them.  Does he get upset with them for abandoning Him, denying Him?  No!  Does he fire them?  No!  He says, "Peace be with you".  He then gives them a mission, to tell everyone in the world about Him, even to the "ends of the earth", and tells them "what you forgive on earth is forgiven in Heaven." 

"Doubting" Thomas misses all this and has a hard time believing the disciples when they tell him "We have seen the Lord!"  Thomas, as our priest reminded us this morning, is a lot like us.  We like to see, touch, smell, taste something before we fully believe it.  We sometimes have a "show me the money" culture.  So, I have to be a little careful when we make fun of Thomas - because I'm much like him! 

A week later, everyone (including Thomas!) is back together again in a locked Upper Room.  Jesus comes again and again says "Peace be with you."  He then tells Thomas, "Take your finger, look at my hands, my feet, my side.  Don't doubt anymore, but believe!"  Thomas, quite understandably, is overcome and simply says, "My Lord and my God!"  Jesus says, "You believe because you have seen.  How blest are those who have not seen but still believe!"

We are those people who are blessed.  We have not seen Jesus, but we still believe He is with us.  We have not physically seen God, but we know He walks in our midst.  He is in the helping hand of someone who holds a door open when our hands are full.  He is in the e-mail from a friend that comes at just the right time to give you a boost.  He is in the family member who gives you a hug "just because".  He is the boss, co-worker, client who tells you what a great job you're doing.  He is there, every day, in the middle of all of our work, our play, and our prayer. 

Thank you, God, for sending Your Son.  Thank you Jesus, for taking on our sins on the cross and dying for us.  Thank you, both of you, for having a great love that sends us the Holy Spirit to inspire our lives

Interpreted Mass on Easter in Urbana

Mass on Easter (April 4) will be interpreted at ST. Patrick's Church, 708 W. Main, Urbana, at 12 noon.  Seats will be saved for the Deaf at the front on the LEFT (west) side of the church facing the altar.  

Come and join us to celebrate the Risen Lord! 

"Rejoice" Sunday and the Prodigal Son

It's unusual to hear the word "rejoice" during Lent because this is supposed to be a time to reflect on our sins and to become more grateful for the sacrifices God has made for us.  Today, the Catholic Church gave us a great gift.  It's called "Laetare Sunday", or "Rejoice Sunday".  The first reading comes from Exodus when God tells the Isrealites - look, your long journey (40 years in the desert!) has ended, you are now in the land of good and plenty.  Your sinful past has been wiped away.  Rejoice!

In the second reading, St. Paul tells the Corinthians that if you believe in Christ, you become a new creation.  The old ways are past and the new life that you now have in Christ is new.  Rejoice!

I was smiling to myself when I saw the Gospel reading.  The Gospel today is the story of the Prodigal Son, my absolutely favorite parable.  There are always two things that strike me with this story.  The first is the fact that the father had to have been watching every day for his son to return.  How do we know this?  Because the Bible says that when the son was still far off, his father saw him.  And what does the father do?  The father doesn't wait for the son to come to him, the father runs to meet the son.  Imagine - a father that longs for the son so much that he watches every day to see just the slightest hint of his return, and then when he sees the son coming back, he runs out to meet him!  (And, remember, the son had effectively turned his back on his father when he left with his half of the inheritance.)

The second thing that always strikes me is the son tries to apologize.  He says, "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you.  I am not worthy to be called your son, let me be your servant."  The father doesn't want to have any of this talk.  He said, "You are my son.  We thought you dead and here you are alive.  You were lost, and now you're found!"  We have to rejoice!

There are people I know that have never experienced that kind of love in their families.  For them, it is very hard to imagine God being truly that forgiving and truly that welcoming.  Guess what?  He really is that loving, that forgiving, that welcoming.  He sent Jesus, His Son, to die, on a cross, for our sins.  God longs for each and every one of us to be in a relationship with Him.  It hurts him when we turn away from Him.  All God wants - literally all he wants - is for us to turn to Him, let Him love us, and let Him forgive us.  We also need to forgive ourselves (Yes, that can be very hard), and we also need to forgive those that have hurt us.  Then, we can fully rejoice, because we are in the loving arms of God and He will lead us and give us everything that we need to accomplish His work. 

May God bless you and angels watch over you. 

"Gold medal" moonrise

This past weekend, I was driving East, coming home from Missouri.  It was late in the afternoon and as I looked ahead at the road, I marveled at the sight in front of me - a gorgeous moonrise that was absolutely golden.  (My picture did not turn out this well - I found this one on the Internet but can't find the name to properly credit it.) 

I probably have been watching the Olympics too much but it immediately made me think that God was sending a Gold medal evening to all of us.  I then thought about the Gospel reading from Sunday.  In the story of the Transfiguration, Peter, James and John hear the voice of God speaking from Heaven: "This is my Chosen One.  Listen to Him!"  In essence, God was giving his Son a "gold medal" recognition - and telling the disciples to pay attention to it! 

We, too, need to pay attention, both to the gold medals that God sends us in our lives, and to the Son.  God loves us so much, he sends mini presents to us each and every day.  Something as simple as the sun coming out after who knows how many days of rain can be a blessing from God.  His Son, of course, was the Ultimate blessing to all of us.  Let's try to take a little time each day to savor the "gold medals" that God has sent us that day, and also to savor the Word that he sent to give us strength.

God bless you, and angels watch over you. 

Olympics and God

I have been watching the Winter Olympics in Vancouver a lot on television.  I have just been in awe of all of the athletes that I am watching.  They have spent years of their lives working very hard, in preparation for this one event.  Some of them have no hope of winning a medal, but they compete to represent their country and to show the hard work they have put into their sport.  What is really wonderful is watching people who never expected to win a medal get on the podium - and see how overcome they are by emotion and the sheer joy of the moment.  I watch athletes who have won gold medals sing along with their national anthem with pure, complete joy.  The feeling of satisfaction and success is just so complete they light up with happiness.I was thinking tonight about how this has some similarities to our spiritual lives.  We work years, all of our lives, for that one special moment when we will confront God face to face.  We will have to account for what we have done with our lives - and we pray that we will hear God tell us the immortal words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!  Well done!" 

In the Bible, there is a place where Jesus is telling his disciples a story.  God is sitting on his throne and has one group on his left and one on his right.  He says to the group on the right, come into my Kingdom, because you gave me food or clothes, a job, a place to stay, or you came to visit me when I was sick or in prison.  And the people on his right ask, "When did we do this to you?"  God answers, "When you did it to the least of these, you did it to me."  Then, God tells the people on his left, "Get away from me, you can't come into my Kingdom, because you gave me no food or clothes, no job, no place to stay, and you never visited me when I was sick or in prison!"  The people on his left ask, "When did we not do this to you?  We never saw you!"  And God answers, "As often as you did not do it for the least of my people, you did not do it for me." 

What does all of that mean?  God has given each of us talents and skills, just as he has blessed the Olympic athletes with talents and skills.  He wants us to USE those skills to help other people.  If you can't give money, give your talent.  Visit those who are sick, smile at someone at work or church, or help out someone who needs help some other way.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear God say, "Well done, you have helped out my people!"  It would be like winning the ultimate Gold medal!   

May God bless the Olympic athletes, each of whom has represented their country to the best of their ability, and may God bless us, as we each try to represent our faith to the best of our ability!

Ash Wednesday - Lent 2010

Today (February 17) is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent for the Roman Catholic Church and other churches.  One of our rituals on this day is that we trace ashes (made from burning last year's left over palms from Palm Sunday) on our foreheads in the sign of the Cross.  The priest or minister says one of three things:

"Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return"  (Genesis 3:19)

"Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel" (Mark 1:15)

"Repent, and hear the good news."  (Mark 1:15)

In Old Testament and New Testament times, ashes meant that someone was being penitent, or sorry for their sins.  We continue this today as we prepare for the great feast of Easter.  We remember that we are human (we will return to dust), made by God, chosen to hear/see the Good News of Salvation brought by Jesus Christ.

One of the other things that we do during Lent is, on Ash Wednesday we fast and abstain from (do not eat) meat.  On Fridays during Lent, we do not eat meat.  On Good Friday, we will again fast and have no meat.  Many people also give up something they like (candy?  chocolate?) or do something extra.  Why do we do this?  In the words of Fr. Joe Mulcrone (Chicago Catholic Office of the Deaf), "During Lent, we give up something we like to do OR we do something extra (read the bible everyday, pray everyday, be quiet each day, help someone).  Why?  Because we feel a little bit if discomfort in our sacrifice.  That discomfort helps us remember in our body the suffering of Jesus in His body.  Jesus suffered terribly to forgive OUR sins!  We feel this little suffering so we will be grateful for all the suffering of Jesus.  That suffering gives us heaven!  Eternal Life! "  Father Joe gives up watching TV during Lent.  (Wow!  And during the Olympics, too!)  I have promised to be more kind to people, especially those that sometimes make me frustrated.   

The readings at Mass today reminded us that God does not want us to "advertise" that we are fasting or not eating meat.  We should go about our day as usual, as if not eating meat was as normal as could be.  (And for people who are vegetarian, it is very normal!)

I want to finish this post with a reading from Isaiah 58, in which God tell us (through Isaiah) the kind of "fasting" he wants us to practice:

"This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: 

releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke;

setting free the oppressed,

breaking every yoke;

sharing your bread with the hungry,

sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;

clothing the naked when you see them,

and not turning you back on your own.....

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer,

you shall cry for help, and he will say:  Here I am!" 

God is in the Silence

Wow!

Yesterday (Friday) and today, St. Patrick's Church in Urbana hosted a women's retreat.  We had speakers from AVAH ministries come to talk about prayer and how we as women see ourselves.  It was a wonderful experience.  Two things struck me during the weekend - and both were from movies that were shown.  Both were developed by a company called nooma and written by Rob Bell.  You can find information about them at Nooma.com. 

The first movie, shown on Friday night during the prayer discussion, was about noise.  In the movie, Rob shares something that he learned from a man who records nature sounds for movies and CDs, etc.  The man said in 1968, in order to get one hour of complete silence (no planes, traines, cars, etc.) it took 15 hours of recording time.  Today, that same one hour of complete silence requires 2,000 HOURS of recording time!  That is over 83 days. 

Then, he shared the Bible story of Elijah from 1 Kings 19:11-13.  "[God said] “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD ” And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.  When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Rob shared that there are some authors who say that the word for the "still voice" that Elijah hears is actually complete silence.  Some editions say "God was in the silence".  And so, we are challenged, those of us who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing, to quiet ourselves so that we can hear God in the silence of our lives.

The second movie, called "Lump", was shown today.  Rob shares a story about his young son who was caught in a lie.  He was so frightened and ashamed that he ran upstairs away from his mother and hid under the covers of his parents' bed for 2 HOURS.  Once Rob came home, his wife told him what happened and he went up to talk to his son.  He was really very wise, I think.  He knew that his son was going to have to say "I'm sorry" to his mother, his brother, and others he had hurt.  But first, when he saw his son hiding under the covers, he realized there was a more important message to be shared first.  So, he pulled the covers back and looked at his son, and said a very important message.  What did he say?  He told his son, "There is nothing you can do that will make me love you less."  I want to repeat that.  "There is nothing you can do that will make me love you less."  His son comes over, hides his face in his shoulder, and sobs.  All Rob does is hug his son, rock him, and say "There is nothing you can do that will make me love you less."

Then - he reminds us - our Heavenly Father says the same thing.  The Bible says "Nothing can separate us from the love of God."  There is nothing you can do that will make God love you less.   This is an important message for me to remember.  I have made mistakes.  But, there is no mistake or sin so big that God will not continue to love me.  The same is true for you.  God loves you exactly as you are.

So - this week I will try to make time to be quiet with God, to listen for his "still small voice", and to remember that no matter what mistakes I may have made this week, God still loves me, completely, wholly, and passionately.  And guess what?  He loves you too!