On January 4, 2021, Anthony Estrada breathed his last. Surrounded by his son, Marcus, his sisters Vicki, Caroline, and Elsie; his brother, Jess, and Jess’ wife Dawnee; nieces Candace, Cerissa, and Melissa; Lorrie, his former wife, and the caregiver.  By the time Monsignor King arrived at the home of his sister Vicki, Anthony was restless. Monsignor King spoke in a loud voice to get Anthony’s attention. “Anthony, this is Monsignor King, I’m here to absolve you of your sins and lead you into heaven.”  Anthony turned to face toward the  Monsignor and heard the prayer of the last rite. Together as a family, they prayed. After the prayer, the family felt peace and Anthony’s spirit was calmed.

Our family considered Anthony as part of our own. Mike met Anthony while he was in the tortilla business. We needed to purchase a fryer, and Anthony’s family had one for sale. This first encounter was the beginning of a brotherhood that was never broken.

Back in the day before Mission Foods took over the tortilla industry, many small family-owned businesses happily co-existed. The competition was friendly, but the friendships made along the way endured all the mergers and takeovers of the giants in the industry. These tortilleros became a fraternity and have always remained friends. Mike and Anthony were part of this group.

The last time we saw Anthony was in December of 2019. Anthony was in town to pay his last respects to Alfred, one of the circle of friends they had from the tortilla industry. Our friend stayed as a guest in our home and took part in our annual Christmas party. I remembered and regretted  making him a judge of the Tamale Contest. Anthony was a talker, and if you were lucky you could get in a word or two. There are rules to the contest, which I personally go over with each judge: No talking was the main rule. As the contest proceeded, Anthony never once kept his opinions to himself. He was hilarious, and his remarks influenced the other judges. I held him accountable for my loss that year, but we would never have it any other way.

Anthony, Our Friend and Brother

The first time I met Anthony was also because of a business venture. He had invited us to Pueblo, Colorado. Mike did all the planning, so I was in the dark about our accommodations. Anthony picked us up from the airport and we headed to his house. He gave up his master bedroom for us,  we had dinner, and then he disappeared. It was not until the wee hours of the morning that we heard him come in. At that time, our kids were four and two years old.  In the morning I got up and got the kids ready for the day. Anthony was sprawled on the couch, sound asleep. I needed to feed my kids but there was not a drop of milk for the cereal. We did not have a car because Anthony insisted on chauffeuring us around.  I called Mike to the room. “We can’t stay here! We don’t even have a car! and the kids are hungry! You need to fix this, we need to get a hotel!” Mike calmed me down as best as he could and woke Anthony up.”I bet you guys are hungry, I’m going to take you to the best restaurant in town,” Anthony promised. I was relieved but when he pulled into a driveway of a home with a sprawling yard, I said. “Why are we stopping here?” He said,”Oh, you are going to eat the best food Pueblo has to offer.”  This was his mother’s home. From this day forward, this family has warmed our hearts. We endured four days with Anthony and got to know a man with a great heart.

The Gentleman

This was our friends attire: a crisp white shirt, a smart sports jacket, slacks, and fancy shoes. As soon as he got off the plane, he needed carnitas tacos with the works. He’d spend a good chunk of money by the time we left the local Mexican market. Chicharrones, tripas (cow guts), Mexican bread, and whatever else he could get ahold of. Then the feasting began. Anthony would talk throughout the meal. He loved elegant meals as well, and our many dinner ventures were filled with so much laughter because no one could outtalk his stories. Anthony was the guy who would greet you with a friendly shoulder rub; not one person was spared this. When he read something, he would bring the paper right up to the edge of his glasses, bending down his head to focus. Mike and our son Mikos were “cuz” and the girls were all referred to “honey.” He could never pronounce the word what; it was always “wha.” But in the end, it was always the lavish, descriptive stories that he shared that we will remember most.

Vacations

When we were younger, we took several vacations with the Estrada family. We skied Vail and Deer Valley. Mike and I would always splurge one night to eat at La Caille, a beautiful French restaurant  tucked in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. I will never forget the dinner when we all had a little too much of the high altitude mixed with spirits; we were referring to the chic restaurant as “La Calle, which in Spanish means the street.” Our memories are all filled with love, and our families will forever be connected because of Anthony.

Saying Good-bye

In early November, Anthony was diagnosed with diabetes. He decided to take better care of himself and started eating healthier and walking. His feet started to swell, and he attributed that to the diabetes, but he also had a nagging stomachache. In the emergency room of the hospital after several tests were run, tumors were discovered. Anthony never made it to his appointment with the oncologist.

Our family, due to COVID-19, cannot attend his memorial service, but we wanted to be with this incredible family to support them in their great loss. Anthony, you leave us with an empty hole in our hearts. All who knew you share this grief, and you will be greatly missed. Rest in peace, my brother.

My Prayer: Dear Lord, I find it so difficult to believe that Anthony is no longer with us. Give us comfort in our grief knowing that Anthony and his son Arron are together. We pray for the repose of their souls. Most merciful God, we lift up Anthony’s family, bring them to a place of understanding knowing that You are there in their midst.

Did you know that according to the Pew survey, more than half of Americans have prayed for an end to the coronavirus? People turn to God when they cannot find answers. Prayers are effectual, and they strengthen our faith.

When you pray it lessens your anxiety and clears your mind of unnecessary worry. Prayer is sacred, and the Devil knows this. If you are not accustomed to regular prayer, the distractions of life will surface the moment you start to pray. Your mind will wander; focusing on the things of God becomes secondary. Don’t worry, because we all at one time or another have experienced this distraction. This is why when you first start to pray, separate yourself from the world.

Prayer Closet

Prayer is a simple dialogue between you and God. You talk to Him as you would a loving father. I always start by praising the Lord,  either verbally or with praise music softly playing in the background. To be in union with God is one of the most inspiring encounters you can experience. We are empty vessels waiting for our Master to fill us with His love. We empty all of our burdens and clear our minds of any clutter so that we can receive what the Lord has in store. We must be still and know that God is ever present. Our Father is patiently waiting for us. He wants to free us of all the worries, pains and the unknowns that we face on a daily basis. We seek Him because without Him we perish.

Interceding For Others

These past two weeks have been a whirlwind of prayer. I have loving friends who are suffering with COVID-19 and one from cancer. My friends are too weak to pray because their bodies are on “high alert,” fighting an internal battle. They are using their strength to combat this virus. This is when the intercessors come in. We become the Aaron’s and Ben Hur’s lifting them up in prayer. We are spiritually fighting the their battle on their behalf. They are physically exhausted, but we are fueled with the Holy Spirit to help bring them out of this battlefield.

Intercessors need to fuel up as well. My strength comes from receiving Holy Communion and attending Mass on a regular basis. I fill my ears with only Christian radio stations and watch Christian programing like EWTN. More than anything, I pray the Rosary with special intentions. At every decade I name the person or persons for whom I am praying. This prayer is done with much reverence because my heart is in each bead. Padre Pio, one of the greatest saints known to mankind, said, “The Rosary is the most powerful weapon against Satan.” Satan has his blueprints written all over COVID-19, but we have the Triune God on our side.

Churches

Closing our churches did not stop the prayer of the faithful; in fact, it made those of us who pray on a regular basis much more spiritual. This pandemic has brought us all to our knees. The more the virus spreads, the faster the spirit of God is moving. There is unity in prayer, and I thank God for technology because through calling and texting we can keep an open line to God by reaching out to those who need prayer.

My parish, St. Norbert, has remained faithful in allowing us to attend outdoor daily services. The sacrifices that our church has made are many, but we remain steadfastly faithful, adhering to all the restrictions imposed on churches. Each day faithful volunteers set up the altar, bring out the Crucifix, the candles, tables, and chairs. At the end of the service this must all be put away until  the next Mass. This is not an easy task, but at no time do you hear any complaints. The work is done as unto the Lord.

End Times?

According to Lifeway Christian Resources, Bible sales have skyrocketed; the demand has increased the sales by 62%. Why? People are looking for hope, and looking to God is a good start; however, there are others who believe we are living in the Last Days.

Many novice Bible seekers are mistakenly starting with the Book of Revelation for answers. All this will do is feed into their fears. What does the Bible say about the Last Days?

1. Be Ready
2. Occupy Until He Comes
3. No one knows the day or the hour
4.  Lawlessness  brought on by Satan

Being ready means to have your life in order; more importantly, your spiritual life. Only God knows the day and the hour of your last breath.

We learned long ago from I Thessalonians to occupy until He comes. When St. Paul wrote the first letter to the Thessalonians, his deep concern was that they were recent converts to Christianity. St. Paul encouraged them to remain chaste and charitable in a great time of persecution. St. Paul shared with them about the Second Coming, warning them that believers must be ready and watchful because Christ’s return would come unexpectedly. The Thessalonians were baby Christians who took this message to heart. The misunderstanding of St. Paul’s words caused them to behave irrationally. The Thessalonians were convinced that Jesus could return at any moment, so many stopped working for a living; hence, II Thessalonians was written to clarify the true message.

We are still waiting for the Second Coming but, unlike the Thessalonians, we live our day -to-day normal lives.

We should not get caught up in worrying about the “Last Days.” We do need to remain watchful by keeping our eyes on the things of God.

This verse is speaking of demonic powers which are meant to captivate sinners and lead them astray. This is how people start to believe that the truth is a lie. When you are deceived by Satan, you will be judged by God. We cannot accept lies over truth because with truth comes light, and with light all is exposed.

My Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, My eyes have grown weak with tears for those for whom I am praying. Lord, it is in Your hands that I place these special souls for their healing. I extend my hands to heaven and continue to intercede on behalf of all that I have been called to pray for. I praise You, and give You all the glory due Your Name. Thank you for the small signs You have given me. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.