His Word Today: All Hallow's Eve

Good morning everyone.

Today, our little treasures are arriving at school dressed in their wonderful costumes.  This day is filled with lots of imagination and gives us a chance to have some fun, but did you know that Halloween is actually a contraction of the title for today - All Hallow's Eve?  This day, before tomorrow's liturgical celebration of All Saints (All Hallows).

In today's gospel passage, Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God as a collection of mustard seeds or of yeast (Lk 13:18-21), grains that are so small that we can easily miss them, ignore them or pay no attention to them, but he says that they have the potential to produce remarkable results.

Every one of those who are sporting costumes today is still working on achieving his or her potential in God's eyes.  Thank you for helping them to bloom.

Happy All Hallow's Eve.

His Word Today: Spirit of the Law

Good morning everyone.

The gospel passage for today's liturgy recounts one of those many instances when Jesus found himself being chastised by the leaders in the Synagogue.  In this case, he healed a woman who had been crippled and bent over for eighteen years (cf Lk 13:11).

Jesus was a wonderful teacher, not only because he knew what he was talking about but perhaps more importantly because he was able to see beyond the confines of the law to what we call the spirit of the law.  Jesus had that wonderful quality that we've all seen in good teachers, good parents, good people - an ability to go beyond the call of duty, to act out of compassion for the love of the person who was standing in front of him.

It's not always easy to act with compassion, but it is possible.

Happy Monday!

His Word Today: Wisdom and knowledge

Good morning everyone.

I believe that you are all participating in a Professional Activity day today.  How fitting then that the psalm proposed for today's Mass begins with the line: Teach me wisdom and knowledge ... (Ps 119:66).

You have a privileged position, for you are entrusted with the task of passing on knowledge and faith to the children of today, but you too need opportunities to sit a the well with Jesus (cf Jn 4:4-42), to listen to his words - which are sometimes very challenging - and to grow in wisdom and knowledge through your encounter with him.

May this day away from the regular routine be one of refreshment for you, and an opportunity for you to discover God's wisdom and knowledge anew.

Happy Friday.

His Word Today: Set the earth on fire

Good morning everyone.

In today's gospel passage, Jesus says something very strange to his disciples: I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! (Lk 12:49)  Sometimes, Jesus used striking images in order to wake up his listeners, to help them to see beyond the everyday struggles so that they could begin to believe that something new was possible.

When Jesus says that he wants to set the world on fire, I don't think he actually wants to burn everything away, but he does want to burn away our human tendencies toward competitiveness, jealousy, envy ... and to replace them with love, hope and joy.  He also wants to help us to understand that his words have the power to do something new and fresh in our lives and in the lives of those we meet.

Pray today for the grace to allow Jesus to melt away attitudes and behaviours that might be destructive, and be on the lookout today for the ways he is inviting us to help build his kingdom of peace.

Have a great weekend.

His Word Today: the prudent steward

Good morning everyone,

In today's gospel passage (Lk 12:39-48), Jesus is telling his disciples a story - one of those famous parables, this time about a faithful steward.  When he finishes the story, Peter asks: Is this parable meant for us or for everyone? and Jesus replies with another question: Who then is the faithful and prudent steward who the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute their food allowance at the proper time?

Perhaps the disciples were surprised to learn that Jesus considered them all as his faithful and prudent stewards.  Perhaps we too might be surprised to think that Jesus considers us in the same way, but this is the case.  We are the ones who Jesus trusts to share the joy that is in our hearts with the children in our classes.  We are the ones who Jesus trusts to greet parents with kindness, to listen to their concerns and to help them to discover the reason for our joy.

Have a great day today.