His Word Today: Listen for the call

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saint Andrew, the apostle.  Today's gospel passage tells us that Saint Andrew was the brother of Saint Peter (cf Mt 4:18).  While he was walking on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw them casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.  It was the practice at the time that Teachers (who were known as Rabbis) would choose their own disciples.  Jesus saw these two fishermen - not only with human eyes, but also with the eyes of his heart - and called them to follow after him: Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men (Mt 4:19).

Many centuries after this meeting, Jesus still sees our hearts.  He knows what we are capable of and calls us to follow him.  Some of us, he inspires to become teachers in schools, others he calls to be examples of faith in their own workplaces, and he still calls some of us to serve the community as priests, religious men and women and as consecrated virgins.

Neither Saint Andrew nor his brother could have known what Jesus would ask of them.  All they heard that day was an invitation: Follow me ... Have we heard these words spoken to us?  Have we resisted the impulse to answer?  Are we still curious about what Jesus might want of us?  Have we witnessed others who have heard this call?  Pray today for the courage to answer, to follow, to encourage others to do the same and to trust that Jesus will lead us to the places and situations where he needs us to be.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: the work of disciples

Good morning everyone,

Today's scripture readings remind us that everyone who is called to be a disciple of Jesus has to face the hard truth that following in his footsteps means that we must put our own interests aside and concentrate on others.  The work of a disciple is not about personal gain; rather, it is about proclaiming the Kingdom and sharing the good news of a truth that we have come to know but one that we have not yet experienced in its fullness.

King Balshazzar thought that he could rest in the assurance that his physical possessions would gain him prestige, but when he placed himself on par with God and disrespected the vessels used for worshipping the Lord, God sent him a warning (cf Dan 5:1-6).  It is the same with us.  When we get too close to losing sight of the fact that our work is about praising God and calling others to do the same, God sends us warnings.  You may have experienced such warnings if you've ever encountered the sense of guilt that is the result of sin.

Jesus went further in his teaching, telling the crowds that those who choose to follow in his footsteps should be prepared to face persecution (cf Lk 21:12-18) but even if all manner of physical harm should be threatened, God will never leave us alone (cf Lk 21:19).  We can dare to be Jesus' disciples today, knowing that we are never alone, that it is he that we serve and that he will always love us and care for us.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Stand still in prayer

Good morning everyone,

It seems to me that both the scripture passages suggested for today's reflection speak about various ways that people sought the approval of others.  In the first reading (Dn 2:31-45), the king is seeking an interpretation for a dream he has had.  The prophet Daniel, who has been granted the gift of interpretation is able to provide the answer, and to translate it into language that can be understood by the king.  In the gospel passage, the people who encounter Jesus are also curious, seeking confirmation that what Jesus says is true (Lk 21:5-6).

Like the individuals mentioned in these stories, there is a part of us too that is curious about what we have heard - either from others or from Jesus.  Is there truth to these words or is what we have heard merely rumour and fodder for good story telling?  Other people can try to give us answers to these questions, but it is only when we are able to kneel in prayer, to stand alone in God's presence and to struggle with the questions that are roused in the holy place where reason meets faith that we will know for sure that what Jesus says is worth listening to.

Pray for the grace today to stand still, even when the storms of this world threaten to shake the faith that has been planted in your heart.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: the widow's mite

Good morning everyone,

We have just celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King and now we are preparing for Advent - which begins this coming Sunday.  I always love this time of year: we are looking back at the year that has been and looking ahead to the promise of something new.

Perhaps it is fitting that the gospel passage for today places us with Jesus inside the temple where he is watching people coming and going.  As they enter, they are putting money into the temple treasury.  Some of them are making a big deal of this simple gesture so that others can see them being generous but Jesus has a very sharp eye.  He sees a woman, probably dressed in rags, making her way toward the treasury box.  Her outward appearance already tells everyone around her that she is probably a widow, someone who has to struggle to live, yet she is intent on doing her part.  She drops two small coins (Lk 21:2) into the treasury - did they make a sound as they dropped?

What can we offer to God today?  Perhaps we have little to give, but regardless of how much we may think of its worth, Jesus welcomes our meagre efforts as though they are the greatest of treasures because giving out of our poverty is much more treasured than giving out of our abundance.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: A house of prayer

Good morning everyone.

For the second time this week, we are commemorating one of the Church's martyrs today.  This time, our attention turns to Vietnam and the object of our attention is a Roman Catholic priest who we know as Andrew Dung-Lac.  He was born Trần An Dũng in 1795, taking the name Andrew at his baptism (Anrê Dũng) and was ordained a priest on 15 March 1823.  Due to prolonged persecution of Catholics, Andrew Dũng changed his name to Lạc to avoid capture, and thus he is memorialised as Andrew Dũng-Lạc (Anrê Dũng Lạc).  Today we remember Andrew and all the other Vietnamese Martyrs of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries (1625–1886).  Andrew was beheaded by order of Emperor Minh Mang and was canonized on June 19, 1988.

Examples of such dedication to faith have been a part of the Church's history from its earliest days.  Even our shared history with the Jewish people includes the stories of such people as Judas Maccabeus (whose story is told in today's readings - 1 Mac 4:36-37, 52-59).  The most memorable life of faith was of course lived by Jesus himself.  In today's gospel passage, he is in the Temple in Jerusalem reminding those he encountered there (and us as well) that his house will be a house of prayer (Lk 19:46).

Even today, Jesus' disciples need to remember always to keep a special place in our hearts for prayer.  Sometimes that means having a place in our homes that is dedicated to prayer, other times, it means that we have a regular routine of stopping everything else in order to spend time listening for God's guidance in our lives.  However often we can find time for Jesus, he will always find time for us.

Have a great weekend.

His Word Today: before it's too late

Good morning everyone,

Last year, I had the wonderful privilege to visit Jerusalem (and a few of the other sites in the Holy Land).  When we arrived in Jerusalem, our first stop was a lookout point that opens onto a panoramic view of the city.  It is breathtaking.

I can't help thinking that this might have been the place where Jesus was standing (or another similar place somewhere on the outskirts of the city) when he uttered the words we hear in today's gospel.

Even back then, Jerusalem was a bustling city, filled with people going and coming in all directions.  It must have looked like utter confusion.  The problem was (and is) that people are so often in a rush to get from one place to another, or to attend to any number of tasks, that we seldom pause to hear Jesus speaking to us.

Let's try today to find even a moment to listen for his voice, otherwise, we too may hear those woeful words: If only today you knew what made for peace ... you might recognize the time of your own visitation (Lk 19:42, 44).

Today, I wish you God's peace.

His Word Today: celebrating Saint Cecilia

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast day of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musicians.  This feast day has been observed since the fourth century - and always on this day.

Who was Saint Cecilia?  The story about her is somewhat unclear.  One story that is told is that she was a noble Roman woman who had taken a vow of virginity.  Despite this vow, her parents forced her to marry a pagan nobleman named Valarian.  During the wedding, Cecilia sat apart singing to God in her heart, and for that she was later declared the saint of musicians. When the time came for her marriage to be consummated, Cecilia told Valerian that watching over her was an angel of the Lord, who would punish him if he sexually violated her but would love him if he respected her virginity. When Valerian asked to see the angel, Cecilia replied that he could if he would go to the third milestone on the Via Appia and be baptized by Pope Urban I.  After following Cecilia's advice, he saw the angel standing beside her and crowning her with a chaplet of roses and lilies.

Cecilia and her husband were both martyred in Sicily sometime between 176 and 180AD.

Cecilia is one of a long line of Christians who perished because they would not renounce their faith.  The second Book of Maccabees recounts another story of a woman who suffered greatly because of her faith (cf 2 Mac 7:20-23).  Even today, there are many who are suffering and giving their lives as testimony to their faith.  Let us give thanks today for the witness that Saint Cecilia gave, for the gift of those who are witnesses to faith for us, and let us try our best today to be witnesses of our faith for others.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Presentation of Mary

Good morning everyone.

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In fact, this is one of the liturgical celebrations that is observed in both the Eastern and the Western Churches.

The Protoevangelion (Apocryphal gospel) of James (which was apparently written prior to the year 200AD) recounts the story of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple.  In thanksgiving for the birth of their daughter Mary, Joachim and Anne decided to consecrate her to God, and brought her, at the age of three years, to the temple in Jerusalem. Mary’s presentation in the temple draws parallels to that of the prophet Samuel, whose mother Hannah, like Anne was also thought to be barren, and who offered her child as a gift to God at Shiloh.

Mary remained in the Temple until her twelfth year, at which point she was assigned to Joseph as guardian. According to Coptic tradition, her father Joachim died when Mary was six years old and her mother when Mary was eight. While the story is a legend with no foundation in history, the point is to show that even in her childhood Mary was completely dedicated to God.

The gospel account for today's liturgy tells the story of the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus.  When they met, Jesus looked up (into the tree) and said: Zacchaeus, come down ... for today I must stay at your house (Lk 19:5).  This invitation changed Zacchaeus' life, just as Mary's presentation in the Temple changed hers.  What about us?  Have we experienced an encounter with Jesus ... or another experience of faith that has changed our lives?

Have a great day.

His Word Today: keep calling out

Good morning everyone,

The gospel for today places us with Jesus as he passes through the city of Jericho.  At the time, it was a bustling place with lots of activity.  Sitting on the roadside was a blind beggar.  I wonder how many people had seen him sitting there and simply ignored him, yet he was determined to call out to Jesus.  Maybe he had already heard about Jesus and his ability to heal those who were sick.

When he heard that Jesus was about to pass by, he began to call out: Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me! (Lk 18:38).  Perhaps his voice was being drowned out by the din of others passing by; maybe those others were also trying to keep him quiet, or at the very least, ignoring him.  Yet, Jesus heard his cry and answered his prayer.

How often do people cry out to God, asking for his help, and worry that he does not hear them calling?  How often do we not pay attention to those who call out for our help?  Let us pray today for the grace to continue calling out to God, presenting our needs to him and trusting that he will always hear us and answer our prayer.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: finding God all around us

Good morning everyone.

Today, the Church celebrates the Liturgical Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.  Elizabeth was a princess of the Kingdom of Hungary.  She married at age 14 and was widowed at age 20.  Even though she was in a position of privilege, she learned about Saint Francis of Assisi through the Friars who had arrived in Turingia (the place where she was then living), and began to live according to the Franciscan rule, sharing her wealth with many of those who were in need.

The Book of Wisdom says that some people still live in ignorance of God ... and from the good things seen do not succeed in knowing Him (Wis 13:1).  Thanks to the influence of the Franciscans, Elizabeth was introduced to God and came to understand his role in her life.

This same invitation is given to all of us: to know God through the things that we see around us.  How do you see God at work in your life today?  What good things - relationships, joys, successes - do you recognize?  Take a moment today to give thanks to God for all that he has done.

Have a great weekend.

His Word Today: watch for the signs

Good morning everyone.

Have you ever had the experience of travelling along a highway and trying to find your way by following the directions that are pointed out by the road signs?  Usually, if we have at least an idea of where we are headed, the signs will help to point out the path that we must follow.  As we get closer and closer to our destination, we have to focus on smaller and smaller road signs and eventually on the numbers that point out the address of the place where we're headed.

In the gospels, Jesus speaks on various accounts about the Kingdom of God.  In today's gospel passage, he is doing, his audience is the group that we know as the Pharisees.  I find it curious that he is chatting with the group who had the responsibility to point out the road signs to the rest of the Jewish population, and yet Jesus was the one who was doing the pointing.

In fact, Jesus explained that the coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed (Lk 17:20) not in the same way as we are used to seeing things.  Rather, the Kingdom of God is among us (Lk 17:21).  The signs that point the way are already planted in our hearts.  All we need to do is pay attention to them.  Ask the Lord today to point them out.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: An example of holiness

Good morning everyone.

This coming Saturday, Father Solanus Casey will be proclaimed Blessed.  Who is this man?  He was a Capuchin Friar who was born in Oak Grove, Wisconsin (USA) in 1870.   He was the sixth of sixteen children born to Irish immigrant parents. He was in his mid-twenties when he entered the Capuchin Order.

First stationed in Yonkers and in New York City, he served as Sacristan and Doorkeeper.  He edified his parishioners by his prayerful example and his great charity toward the sick, children and the poor.

Like Brother André Bissette, Father Solanus had a gift for welcoming strangers.  During the Great Depression, he inspired the Capuchin Friars in Detroit to establish a soup kitchen to feed the hungry - a service that continues even today.

Father Solanus' simple yet profound example is a living example of the Wisdom of God at work.  In today's first reading, we hear that Wisdom ... penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity (Wis 7:24).  Today, let us ask Father Solanus and Brother André to pray with us for the gift of God's wisdom so that we can serve our brothers and sisters.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Our surprising God

Good morning everyone,

One of the things that has always intrigued me (and you too, I hope) is the freshness of the gospel.  Every time I read the Word of God, there is something new, some idea that captures my imagination.  Today's gospel passage places us with Jesus and his disciples at a time when he is talking with them about something truly radical.

At the time, it was an accepted custom that servants would prepare meals, clean houses, serve at table etc.  This image was well known to the apostles, but Jesus challenges this societal assumption: Who among you would say to your servant ... come here and take your place at table? (Lk 17:7)

Our God provides everything we need to live and to prosper every day, and yet instead of expecting us to serve him, he invites us to take our place at his table, to receive his advice, to be nourished with his own body and blood.  This surprise is God's gift to us, and in response we say: God is good!

Have a great day!

His Word Today: Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

Good morning everyone.

Today the Church celebrates the liturgical Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (lived 1850-1917).  She was an Italian-American (USA) Religious Sister who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to provide support and assistance to Italian immigrants who came to the United States of America.  Mother Cabrini was the first naturalized citizen of the United States of America to be canonized.

Anyone who has emigrated to a new land knows that such an act takes a lot of faith.  In the gospel passage for today's liturgy, the apostles ask the Lord: Increase our faith (Lk 17:5).  How many times in our lives have we prayed this very same prayer?

In answer to the disciples' request (and in answer to our perceived need for immediate answers to our own prayers), Jesus said: If you had faith the size of a mustard seed (Lk 17:6), you too could do amazing things.  In other words, believe in yourself.

Have a wonderful day.

His Word Today: Sunrise

Good afternoon everyone.

Have you ever watched a sunrise?  I remember once sitting in the pre-dawn darkness and thinking about how profound the darkness was.  As the first rays of light bathed the sky in the very faintest of colours, I was not even aware - at first - that light was on the horizon.  Ever so slowly, the light increased until the sun came blazing over the horizon.

This is how I sometimes think about God's presence in our lives.  He is always there, guiding our steps, coaxing us ever so gently in the right direction.  Some of us are not even aware of his presence until we get caught trying to fool ourselves into thinking that we can live life according to our own choices.  In today's gospel passage, the manager who got caught was smart enough to correct his errors before he had to account for his mistakes (cf Lk 16:1-7).

Let us pray today for the grace to be aware of the many ways that God guides us through life - ever so gently prompting us to walk in his ways, and tenderly reminding us to be honest with ourselves, with others and with Him.

Have a great weekend.

His Word Today: The Lateran Basilica

Good morning everyone.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.  The Lateran Basilica - formally known as the Archbasilica of Saint John in Lateran - is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome.  The property and the building that was once known as the Lateran Palace was donated by the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century.

Today, the entire Church joins its voice to raise a song of praise to God in thanksgiving for the presence of the Church, the unity it signifies and the gift of God's presence in our midst.

In the scriptures today, Saint Paul reminds us: You are God's building (1 Cor 3:9).  Each one of us - and those we encounter - are part of Christ's body, his temple, his cathedral.  When we see another person, we see a part of Christ's building, the fulfillment of the vision of Ezekiel (Ez 47:1-12).

Look around you today and try to identify our Father's house (Jn 2:16) in the faces of those you meet.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Love your neighbour

Good morning everyone.

Did you know that Saint Paul was one of the Romans?  He was one of the many Romans who sought out the early Christians, brought them to the authorities and threatened them with death.  This is perhaps what makes Paul's story so remarkable because after he had an encounter with the risen Jesus, his heart was softened and he came to understand that the persecution he was carrying out was actually against Jesus who loved him.

Jesus also loves us and we still learn today from Saint Paul's writings about how much Jesus loves us.  In today's readings, Paul reminds us that all the commandments are summed up in one: You shall love your neighbour as yourself (Rom 13:9).  Let us pray today for the grace to be aware of Jesus' love for us, and let us be on the lookout today for the ways that we can love Jesus in return ... and love others as he does.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Gifts to share

Good morning everyone.

How does the saying go?  .... It takes a village to raise a child.

These are words that we must remember whenever we think that we're doing it all ourselves, when we're tired, when we're discouraged.  Instead, Saint Paul reminds us today: We are many, but we are all one Body in Christ, and individually parts of one another (Rom 12:5).

Each of us has talents and gifts - given us by our good and gracious God - and we are all called to use these gifts to help others to come to know him.  Some of us have the gift of prophecy, some are called to be teachers, some to lead, some to encourage and some are called to contribute in other ways (cf Rom 12:6-8).

Let us strive today to share the gifts we have received, and to see ourselves as part of the Body of Christ, together called to serve others in the name of Jesus who loves us all.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Mercy

Good morning everyone,

Have you ever had a day when everything seems to go wrong?  Perhaps you know what it's like to be challenged by a child who you dearly love, but whose actions just seem to irk you.

I wonder whether God looks at us sometimes in that way.  In the first reading for today's liturgy, Saint Paul says: Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy, ... by virtue of the mercy shown to you (others) too may receive mercy (Rom 11:30-31).

A wise priest once told me that the only way we can continue believing that it is possible for us to do God's work is to remember that we too are sinners, but that every time we turn away from God, he is always waiting for us and willing to forgive us .. every time.  If we have received mercy from God, should we not be willing to share mercy with those we meet.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Martin de Porres

Good morning everyone.

Today is the liturgical Memorial of Saint Martin de Porres who was born in Lima (Peru) on December 9, 1579.  He was the son of a Spanish nobleman and a freed slave from Panama.  He had a sister who was born two years after him.  Her name was Juana.  After the birth of his sister, Martin's father abandoned the family.  People in Peru don't have such luxuries as widow's allowances or welfare, so Martin's mother took in people's laundry as a way of earning some money.  Eventually, Martin was sent to a primary school where others cared for him and later on he was placed in the care of a barber/surgeon who taught him medical arts.

Martin spent many hours at night in prayer, and this devotion continued and was fostered later in life as well.  At the age of 15 years, he was admitted as a servant within the Dominican community in Lima.  He was 24 years old when he was allowed to take religious vows as a Dominican lay brother.  Having been introduced to medical arts at a very young age, he continued to work in the Dominican infirmary, caring for the sick.  He also cared for others in the community of Lima who were sick.

On many occasions, the gospels recount Jesus' encounters with the sick.  In each case, he took time to care for their needs, and often brought them back to full health.  Today's gospel is one such example (Lk 14:1-6).  Perhaps we can ask Jesus to give us the gift of a compassionate heart so that, following the example that he himself set, and walking in the footsteps of others like Saint Martin of Porres, we too can look compassionately upon others and strive to respond lovingly to their needs.

Have a great weekend.

His Word Today: All Souls'

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, otherwise known as All Souls' Day.

Yesterday, on All Saints' Day, we celebrated the feast day of all the Saints: those who have gone before us and now celebrate the fullness of life in the presence of our Lord and Saviour.  Today, our attention turns to those who have completed their earthly journey but who still need some degree of purifying before they can see God (the souls in purgatory).  The Church teaches that those of us who are alive here on earth can offer prayers for the souls in purgatory.  These souls are the object of our prayer today.

A word of reassurance for the sake of these souls in purgatory can be found in the gospel passage proposed for today's Mass.  Speaking to the crowd, Jesus said: Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me (Jn 6:37).  God the Father sent Jesus - his son - to live among us so that he could show us the way to the Father.  Jesus suffered and died for us and even now, he shows us the way to the Father, constantly walking beside us until we all stand before our God, singing together in one chorus of praise.

There is no way for us to know with any degree of certainty which souls are still in purgatory but we can offer our prayers for them, asking Jesus to have mercy on their souls and to welcome them into the fullness of his kingdom, our heavenly home.

Have a great day!

His Word Today: All Saints' Day

Good morning everyone.

What a wonderful day today is!  Today, the whole Church is celebrating All Saints Day - the feast day of all the saints in heaven.  Have you ever thought about the fact that each one of us has been created by God, every one of us is a new creation at the time we are conceived in our mothers' wombs, and every one of us is destined to live with God in heaven.

Pope Saint John Paul II often reminded us of this truth.  He himself always wanted to be a saint, and he believed that each one of us should want to be a saint - to live forever in heaven in the presence of our loving God.

The Book of Revelation - which is the final book in the New Testament - describes Saint John's visions of heaven.  In one of those visions, Saint John saw a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue - can you imagine such a scene? Have you seen it, in the crowds of people we meet every day? - They stood before the throne of God, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands, and they cried out with one voice: Salvation is from our God ... (Rev 7:9-10).

Each of us wears the white robe that was given to us at our baptism, each of us holds a palm branch in our hands which we use to give praise to God and each one of us praises our God with the words we speak.

May God give you a voice today to sing his praises in union with all the Saints.
Have a blessed day!