Saturday, March 31, 2018

Easter Vigil: Miracles in our midst

This is a night of miracles.  We who are gathered here are witnesses to great and wonderful things, miraculous happenings, and each of these miracles is a moment of grace and blessing for us as we witness our God at work.

Tonight, we have recalled some of the greatest moments in our history: the moment at which our God created us and provided everything that we would need to survive and to thrive (cf Gn 1:1-2:2); the promise that God made to Abraham as a reward for his faith and trust (cf Gn 22:1-18); the journey of our ancestors in faith as they made their way through the sea and into the promised land (Ex 14:15-15:20); the promise that no matter what we may have done to tarnish our relationship with God, He is always willing to sprinkle clean water upon us (cf Ez 36:16-28); and the greatest moment of all: the discovery of the empty tomb which was the summit of our journey in faith (Mk 16:1-8).

What the women encountered when they arrived at the tomb surprised them and filled them both with fear and great joy.  Even today, the miracle of the Resurrection fills our hearts with surprise and with joy ... and this is something wonderful!

Human reason easily understands many things, but human reason is powerless to comprehend the miracle that we are celebrating tonight.  The words of the angel ring out across time to speak to our hearts as they did to the women at the tomb: Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus ... who was crucified.  He has been raised; he is not here (Mk 16:6).

We might be tempted to think that the joy the women encountered that morning was a gift especially reserved for them and not for anyone else, but Jesus rose once for all of us.  This is the reason why we celebrate Easter every year.  The joy with which the angel surprised the women that morning is also offered to us today, for we have all been baptized into Christ Jesus (Rom 6:3) and therefore, just as Christ was raised from the dead, ... so we too can look forward to the day when we will walk in the newness of life (Rom 6:4).

This is the good news that we celebrate tonight, the wonderful, joyous news of Easter that we have to share: Jesus is not here (Mk 16:6).  He has been raised from the dead.  Alleluia!

Friday, March 30, 2018

His Word Today: Love in action

Good morning everyone,

The words of last evening's gospel passage are still ringing in our ears: Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end (Jn 13:1).  The surprising words Jesus spoke during the Last Supper with his disciples: This is my body that is for you and This cup is the new covenant in my blood (1 Cor 11:23-25) were fulfilled in the drama that unfolded on Good Friday.

Sometimes, it can be difficult for us to endure our own sufferings, and it is even more difficult for us to witness the sufferings of someone else who is dear to us - because we are forced to stand by, powerless to bring them any measure of relief.  What was it like for Jesus to willingly endure such excruciating pain: the abandonment of his closest friends who fell asleep in the garden while he prayed, the betrayal of one who he had known so well, the unforgiving words spoken by his accusers, the repeated calls for his crucifixion, the pain of the soldiers' whip across his back, the thorns driven into his flesh, the weight of the wood he carried, the blinding pain of the nails and the slow but unforgiving suffocation that followed ... all the while loving us to the end?  When we contemplate the lengths to which Jesus willingly suffered, our own complaints seem so very small and insignificant.

Pray today for the courage to love.  Sometimes we are compelled to love in situations we would not necessarily have chosen, but like Simon of Cyrene, we discover that as we do our meagre parts to help others carry their crosses, there are blessings given to us as well; even the most simple of tasks, like wiping the face of a person who is broken and suffering can also be the source of surprising rewards; our mere presence at the bedside of those who are weakened, aged and suffering can bring comfort and strength to those who are enduring their own crosses.  All these acts that seem so simple are examples of the ways Jesus calls us to love as he loves us.

Have a great day.

Thursday, March 29, 2018

His Word Today: Service

Good morning everyone,

Today is Holy Thursday, the day when the liturgy speaks about service to others.  Service in Jesus' name can only truly be offered by one who is a person of prayer, one who has heard the gentle voice of Jesus speaking in the depths of his or her heart.  This voice whispers to each of us: The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor (Lk 4:18).  When we are aware of the spirit of the Lord at work in our hearts, we are filled with joy and this joy is contagious: it begs to be shared with others.

We share gospel joy with others by washing their feet: by serving others in Jesus' name.  Jesus himself is the one who shows us how to be present to our brothers and sisters.  At different moments of each day, he offers us the divine sight which allows us to see opportunities for responding to the needs of others, and as we wash the feet of those we meet, it is our great privilege to experience the heart-to-heart intimacy that results when barriers are broken down and our spirits begin to recognize that we are on a common journey.

Where have I encountered Jesus?  How have my feet been washed by others?  How is Jesus inviting me to wash the feet of those I meet?  Can I accept his invitation?  Am I willing to do what he asks of me, to recognize the precious gift that he offers: the gift of joy that is the fruit of loving service?

Have a great day.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

His Word Today: Priceless

Good morning everyone,

One of the most essential, but most difficult lessons to learn when we want to follow Jesus is how to decide whether we are doing what He asks us to do or whether we are insisting on what we ourselves desire.  We must constantly be on the lookout to make sure that we do not fall victim to the temptation to be content with short-sighted rewards.  This was the problem with Judas: he settled for the payment of 30 pieces of silver (cf Mt 26:14-16).  Was he greedy or was he just too eager, and ended up selling himself short?

Against the physical cost that Judas settled for, there is the infinite gift that is offered to each one of God's beloved sons and daughters.  The Lord God has given each of us a well-trained tongue, that we may know how to speak to the weary a word that will awaken them (Is 50:4).  There is no price that can be attached to the ability to encourage the faint of heart and spirit to believe that they are beloved and precious.

Do your best today not to sell yourself short ... or to sell yourself at all.  You are a child of God, a beloved son or daughter.  Dare to ponder what God dreams for you today.

Have a great day.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

His Word Today: Judas teaches

Good morning everyone,

The gospel passage for today's liturgy presents Jesus and the disciples in the Upper Room at the moment when Judas Iscariot - one of the twelve - is pointed out as the one who would betray Jesus (cf Jn 13:21-26).

Jesus loved all his disciples, but Judas had a special role to play.  In fact, his name is not mentioned except in relation to the fact that he was the one who betrayed Jesus.  It might be difficult to believe that betraying Jesus was part of God's plan, but this was the way.  Later in the scriptures, we learn that Judas hung himself.  He did this because he was despairing after he discovered the result of his choice.  Despair is the emotion that invades when there is an absolute absence of hope.

We have all encountered situations where we have regretted choices that we have made, but the important thing is to learn from our mistakes.  We can always come back to Jesus, even if we have committed the most serious of sins, even if we have chosen to live at a distance from him for a very long time.  Perhaps today, we can ask for the grace to believe in the gift of hope.  It will help us to turn away from situations where we might be tempted to despair.

Have a great day.

Monday, March 26, 2018

His Word Today: Simple yet profound

Good morning everyone,

We are only days away from the celebration of the Easter Triduum - the three-day celebration of our Lord's suffering, death and resurrection, so perhaps it is fitting that today's gospel passage should place us with Jesus and his disciples in Bethany shortly before the Passover.

In John's gospel, it is Mary, the sister of Lazarus who anoints Jesus feet while he sits at table with Lazarus and his disciples (cf Jn 12:3).  The significance of this gesture is not lost on Jesus.  Whereas Judas is more concerned with the cost of the ointment used on Jesus' feet (cf Jn 12:4-6), Jesus sees a much deeper significance.  Mary is preparing for the day when she will anoint his body (cf Jn 12:7).  Jesus had to have a deeper understanding of the significance of his impending sacrifice in order to see this simple but profound gesture in such light.

As we prepare to celebrate the liturgies of the Triduum, let us ask Jesus to grant us new insight so that we can see new significance in the simple yet profound words and gestures that we will encounter this week, and let us dare to ask ourselves how our lives mirror Jesus' concern for others, even to the point of giving his life out of love for us.

Have a great day.

Sunday, March 25, 2018

A week of celebrating

Dear friends, we have begun our observance of Holy Week.  Today’s celebration of Palm Sunday actually has two parts to it.  At the beginning of the liturgy, we heard the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and we ourselves held palms and celebrated his arrival in that city.  Whenever we celebrate any liturgy, we not only remember the events that took place in Jesus’ life; we also enter into those very events.

Having re-lived his entry into the City of David, this liturgy also prepares us for the liturgies that will be celebrated in the coming week.  Saint Mark’s account of the Passion, which we have heard today, gives us a glimpse of the celebrations that will take place in the days that lie ahead.

On Thursday of this week, we will gather here at 7:30pm to re-live the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples in the Upper Room.  We will hear how he surprised the disciples by removing his outer garment, stooping before each of them and washing their feet.  Even today, we have difficulty understanding the meaning of this gesture, but we will hear him explain that having our feet washed, and washing the feet of others is an essential part of following in his footsteps.

On Friday of this week, we will assemble here at 3:00pm to commemorate the moment when Jesus gave his life for us on the cross.  We will hear the story of his final hours on earth and we will have an opportunity to adore and venerate the wood of his cross.

At 8:00pm on Saturday, we will gather in vigil, to await the fulfillment of his promise.  As we wait, we will hear the stories of other people who have also experienced God’s presence and action in their lives and we will celebrate the triumph of Christ’s resurrection.

We joyfully celebrate Christ’s resurrection for fifty days – from Easter Sunday until Pentecost.  Each day, we enter into the mystery of his triumph, not his entry into the earthly city of Jerusalem, but his entry into heaven.

Friday, March 23, 2018

His Word Today: Whisperings

Good morning everyone,

Just days away from Holy Week, the prophet Jeremiah speaks the words that most probably echoed in Jesus' mind and heart as he began to suffer - mentally - even before the physical punishment had begun.  I wonder if the prophet's words sounded in Jesus' thoughts as he watched so many speak against him: I hear the whisperings of many: 'Terror on every side!  Denounce! Let us denounce him'.  All those who were my friends are on the watch for any mis-step of mine (Jer 20:10).

How often have we heard such words echo in our own minds?  Such thoughts are deeply human thoughts, for at the core of our beings, we all long for acceptance, but we live among humans in an imperfect society so there will always be doubters among those who hear our words, yet the presence of doubters should not stop us from speaking the truth that we have come to know.  In fact, if there are some among us who whisper about what we say or about the ideas we advance, this is sometimes a sign that we are on the right track.  It is easy for us to fall into the trap of believing that every time we are met with doubt, we must stop and question our own motives, but it takes great faith to continue believing that the work we do is not our own, but rather the work of our Father in heaven who sent his son Jesus, and who now uses our words and actions to speak to mortals.

If today we are aware of whisperings among those who doubt, let us pray for the grace of God's guidance so that we may not give in to the temptation to be paralyzed by other people's doubts, but rather that we may have the courage and conviction of our faith to encounter people where they are, to listen compassionately to their fears and concerns and to act justly and courageously in helping them to exchange their fears for deeper faith and trust in God.

Have a great day.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

His Word Today: Humble prayer

Good morning everyone,

The Book of Genesis tells us today that when Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him (Gn 17:3).  The act of lying prostrate in prayer is an ancient and venerated posture.  Without uttering a word with our lips, this gesture of humility already speaks eloquently of our willingness to surrender and to cooperate.

How difficult it can be at times for us to surrender ourselves to the Lord, or to anyone else for that matter, but the act of prostration is not meant to shore up any kind of earthly reward or to gain earthly recognition.  In fact, it does exactly the opposite, portraying a willingness to empty ourselves completely.  When Abram prostrated himself before the Lord, God rewarded him by revealing his joy: I will make you exceedingly fertile, I will make nations of you ... (Gn 17:6).

It takes great humility to fall prostrate before someone.  Have we ever contemplated doing just that in the presence of God?  Are we able to expose ourselves to such powerlessness?  The choice is ours, every day to prostrate ourselves (literally if we so choose) before the Lord and to thank him for the many ways he uses our talents and gifts to continue his work of salvation in the world.

Have a great day.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

His Word Today: Put to the test

Good morning everyone,

In today's gospel, Jesus tells us if you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples (Jn 8:31).  This seems to be an easy thing to do: remain in my word.  In other words, remain faithful to me and I will provide everything that you need.

Remaining close to the word of God, relying on its wisdom to guide us: this is the virtue that we see enacted in the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan 3:14-20, 91-95).  How often in the history of God's people have the followers of our God been subjected to persecution - even today there are many who are persecuted solely because they believe in Christ.  King Nebuchadnezzar cast Shadrach and his companions into a heated furnace - a certain sign of torture and death, but they survived the ordeal and the King chose to follow the God of these brave disciples.

Even today, our God will never abandon us, even if we should have to suffer for our faith.  The question is whether we will have the strength of conviction to follow him.  In these final days of the Lenten period, let us pray for this grace so that we can follow him always.

Have a great day.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

His Word Today: Look and live

Good morning everyone,

To prepare our hearts for next week's celebrations of Holy Week, today's gospel passage places us in the presence of Jesus and the Pharisees.  He tells them: When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am (Jn 8:28).  This is a direct reference to the story of Moses that is recounted in today's first reading (Num 21:4-9): a text which these learned men should have known very well, and the use of the name 'I am' is a direct reference to the revelation of the name of God (cf Ex 3:14) which was made to Moses.

In his Angelus address this past Sunday, Pope Francis told us: those who wish to know Jesus must look deeper - to the cross - where his true glory is revealed (Angelus, 18 March 2018).  Jesus is very aware of the temptations that we face every day.  Like the serpents in the desert, if we give in to these temptations, they will slowly drain the joy and spiritual life from us, but God always hears the cries of his people, and he is always ready to offer us a solution.

In the desert, Moses fashioned a serpent out of bronze.  If anyone was bitten, they simply had to look upon this bronze serpent and they would live.  Today, we no longer have bronze serpents, but we have crucifixes.  Every time we feel weighed down by life's burdens, all we need to do is look to the cross, where Jesus true glory is revealed.  He is always there, willing to console us, willing to enfold us in his loving arms, willing to restore and refresh us.

Have a great day.

Monday, March 19, 2018

His Word Today: Saint Joseph

Good morning everyone,

Today the Church celebrates and prays with Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary of Nazareth and Jesus' earthly father.  Saint Luke tells us that Joseph lived in Nazareth.  In fact, to this day, within the Basilica of the Annunciation in that city, we can still find Joseph's carpentry shop.

Whereas the scriptures speak on many occasions about Mary - the mother of Jesus - Joseph only makes a few appearances, yet just as Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, Joseph too was held in high regard and given a special role: to care for and to provide for the Son of God in his childhood years.  We know that Joseph was a righteous man (Mt 1:19), but Joseph must also have been highly favoured by God.  Why else would he have been chosen for the unique task of guiding Jesus through his formative years?

Even today, Saint Joseph continues to offer guidance for parents whose special task is to care for, to guide and to provide for their children.  Ask him today to share his special wisdom with us.

Have a great day.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Dying to self

Today's gospel passage begins with details about people who were coming in search of Jesus.  Saint John tells us that some Greeks ... came to Philip and asked him: ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus’ (Jn 12:20-21).  On the surface, this seems to be an innocent question.  Perhaps they had heard about Jesus and wanted to meet him, but I wonder whether they realized how their lives would change once they had come face to face with him.

The same is true for us today.  We hear stories about the miracles that Jesus performed and perhaps there is a part of us that is intrigued.  We wonder whether we too can meet Jesus, whether he will work miracles in our lives too.  In some cases, we know of people who are sick and suffering and we want to pray for them; or perhaps we know of those who are facing financial hardships or other challenges and we want to ask Jesus to be close to them.  Whatever the concern may be, in the depths of our hearts we come to Jesus in hopes that he will answer our prayers ... but every time that we encounter Jesus, our lives are changed.  In some cases, he responds to our prayers, but in most cases, he also asks us to get involved.

When Andrew and Philip told him that the Greeks wanted to meet him, his response was more of a teaching for his disciples than a response to their question: unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (Jn 12:24).  In other words, anyone who wants to meet Jesus must also be willing to follow him, to allow him to teach us every day how to die to ourselves so that he – Jesus – can live within us.

He who learned obedience through what he suffered (Heb 5:8) wants to teach each one of us how to give of ourselves, purely motivated by love, so that others will come to know him and experience his love for them.

The ancient tradition of the Church has always included this attitude of self-giving in the disciplines that are proper to the season of Lent.  Almsgiving is traditionally thought of in terms of sharing monetary gifts with those who are in need, but it also includes the practice of learning how to give of ourselves.  This weekend, in all the Catholic churches across Canada, we receive the collection for Development and Peace (Share Lent).  Our offering of money to assist with the efforts of Development and Peace in areas of need throughout our world is one way that we can give of ourselves so that others may benefit.

The prophet Jeremiah reminds us today that the Lord wants to put his law within us ... to write it on our hearts (Jer 31:33).  Every day, he is at work, seeking out opportunities to show us how much he loves us.  Every day, he finds ways to help us understand that he is always close to us and that he loves us even more deeply than we can imagine.  Having experienced his love for us, Jesus then calls us to give what we ourselves have received so that others who come to us and say: we want to see Jesus, may also have an opportunity to encounter him.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

His Word Today: Saint Patrick

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates Saint Patrick.  Although he is venerated by all people Irish, the precise details of his life are not well known; it is widely accepted that he was a missionary in Ireland during the second half of the fifth century A.D.  He is believed to have been born in Roman Britain (a part of the island of modern-day Great Britain - perhaps in Wales or in Scotland - which was once part of the Roman Empire).  Although his grandfather may have been a Catholic priest and his father is believed to have been a deacon, Patrick was not an active believer - at least not in his youth.

At the age of 16 years, he was captured by a group of Irish pirates who took him to Ireland where he lived as a slave for six years.  He worked as a shepherd during this time and, according to his own Confession, the time he spent in captivity was critical to his spiritual development. He explains that the Lord had mercy on his youth and ignorance, and afforded him the opportunity to be forgiven of his sins and converted to Christianity.  Patrick returned home to Roman Britain when he was 22 years old and continued to study Christianity.

A few years later, Patrick had a vision in which a holy man handed him a letter.  The letter contained the words: We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.  Patrick claims to have heard in these words a call from the people of Ireland to return there, so he returned as a Christian missionary.  Despite this call though, Patrick was often perceived as an outsider by the Irish locals, although he never allowed this to deter him from sharing his faith and from encouraging others to come to know Jesus.

Received with ridicule and insult, perhaps Patrick was more easily able to identify with the fact that Jesus himself was like a trusting lamb led to the slaughter (Jer 11:19), but this is often a sign that the work of one who seeks to preach not his own word but the word of the Lord is truly doing God's work.  May Saint Patrick intercede for all of us so that we may always seek to know the will of God in our lives and choose to follow his promptings no matter where he may ask us to go so that we in turn may know the joy of sharing our faith with those we meet.

Have a great day.

Friday, March 16, 2018

His Word Today: Close to the brokenhearted

Good morning everyone,

The Lenten period is a gift for us: a time for us to come back to the Lord, to re-discover the gentle presence of our God who is close to the brokenhearted (Ps 34:19).  This is good news for all those who have known the experience of feeling as though we were far distant from God.

The thought of God's closeness to the brokenhearted also helps us to develop a special affinity for those who are downtrodden.  Those who are ignored and those who are weak are especially favoured by the Lord, but it takes great courage for those who are so removed from the experiences of joy, acceptance and love to pick themselves up again and to keep moving on.

If we ourselves are among those who are in most need of realizing the joy of experiencing the presence of God in our lives, perhaps it might help to remind ourselves that the Lord is indeed close to the brokenhearted.  Even if we are not aware of his presence, he is still close by, simply waiting for us to recognize him in the faces of those around us, in the persons who call out to us in their moments of need, in those who share the gift of their faith so that we ourselves can recognize faith alive in our own hearts.

Have a great day.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

His Word Today: The golden calf

The Adoration of the Golden Calf
Nicholas Poussin (1594-1665)
Good morning everyone,

In today's first reading, we find the well-known scene where Moses is standing on top of the mountain with God.  Moses is enjoying his time - like Peter, James and John would later on (Mt 17:4).  In this case, Moses is so caught up in the joy of the moment that he is unaware of what is happening at the base of the mountain.  God is the one who sends him out on his mission:  Go down at once to your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved (Ex 32:7).

Throughout the history of God's relationship with his people, he has always wanted to be close to us, yet we are the ones who always seem to find ways to turn our backs, and when we do, eventually, we lose our focus.  At first we may experience some guilt about our insistence on living life on our own - without paying attention to our faith - but eventually, we become numb to that pain too ... In the meanwhile, God is still watching - sometimes from a distance - hoping that we will change our depraved ways and come back to him.

Have I turned away from God?  Can I identify the golden calves in my life - the false images of God that I choose to worship (cf Ex 32:8)?

Jesus came to show us the way to the Father (Jn 5:43) - like Moses was sent to the Israelites to remind them that they were not alone.

Who are the people in my life that remind me of the tender love that God has for me, the ones who challenge me to not forget the fact that God loves me, even though I may have lost my focus, even though I may have become numb to the pain of trying to convince myself that I can live without Him?

Have a great day.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

His Word Today: We can't do it alone

Good morning everyone,

Isaiah speaks today of the work that God is doing.  The scope of this task is monumental to say the least.  I have given you as a covenant to the people to restore the land and allot the desolate heritages ... to say to prisoners: 'Come out'; to those in darkness: 'Show yourselves' (Is 49:8-9).

God calls us to do big things, but the danger is that we are human, and so we can sometimes forget that he does not ask us to do all this work on our own.  In fact, he does not ask us to do the work at all.  Rather, he asks to allow him to use us as instruments through which he can do the work himself.  If we get caught thinking that we are the ones who matter most, we will soon find that we are overwhelmed by the demands that are placed in front of us.  If, on the other hand, we strive always to remember that God is the one who is doing the work, we have a much different outlook, and a much greater appreciation for the enormous privilege He has bestowed upon us.

Pray today for the grace to realize that you and I are only instruments through which God is at work in the world.

Have a great day.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

His Word Today: Melting the ice

Good morning everyone,

In these latter months of winter, there is still snow on the ground.  It seems as though nature has halted and everything is standing still, yet beneath the frozen surface lies the promise that in just a few weeks' time, these blankets of white will melt and give way to flowing streams.

There is something mesmerizing about flowing water.  It speaks of freshness, cleanliness and newness.  Perhaps this is the gift that God wanted to communicate through the words of the prophet Isaiah who - in his vision - was brought back to the entrance of the temple ... where he saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple ... (Ez 47:1).  Ezekiel's vision is still being fulfilled today.  God's word was never meant to remain frozen in the pages of the bible.  It is living and active, at work in our hearts, minds and spirits, but we have to train ourselves to pay attention to its promptings and we need to learn how to cooperate with God's invitations.

Pray today for the grace to pay attention to the many ways that God is stirring up his spirit within your heart like a stream of flowing water that is awakened from the frozen regions of our souls, thawing them with the warmth of his love and refreshing us so that we can experience the new life that his presence imparts.

Have a great day.

Monday, March 12, 2018

His Word Today: Rejoice and exalt

Good morning everyone,

Yesterday, from the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis explained that the fourth Sunday of Lent - which is called Laetare Sunday, is an occasion for us to rejoice.  The word Laetare means rejoice.  Even though we are still a few weeks away from the celebration of Easter, we can already begin to exalt and to celebrate because we are the beloved of God.

The prophet Isaiah tells us that the time will come when the Lord will rejoice and exalt in his people (Is 65:19).  This time has arrived in the person of Jesus Christ.  God the Father sent his son into the world so that he could show us the great mercy that is found in the heart of our God.

This period of Lent invites us to come back to our heavenly Father.  He waits with infinite patience for us to open our hearts to him and to trust that he will not turn us away.  In fact, he will throw the doors of his heart open wide and rejoice, and he will invite us to taste the great joy of rejoicing and exalting in his presence.

Take time today to be aware of the secrets that are still held in the depths of your heart, the things you try to keep hidden even from God.  Try to imagine the experience of presenting those secrets to him honestly and humbly.  Picture it in your mind and trust that you too can know the great joy of celebrating such a great homecoming.

Have a great day.  

Sunday, March 11, 2018

God so loved the world

Every year, as the season of Lent approaches, I get excited because this time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving provides an opportunity for me to remember – as if for the first time – the truth that God really loves me, that no matter what I may have done, he will always forgive and – what’s even more – he rejoices when I recognize my shortcomings and turn back to him.  We all need to be reminded of these truths from time to time so that we won’t forget them: God loves me, he will always forgive me, and he rejoices when I turn back to him.

Today’s first reading reminds us that there have been other moments throughout our history when God’s beloved people turned their backs on him: All the leading priests and the people were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of the Lord that he had consecrated in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:14), but despite their unfaithfulness, God has never stopped loving us.  Even today, looking at the world around us, it isn’t that difficult to see how people are so easily tempted to fall into unfaithfulness.  In fact, we even try to blame other people for our own shortcomings, and if there isn’t anyone around to blame, then we turn our attention to society itself.  How different our world would be if we could be courageous enough to look honestly at our own lives and admit our own unwillingness to love, but then again to do so would expose weakness.

The world around us leaves no room for weakness and vulnerability, but only when we are willing to admit our own weakness, our own vulnerability, are we able to truly appreciate the power of God’s love.  Lent is a perfect time for us to admit our weaknesses and to re-discover the power of God’s love for each one of us.

Not only does God love each one of us unconditionally, he will always forgive us.  This is the great gift that Jesus explored with Nicodemus in the gospel passage we heard today.  God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life (Jn 3:16).  This is a truth that we may have heard again and again, but until we are willing to encounter the risen Jesus in prayer, until we are willing to allow him to instruct our hearts and to speak to us in the depth of prayer, we may never come to understand or believe that it is possible for God to love us so deeply that he is always willing to forgive us of our sins.

How wonderful it is to come to this realization!  How freeing it is to know that even though I may have every good intention to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, there will come a time when I will choose not to do so, and Jesus will always be there, waiting to forgive me and to help me get back on my feet!

Lent is a time when we are reminded of the fact that Jesus rejoices whenever we turn back to him.  We see evidence of this in the words Saint Paul spoke to the Ephesians: God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us ... made us alive together with Christ (Eph 2:4-5).  When was the last time that we experienced the heartfelt joy of God’s mercy?  Let us dare to be honest with ourselves in the coming weeks.  If there is a need to be reconciled, let us not wait; let us take advantage of this great season of mercy to be at peace with ourselves and with God so that we can truly celebrate the joy of Easter.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

His Word Today: The dance

Good morning everyone,

Do you remember a time when, as a young child - or maybe as a teenager - you saw someone and thought I'd love to get to know that person?  Have you ever had the experience of wanting to get close to someone, to spend time with them ... only to discover that the person in question had no interest at all in getting to know you?  Perhaps you have even known a time when repeated attempts were necessary before a person of interest finally gave in and gave you a chance to learn something more about him or her.  These initial moments in a relationship are always tricky and require a dance of diplomacy that is not always easy to navigate.

Today's words from the prophet Hosea remind us that our God has been doing the dance of diplomacy around us for quite some time now.  He has been trying to get close to us, to open his heart to us so that he can spend time with us.  The question is, are we willing to give him a chance?

Having experienced God's friendship for himself, Hosea still calls out to us: Come, let us return to the Lord ... he will heal us ... he will bind up our wounds (Hos 6:1).  Have we been ignoring God's dance of diplomacy?  Luckily for us, He is persistent and won't give up until we give in and give Him a chance to show us his love, and once we have experienced His love for us, we will quickly discover that we ourselves have fallen in love with Him.

Have a great day.

Friday, March 9, 2018

His Word Today: Saint Frances of Rome

Saint Frances of Rome giving alms
Giovan Battista Gaulli (1639-1709)
Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church remembers and prays with Saint Frances of Rome who was born in Rome in 1384 and christened in the church of Saint Agnes, located in Piazza Navona.  At the age of 11, she wanted to be a nun, but her parents had other plans for her.  At approximately the age of 12, she was married to the commander of the Papal troops of Rome.  Their marriage was a happy one and lasted for forty years.

During the long periods of her husband's absence, Frances visited the poor and took care of the sick.  She even turned a part of her family's country home into a hospital and often distributed food and clothing to the poor.  With her husband's consent, Frances practiced a life of countenance and a life of contemplation.

On August 15, 1425, the feast of the Assumption of Mary, she founded the Olivetan Oblates of Mary, a confraternity of pious women, under the authority of the Olivetan monks of the Abbey of Santa Maria Nova in Rome, but neither cloistered nor bound by formal vows, so they could follow her pattern of combining a life of prayer with answering the needs of their society.

In March 1433 she founded a monastery at Tor de' Specchi, near the Campidoglio, in order to allow for a common life by those members of the confraternity who felt so called. This monastery remains the only house of the Institute. That July 4, they received the approval of Pope Eugene IV as a religious congregation of oblates with private religious vows. The community later became known simply as the Oblates of St. Frances of Rome.

Frances herself remained in her own home, nursing her husband for the last seven years of his life from wounds he had received in battle. When he died in 1436, she moved into the monastery and became the superior. She died in 1440 and was buried in Santa Maria Nova.

Today, we can ask Saint Frances to pray with us, that the Lord's word may take root in our hearts (cf Hosea 14:6) so that we too may listen for the call of the Lord to share the abundance that is ours with those who are in need.

Have a great day.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

His Word Today: Saint John of God

Good morning everyone,

Today is the liturgical Memorial of Saint John of God, a Portuguese-born soldier turned health-care worker who lived in Spain. His followers later formed the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God, a worldwide Catholic religious institute dedicated to the care of the poor, the sick, and those suffering from mental disorders.

Saint John of God was one of those who learned how to listen to the voice of the Lord (Jer 7:23).  It was by listening to God's voice and allowing the Lord to show him where the greatest need for his presence and his talents lay that he was able to identify the service that he and his confrères still provide today.

We too can learn the art of listening to the voice of the Lord.  This voice will always lead us to the situations where God needs us to be present.  The more we surrender our own stubbornness and choose to allow Him to direct our steps, the more he will lead us along the path that will bring us the greatest joy, and most probably bring the greatest joy to others as well.  Dare to say yes to God today.  The adventure awaits.

Have a great day.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

His Word Today: Eternity

Good morning everyone,

There is a hint of promise in the words of scripture today.  Moses calls out to the people and invites them to prepare their hearts so that they can enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord ... is giving them (Deut 4:1) and Jesus cautions his disciples to obey and teach the commandments so that they will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven (Mt 5:19).

It is exciting to think that God is - even now - preparing a land for us, a place where he will welcome us.  This land in which we currently live is only a temporary home; while we are here, we are practicing for life in eternity, in our true homeland, in heaven with God.  While we are here, we are learning how to obey the commandments - laws that are lovingly given in order to define the limits within which we must live, and we who are learning this discipline also must teach these same limits to those who will come after us.

With our eyes set on the land which the Lord is giving to us, let us strive to live this day with a view that surpasses the horizons of humanity and dares to dream about the horizons of eternity where we will live one day in the heavenly homeland we are intended to inhabit.

Have a great day.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

His Word Today: Kindness and mercy

Good morning everyone,

The first reading of today's liturgy places us with Azariah in the midst of the burning flames.  Even in such peril, he found a voice for prayer, words with which he could praise God.  How often have we found ourselves in perilous situations and reacted in a human way: by demonstrating fear?

During this Lenten season, we are invited to remember the truth that at all moments of our days and nights: in the midst of joy and celebration as in suffering and pain, the Lord is close to us.  We can always call out to him: show us your kindness and great mercy (Daniel 3:42).  What consolation the Lord wants to offer us, if only we would open our eyes and our hearts to recognize this truth!

Today, pray for the grace to be deeply aware of God's kindness and great mercy and most especially his presence in our lives: he is always close by, walking beside us, offering words of comfort, consolation and encouragement.

Have a great day.

Monday, March 5, 2018

His Word Today: Rejection

Good morning everyone,

In today's gospel, Jesus voices something that is true for all those who authentically seek to follow him: we will be rejected by the world around us.  On many occasions, I use this advice to test the validity of a decision that has to be made as part of my discernment of God's promptings.

In fact, the scripture passages for today's liturgy speak of three instances when this truth was made evident: the story of Naaman the Syrian army commander (2 K 5:1-15), Elijah's encounter with the widow of Zarephath (Lk 4:25-26), and Jesus' own words offered in the synagogue (Lk 4:24).

How often does it happen that we bring our prayers to the Lord, asking for someone to be healed or for help to be given?  It seems as though there is also a hidden expectation that accompanies such prayers: that God will ask us to do something truly demanding in return - as a kind of payment.  How difficult it is for us to accept the fact that our God does not require payment for his goodness.  Instead, he asks us only to do simple things in return - like just saying thank you.

Let's ask for the ability to let go of our expectations today.  Maybe then we will be better able to be surprised by the profound love of God in action.

Have a great day.

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Rebuild the temple

Earlier this week, Archbishop Luis Ladaria, SJ, the Vatican’s Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released the text of a letter which has recently been sent to all the Bishops of the world.  In this letter, Archbishop Ladaria considers some aspects of Christian salvation that can be difficult for the modern world to understand.

He recognizes the fact that all human beings have a deep-seated desire for salvation.  Our thirst to live in relationship with God traces its roots back to the Old Testament times.  The first reading for today’s liturgy recounts the words that God spoke to Moses when he gave us the Ten Commandments (cf Ex 20:1-17).  These ten signposts outline the rules of life by which we still seek to live today.  It has always been God’s hope that we should live in relationship with Him, and on many occasions throughout the Old Testament, God has renewed his covenant and planted within our hearts the desire for our relationship with him flourish.

Even today, God’s deepest desire is that our relationship with Him should thrive, but the reality is that there are some current cultural changes in our understanding of the meaning of Christian salvation.  Archbishop Ladaria explains that individualism ... tends to see the human person as a being whose sole fulfillment depends only on his or her own strength whereas the Church has always taught that we are all created and loved by God and that even though we may spend our lives seeking a sense of fulfillment, our hearts will always be restless as we continue this search until we rest in God (Saint Augustine of Hippo).

There is also a prevailing tendency to believe in a merely interior vision of salvation: a vision that is marked by a strong personal conviction or feeling of being united to God ... but which does not recognize our need to accept, heal and renew our relationships with others and with the created world.

It would appear that, at least to some extent, we have lost sight of the relationship that God has always sought to cultivate with us: a relationship of mutual love and respect.  Jesus recognized this danger too when he went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and entered the temple.  There, instead of finding people praying and worshiping God, he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and money changers seated at their tables (Jn 2:14).  In response, he made a whip out of cords and drove all of them out (Jn 2:15).  When they asked him to explain his actions, he simply replied: Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up (Jn 2:19).  We know that he was referring to the temple of his body, and we know that he fulfilled this promise by rising from the dead.  That’s the reason why we are all here today.

Still, the message of salvation that was made clear by Christ’s self-giving death on the cross and by his resurrection appears as foolishness (1 Cor 1:18) to those who refuse to believe the truth of Jesus’ words.  Yet, for more than two thousand years, the Church has consistently communicated our faith in God and our expectation that Jesus, our Saviour, will come again at the end of time.  Our world is thirsting for this message.  Are we willing to share it with those we meet?

Saturday, March 3, 2018

His Word Today: Coming to our senses

The Departure of the Prodigal Son
Jan Miense Molenaer
Good morning everyone,

The gospel passage for today's liturgy is one of my favorites because it is filled with images and much food for thought and prayer.  Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus. but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain ... (Lk 15:1-2).  Even these opening words cause us to stop.  We need to ponder in the depths of our hearts - in the place where we must be absolutely honest with ourselves: Which group of people do I fall into?  There are some days when there is no doubt that I am one of the sinners, those who are seeking forgiveness and inspiration from the Word of God, but are there other moments when I am more like a Pharisee, looking at others scornfully and judgmentally?

We can all learn from Jesus the art of living well.  Rare are the occasions when we need to raise our voices (he only did that on very few occasions) but we must constantly be on the lookout for those who seek to impose their own wills.  In most cases, Jesus did not respond with harsh words, but he was intent on making his point.  In this case, he shows us a portrait of the Father: our loving Father, who is even willing to allow us to disown him and take our inheritance (cf Lk 15:12) if we so choose.

How difficult it must have been for the father in that parable to agree to his son's request!  Every parent has hopes and dreams for his or her children.  When the children turn their backs on these dreams, this causes profound pain in the hearts of their parents.  The father could have refused his son's request, but he didn't.  Instead he spent his nights and days worrying about his son, praying for his safety, wondering if he would ever come back.

Pray today for all those we know who have strayed from the path that was first set out by our heavenly Father.  Pray for those who struggle to find their way back.  Pray for parents who struggle to accept the decisions that their children sometimes make, and if we ourselves should be prodigal children, pray for the courage to come to our senses (Lk 15:17), the courage to come back home.

Have a great day.

Friday, March 2, 2018

His Word Today: Beloved of God

Good morning everyone.

The story of Joseph and the multi-coloured coat that is told in today's first reading (cf Gn 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28) is among the most well-known of the Old Testament adventures, yet how often have we actually taken the time to consider that the pride that Israel took in his beloved son (cf Gn 37:3) is the same as the pride that God takes in each one of us?  There is a danger though in our being the beloved of God, and that is that we run the risk of becoming the object of much jealousy unless we remind those who share our journey through this life that each and every one of us is a beloved child of God.

On the other hand, how often have we found ourselves in the role of Israel's other sons: the ones who were not his favorites?  When jealousy enters our hearts, it has the power to blind us to the gifts of love and forgiveness.  Jealousy has no place in a heart that is filled with love.  Jealousy leaves no room for anyone or anything else.  It is entirely self-serving.

Give thanks today for the great gift that God has already shared with each one of us by allowing us to be known as his precious daughters and sons!  If we begin with such words of praise, perhaps we will be able to cultivate a new way of seeing the world around us: not so much guided by jealousy but rather by love and forgiveness.

Have a great day.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

His Word Today: Go out

Hendrick ter Brugghen (1588-1629)
The Rich Man and the Poor Lazarus (1625)
Good morning everyone,

The parable of the rich man that is told in today's gospel (cf Lk 16:19-31) always reminds me that no matter how fortunate we have been in life, we should never take things for granted.  There are always others in our midst who are in need.  Sometimes these people are lying right at our doorstep (cf Lk 16:20), which you would think would make them easier to identify, but their proximity sometimes makes us more blind to their presence.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has repeatedly challenged us to go out.  For those who have become comfortable with their surroundings, this challenge may truly be difficult to accept, but only if we are able to go out of ourselves and to go to the peripheries of existence will we be able to open our eyes and recognize the poor who are right before our eyes.

This is a choice that we must make every day: to go out in search of those who are in need.  If we approach life in this way, we will soon discover the need to trust and to hope in the Lord (cf Jer 17:7).  The great blessing that is right before our eyes is the fact that the less we rely on our own ingenuity and the more that we turn to God, the less we will have to concern ourselves with the things that can distract us from focusing on what is truly important in life.

Pray today for the grace to let go of the things that keep us focused on our own private matters.  Ask for the blessing to go out to the places where we will be able to perceive the people who need our help, and may God grant us the courage to act in his name.

Have a great day.