On hope

This past weekend, His Holiness, Benedict XVI published his second encyclical letter entitled Spe salvi. Based on the advise offered by Saint Paul to the Church at Rome (Rom 8:24), Benedict's latest publication encourages us to remember that 'in hope we were saved'.

Who ever said that the Vatican think tanks were out of touch with modern marketing smarts? Having published his first encyclical Deus caritas est (God is love) on Christmas Day 2005, echoing the fact that God came among us in the form of a child to teach us love, Spe salvi, which focuses on the virtue of hope, was published just in time for the first Sunday of Advent - the season when we are reminded of God's hope for all people.

Just before repeating the traditional Angelus after the Sunday Mass celebrated in Saint Peter's Square yesterday, the Pope said that 'the world needs God, otherwise it remains without hope'.

Watch the commentaries that will now be published ... that have already begun to be written about this newest publication:

An initial commentary published by ZENIT is only the beginning. The now well-known blog Whispers in the Loggia quickly provided a link to the text, and in the coming days will doubtless publish at least one commentary about it.

Perhaps the contemplatives among us have gotten it right for years. In the midst of a world that seems to be chasing its tail at times in search of hope, the answer has been right in front of our eyes all along. God himself is the source of hope, and Advent calls us to rediscover the simple truth of (re)turning to Him who is the remedy for cultural despair.

For whom the bell tolls

For more than seven decades, the towers which contain the bell at Christ the King here in Sudbury have stood as landmarks for all those who know the downtown area of this city. Like all things mortal, even the bell towers are in need of repair, maintenance and tender loving care from time to time.

At present, there are signs of major wear and tear, just normal ravages of time, but signs nonetheless of some repairs which will need to be done. It is our hope that with the help and generosity of parishioners as well as others who know the history of these towers, the necessary repairs can be made in a timely fashion.

The first signs that a fundraising campaign to facilitate these repairs is on the horizon appear in my Lines from the reading chair this weekend. Tune in often for updates as the project continues to take shape.

Signs of hope

This has been a crazy week! In the midst of trying to get prepared for the beginning of Advent, we have also had a number of other divine interruptions to the schedule which I have learned is anything but tranquil on the best of days.

Today, the Church celebrates the first Sunday of Advent. This four-week period of immediate preparation for Christmas invites us to recognize our dependence on God - something which seems to be increasingly left by the wayside by those who put their trust in other realities with which the more fortunate among us have become accustomed.

Faced with the rather insidious belief that all will be well if we just work hard and invest wisely, many eventually discover that no amount of planning or hoping will guarantee such wealth. By contrast, the scripture passages for this first Sunday of Advent call God's people to renewed hope in the promise of life that has been proclaimed since Jesus himself walked this earth.

My homily, entitled Choose hope, speaks of the power of hope to overcome even the greatest of barriers imposed by fear or despair. It's available, as always in text format as well as in podcast format.

With straight and crooked lines

More than a year ago, one of my cousins asked whether I would be wiling to preside at her wedding. The wedding finally took place this past week. Lo and behold, it gave me the seed for this week's homily.

As promised in my blog entry from Monday of this past week, here is the link to this week's reflection which was shared with parishioners at Christ the King in Sudbury. It's available in a number of different formats, so you choose whether you want to read the text or listen to the podcast.

On the parish website, you'll also find a copy of my musings for this coming week. The column, which is published in our weekly bulletin is entitled Lines from my reading chair. I hope you enjoy them.

Will one thing

Young people and old today look for guidance when they are in trouble. When they are seeking guidance, they turn to those who they perceive to be wise, but what is it that makes heroes? What does it take to be idolized? I dare say that no person sees him-herself as one to be idolized, or to be emulated; this honour is bestowed by those who see good in us, who look to us for direction and who come to us for advise.

Saint Theresa of Lisieux, Blessed Theresa of Calcutta and the Servant of God John Paul II are three examples, from different times in history who have all lived lives of commitment to be devoted servants. Whether within the walls of a convent in Northwestern France, from the streets of one of the most populated cities in India, or from the window of his private apartment in the Vatican, these three people all strove to remain commited each day to doing the will of God.

What makes their example even more poignant is the fact that the world around them seemed to be characterized by many individuals who chose to ignore the fact that God loves each of us into existence and encourages us to share the good news of this love and acceptance with others. By contrast, many people's lives are characterized by individualism and a concern for enjoying the good things of life.

What is it that makes saints and people of commitment renounce the comforts of this world and choose instead to seek comfort and consolation in the quiet of prayer and contemplation? Perhaps we would all do well to examine the ramifications of our decisions and to devote ourselves one day at a time to living lives of radical commitment. It all begins with an act of will, and to remaining focused on willing one thing.

Connecting the dots

A few months ago, I spoke with the people who come to pray at the church where I serve as pastor. I told them that in addition to the updates that are made regularly to our parish website and the printed versions and podcasts of my homily that are available each week after the last Mass is complete, I have also been posting commentary on current literature here on this blog.

The more that I get used to the world of communication on the web, the more I am convinced that all the loops need to be closed, and all the various pieces need to be connected so that different readers who might consult different tools can also have access to other parts of the story.

Beginning this coming Sunday, I will therefore post a link here on the blog so that readers can access the weekly homilies that are preached here at Christ the King in Sudbury. In addition, I'll post a link to the weekly column that is printed in our parish bulletin. It's entitled Lines from my reading chair. You'll find 'back issues' of the homilies, podcasts and Lines, including those which were posted yesterday, on our parish website.

Shelter from the storm

George Orwell once observed, “It is curious how people take it for granted that they have the right to preach to you and pray over you as soon as your income falls below a certain level” (Down and Out in Paris and London).

The women in All Our Sisters are remarkably resourceful. They have found their own ways to live in a constantly changing world. Without an address, they cannot get a social insurance number or a job. Without a home they risk loosing their children. Our social security system has forced many to hide or to stretch the truth to maintain the few things they have. Each of the women has learned to cope in some way with what life has brought them. Most are grateful for the charity that they have found.

Some shelters are run by faith based groups doing outreach work in their communities. These groups do not pride themselves in being there to save the world, but rather in being a safe place. Many shelters offer not only a roof and a meal, but a listening ear and a caring heart. It is through the work of these shelter workers that many lives have been changed. In story after story, many women recount how they have found salvation. Many recall the moment they found God in their lives. Some have turned their lives into living examples of God’s work in this world. They themselves are now working in the missions where they sought refuge.

In these instances women were not preached over or prayed over, but rather listened to and cared for.

While we may often wonder why some lives are so difficult, perhaps these should be seen as our challenge put forward by God. How can we offer support that is more than prayers and preaching? Next time you see someone without shelter, think of what you can do to be God’s living example, to reach out and lend a hand.