Giving Thanks

This weekend, families and friends are coming together to celebrate Thanksgiving.  This autumn festival gives us a chance to see people who we love, but it also gives us a chance to look back upon the months that have passed and to be grateful to God for the gifts we have received.

This past summer was an especially warm one.  We haven’t seen this kind of warmth for a long time ... and so we give thanks to God for the sunshine and the warmth of the summer that has resulted in abundant harvests.  We also witnessed one of the most active forest fire seasons in recent memory, so we give thanks for the efforts of all those who were involved in various efforts to keep us safe.

Gratitude is a theme that also appears in the scriptures.  The Book of Genesis reminds us today of the very beginnings of our history, a time when God was creating the world.  Even then, God loved all that was being created; even then, God was concerned for our wellbeing.  Did you know that there are two creation accounts in the bible?  The first one (Genesis 1) describes God creating all the elements of nature – light, darkness, dry land, seas and oceans, vegetation, sea creatures and land animals ... and then human beings.  The second account (Genesis 2) is the one that we have heard today.  In this account, human beings are created first, and then out of the ground, the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air (Gn 2:19) and God went even further.  As these creatures were being created, God brought them to the man to see what he would call them.  This is an amazing image: God wanted us to be part of the process of creation!  But even that wasn’t enough.  The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field: but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner (Gn 2:20).  God knew, even at the beginning of creation, that each one of us needed a companion to share our journey through life, and this is true even today.  Each one of us needs at least one other person with whom to share the joys and the struggles of life.  Sometimes, that person is a husband or a wife, sometimes that person is a friend, or a helper who appears in our lives precisely at the moment when we are in need.

Jesus understood his Father’s love and concern for us, but he was also aware of the ways that some people have tried to twist the truth in order to promote their own self-importance.  When the Pharisees asked him to clarify one of the teachings that had been handed down from Moses – one of the most venerated human being in the history of the Jewish people – Jesus turned the question back on them, and explained that from the very beginning, God made human beings male and female (Mk 10:6).  Then he went on to explain: For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife ... they shall no longer be two, but one (Mk 10:7-8).

As we gather to give thanks, let the festivities of this weekend also include a prayer of thanks for the companions that the Lord has placed upon our paths: for those who help to lighten the load when we are struggling and for those who are present to share the joy of happier moments too.

His Word Today: Prosperity

Good morning everyone,

Do you really believe the words that we hear in the scriptures: that the struggles of this life will lead to the joy of eternity spent in heaven?

Both of the scripture passages proposed for today's meditation hint at this reality.  We hear the final words of the Book of Job (Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17) which describe the exceeding prosperity that Job enjoyed after the struggle; and we hear some of the details of the 72 disciples who returned to Jesus to enthusiastically recount the details of their adventures (Lk 10:17-24).

This is the truth for all of us.  We can all look forward to heaven: an eternity of joy, constant enthusiasm and excitement because every day will be a new opportunity for adventure.  In the meanwhile, we can practice the art of looking forward to such an adventure by looking for the signs of divine intervention: they are constantly present in our daily lives.  All we have to do is look for them.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Gifted

Good morning everyone,

Have you had the experience of someone who recognizes a talent of yours, or perhaps someone recognizes something that is a hidden gift of yours? Sometimes we're not even aware of the ways in which we have been gifted, or the talents that we possess until someone else points out these blessings for us.

This is the case in the gospel passage that is proposed for today's thought and prayer.  People in the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and even Capharnaüm were unaware of the great gift that was given to them:  Jesus Christ, the son of God was passing through their midst and they were not paying any attention to him (cf Lk 10:13, 15).

Our God is constantly trying to communicate with us. Sometimes these attempts take place during the ordinary circumstances of daily life. Sometimes they are to be found in surprising situations where we would least expect to find Him. Be on the lookout today, listen carefully today.  And if you should encounter a precious moment or an experience of God, stop for just a moment and say thank you.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Francis of Assisi

Good morning everyone,

Today, we celebrate the liturgical Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi, who was born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone in late 1181 or early 1182 in Assisi (Italy).  His father was a prosperous silk merchant who dreamed of the day when Giovanni would inherit his wealth and fame, but Francis had other ideas.  In his early twenties, Francis suffered from an illness while on a military expedition against Perugia.  He was taken prisoner and spent a year as a captive.  He tried to return to his carefree life but after experiencing a vision, he slowly began to change his life.

This week in Rome, the long-awaited Synod of Bishops on Youth began.  Two years ago, Pope Francis called for this gathering of the Synod which has already called for input from young people from Canada and other countries who were invited to speak about their concerns about the Church.  Young people are also present at the Vatican this month to take part in the deliberations at the Synod which officially began yesterday with the celebration of a Mass in Saint Peter's Square.  In his homily, the Holy Father spoke poignantly about the need for the Church to listen carefully to the concerns of youth so that we may remain relevant to their concerns.  This concern was echoed in the opening address that His Holiness offered to the delegates when they gathered for the opening session of the Synod yesterday afternoon.

Saint Francis is well known for the courage he demonstrated in re-building the Church.  It is significant that this year, as we remember and celebrate him, we are also looking toward the concerns of other youth - not so much different in some ways from the young man from Assisi - who are also daring to speak about their dreams and hopes for the future of the Church.

Let us dare to listen carefully to the concerns of those who are young, and to pray that the advice that is being offered during the Synod will help the Church to remain close to and relevant to young people today.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Consider carefully

Good morning everyone,

The advice we receive from today's scripture passages relates to not making decisions too hastily, and at the same time, not putting off decisions for too long.  There are some decisions that are time sensitive, and there are some that are worth taking a bit of time to consider carefully.  It's not always easy to figure out which ones are which.

We who have been called to follow Jesus might like - at some points - to delay our decision to do what we know that faithful disciples should do, but Jesus warns that if we have heard the Lord's invitation: Follow me! (Mk 9:59) we should consider carefully the way that we answer.  On the other hand, sometimes we ourselves are in a hurry to say: I will follow you wherever you go! (Mk 9:57) when we would be much better to stop for a moment, consider the options, and then make our decision.

In either case, what is needed is the gift of wisdom, so that we can consider carefully the choices that lay before us, making sure that the decisions we make are wise - according to the measure of the disciples' heart that is the focus of everyone who finds inspiration in modelling our lives after Jesus.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: The Guardian Angels

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the liturgical Memorial of the Guardian Angels.  Whereas we know the names of some of the angels - like Michael, Gabriel and Raphael - there are countless hosts of other angels, and some of them are assigned to be our spiritual body guards.  These are the ones we call our guardian angels.

When we are conceived, each of us receives at least one - sometimes more than one - guardian angel.  Each one of these is assigned for one task - and one task only - for our entire lives: that is to help and guide us along our pilgrimage through earthly life and to protect us from danger.  Like loving mothers, our guardian angels are constantly running before and behind us, doing their best to keep us safe and loving us unconditionally.  Our guardian angels comfort us, guide us and bring special people and opportunities into our lives just when we need them.

Jesus speaks again today about the presence of children in our lives (cf Mt 18:1-5), as reminders that we are called to be humble.  It seems to me that if we take the time to realize that each of us is so loved that our God - and our guardian angels - are constantly looking out for us, each one of us is also a precious child in the eyes of these heavenly helpers.  Be on the lookout today for the sometimes subtle ways in which they are present in our lives, and give thanks to God for the gift of your guardian angel(s).

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Theresa of Lisieux

Good morning everyone,

Today, we celebrate the liturgical Memorial of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, also known as Ste-Thérèse of Lisieux.

Marie Françoise-Thérèse Martin was born on 2 January 1873 in Rue Saint-Blaise, Alençon (Normandy) in France.  She felt an early call to religious life, and overcoming various obstacles, in 1888 at the early age of 15, became a nun and joined two of her elder sisters in the cloistered Carmelite community of Lisieux. After nine years as a Carmelite religious, having fulfilled various offices such as sacristan and assistant to the novice mistress, and having spent her last eighteen months in the Carmel in a night of faith, she died at aged 24, following a slow and painful fight against tuberculosis.

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (her religious name) is widely venerated even today.  She is commonly referred to as the Little Flower of Jesus or simply as the Little Flower.

She is one of the little children - not unlike the one that Jesus placed in the midst of the disciples when they began to argue (cf Lk 9:46-47).  With the simplicity, clarity and directness of a child, Thérèse was able to explain faith in very simple language.  Perhaps that is one of the reasons why she has always been so widely loved.  Her simple Way of following Jesus has inspired so many people that the Basilica that stands in her native Lisieux is the second-largest place of pilgrimage in all of France, only outnumbered by Lourdes.

Lying in her sick bed, Thérèse made a promise to spend her heaven doing good on earth.  To this day, if someone asks for her intercession, they will often encounter roses as a sign of celestial assistance.  Today, ask Thérèse to help you, and then be prepared to see the signs that she has indeed done her part.

Have a great day.