The end that is to come

Every year, as we approach the season of Advent, the scripture passages proposed for our reflection speak of the end times.  As providence would dictate, I happened to visit with some students this past week.  The topics of our discussion were wide and varied.  Among the questions that were asked, there was a particular concern: Who made God?  In an attempt to answer this question, I explained that every one of us lives within a linear concept of time.  Each one of us can define the date of our birth and the major events of our lives to date can be plotted on a linear graph.  The graph can also be extended into the future and we can dream about what we might like to accomplish, but at some point, the line will end, and this is the point that we define as death.

Saint Mark describes that culminating moment in this way: the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken (Mk 13:24-25).  There are many in our world who would have us believe that images such as these are meant to predict the end of the world as we know it, but if we were to stop at this conclusion, we would be no better off.  In fact, we would be surrendering to the conclusions that are reached by many who are without faith.

Christians have always believed that there is another story that needs to be told.  Instead of surrender, we believe that there is always a ray of hope.  In fact, the prophet Daniel says that at that time, Michael the great prince ... shall arise (Dan 12:1) and God’s people will be delivered.  This is an image that speaks eloquently about hope, and hope is a central theme to the life of all Christians.  Hope is at the centre of our salvation history.  Hope is at the core of the Easter mystery that speaks of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection.  We should never forget that Jesus suffered, died ... and rose again, and because he rose, we too can look forward to eternal life in heaven.

When I tried to explain to the students I met this week that God lives outside the confines of time, off the grid that is created by our linear concept of time, they had a bit of difficulty understanding how this could be, but I took a chance and pushed a little further.  I encouraged them to think of physical death as the moment when we will all be invited to pass through a doorway that leads us out of a linear concept of existence, to the fullness of life which our souls will enjoy in the presence of God in heaven.

We can look forward to the fulfillment of this promise because Christ ... offered for all time, a single sacrifice for our sins ... by which he has already perfected for all time, all those who are sanctified (Heb 10:12, 14).  Christ has already paid the price for our admission into heaven.  This is the good news of the gospel, the source of our Christian hope.  The day will come for each of us when our linear concept of existence will be no more.  At that moment, Jesus will be waiting to welcome us into the glory of eternal life with him in heaven.

His Word Today: Unknown

Good morning everyone,

When some people think about the future, there is fear and trembling because the future is unknown to us, but let it not be so for those of us who are people of faith.  Jesus speaks in the gospel today about a time that will come when one will be taken and the other will be left (Lk 17:34-35).  But where will we be taken?

These words are meant to wake us up, for we can far too easily be lulled into a sense of comfort about the routine we live each day.  Instead, we need to do everything we can not to become distracted by routines, focusing rather on waiting for the coming of the Lord.  If we begin even now to train our minds and spirits to be on the lookout for him, we will develop the habit of seeking him each day, and if we seek him, we will find him, and when we are able to find evidence of his presence each day, we will have more reason to rejoice and even more reason to look for him.

And what's even more, if we develop the habit of seeking him, finding evidence of his presence and celebrating this presence every day, then when the time comes for us to be taken Home, we will have nothing to fear, for this is the day for which we long, for which we prepare every day of our mortal lives.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Behold

Good morning everyone,

While Jesus walked on this earth, he spoke on many occasions about the Kingdom of God, but despite the fact that he described many facets of this Kingdom, it was regarded by many of those who heard his words as a reality that was yet to come.  Imagine their surprise when he clarified: Behold, the Kingdom of God is among you (Lk 17:21).

Can this be true?  Have you ever witnessed this Kingdom?  The answer to both these questions is yes!  The Kingdom of God is among us, and if we have the eyes to see it, we can recognize it quite easily.  God's Kingdom exists wherever judgements are replaced by acceptance, wherever differences are outnumbered by similarities and wherever attitudes of exclusion are replaced by a willingness to go out and to encounter others.

God's Kingdom is in our midst but it is up to us to recognize it and to make it recognizable for others.  We can do this one day at a time, beginning with a willingness to see each other as brothers and sisters and to believe that we are all on a journey, together.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Awareness

Good morning everyone,

If you're like me, your life sometimes seems to be so occupied that you're barely able to keep up with the number of things that keep getting added to the to do list.  When our minds are so cluttered with the things we have to do, we often are unable to appreciate the things that are happening right in front of us. This is the lesson for today: be aware.

The gospel passage that is suggested for today speaks of an encounter that Jesus had with ten lepers (cf Lk 17:11-19). When he saw them he immediately wanted to heal them, yet there is no description of the miracle he performed.  All he said to them was: Go, show yourselves to the priests (Lk 17:14), simple words issuing a simple request.  In their haste to make their way, most of them were unaware of the fact that Jesus has already given them a gift. Only one who became aware of this gift came back to give thanks (cf Lk 17:15-16).  I wonder whether the others even realized what had happened.

It takes a lot of work to be aware of the subtle things going on around us, and not to allow ourselves to get caught up with always being concerned about the future, or about expectations and plans, or about everything that has to be done. Try today to be aware of the present moment. You might be surprised at what you discover.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Francesca Cabrini was born July 15, 1850, in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, in the Lombard Province of Lodi, then part of the Austrian Empire, the youngest of the thirteen children of Agostino Cabrini and Stella Oldini, who were wealthy cherry tree farmers. Sadly, only four of the thirteen survived beyond adolescence. Small and weak as a child, born two months premature, she remained in delicate health throughout her life.

At thirteen Francesca attended a school run by the Daughters of the Sacred Heart. Five years later she graduated cum laude, with a teaching certificate. After the deaths of her parents in 1870, she applied for admission to the religious congregation of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart at Arluno. These sisters were her former teachers but reluctantly, they told her she was too frail for their life. She became the headmistress of the House of Providence orphanage in Codogno, where she taught, and drew a small community of women to live a religious way of life. Cabrini took religious vows in 1877 and added Xavier to her name to honour the Jesuit saint, Francis Xavier, the patron saint of missionary service.

In November 1880, she and six other women who had taken religious vows with her founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (M.S.C.). Cabrini composed the Rule and Constitutions of the religious institute, and she continued as its superior general until her death. The sisters took in orphans and foundlings, opened a day school to help pay expenses, started classes in needlework and sold their fine embroidery to earn a little more money. The institute established seven homes and a free school and nursery in its first five years. Its good works brought Cabrini to the attention of (the now Blessed) Giovanni Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza, and of Pope Leo XIII.

In September 1877, Cabrini went to seek approval of the pope to establish missions in China. Instead, he suggested to her that she go to the United States to help the Italian immigrants who were flooding to that nation in that era, mostly in great poverty. Cabrini left for the United States, arriving in New York City on March 31, 1889, along with six other sisters. Life in the United States was not easy, but Frances obtained the permission of the archbishop to found an orphanage, which is located in West Park, New York today and is known as Saint Cabrini Home.

She organized catechism and education classes for the Italian immigrants and provided for the needs of the many orphans. She established schools and orphanages despite tremendous odds. She was as resourceful as she was prayerful, finding people who would donate what she needed in money, time, labor, and support. In New York City, she founded Columbus Hospital and Italian Hospital. In the 1980s, they were merged into Cabrini Medical Center. The facility closed in 2008.

In Chicago, the sisters opened Columbus Extension Hospital (later renamed Saint Cabrini Hospital) in the heart of the city’s Italian neighbourhood on the Near West Side. Both hospitals eventually closed near the end of the 20th century. Their foundress’ name lives on in Chicago's Cabrini Street.

She founded 67 institutions: in New York; Chicago and Des Plaines, Illinois; Seattle; New Orleans; Denver and Golden, Colorado; Los Angeles; Philadelphia; and in countries throughout South America and Europe. Long after her death, the Missionary Sisters would achieve Cabrini's goal of being missionaries to China. In only a short time, after much social and religious upheaval there, the Sisters left China and, subsequently, a Siberian placement.

Cabrini was naturalized as a United States citizen in 1909. She died of complications from dysentery at age 67 in Columbus Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, on December 22, 1917, while preparing Christmas candy for the local children. By that time, she had founded 67 missionary institutions to serve the sick and poor and train additional sisters to carry on the work.

Her body was originally interred at Saint Cabrini Home, an orphanage she founded in West Park, Ulster County, New York.  Her body was exhumed in 1931 as part of the canonization process. At that time, her head was removed and is preserved in the chapel of the congregation's international motherhouse in Rome. An arm is at the national shrine in Chicago, while most of the rest of her body is at the shrine in New York.  Mother Frances Cabrini was Beatified on 13 November 1938 and Canonized on 7 July 1946.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Josaphat

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Josaphat (1580-1623) a Polish-Lithuanian monk who served as Archeparch (Archbishop) in the Ruthenian Catholic Church.  Ioann Kurntsevych was born in Volodymyr, Volhynian Voivodeship, in the Lesser Poland Province of the Polish Crown (now Ukraine).  He was baptized into the Eastern Orthodox Church.  As a young man, he proved to be gifted in languages; he studied Church Slavonic and memorized most of the Horologion (the Book of the Hours).

In 1604, while in his early 20s, he entered the Monastery of the Trinity (which was home to the Order of Saint Basil the Great in Vilnius) and was given the religious name Josephat.  Five years later, in 1609, after having completed private studies, Josephat was ordained a priest.  He was subsequently appointed hegumen (prior) of several monasteries.  On 12 November 1617, he was consecrated as Bishop and later became the Archeparch of Polostok.

Throughout his time of service in Polostok, there were great temptations to sin (cf Lk 17:1). Josaphat faced the daunting task of bringing the local populace to accept union with Rome.  He faced stiff opposition from some of the monks who feared the liturgical Latinization of the Byzantine Rite, yet he continued his efforts to promote peace and unity.  On 12 November 1623 he was killed by angry mob in Vitebsk, Vitebsk Voivodeship, in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (now in Belarus). He was Beatified on 16 May 1643 and Canonized on 29 June 1867.

Through his intercession, may the strength of faith continue to grow, especially among the people he once was called to serve so that their faith - and ours - may continue to grow.

Have a great day.

Lest we forget

This weekend we celebrate Remembrance Day.  One hundred years ago today the armistice (the agreement to end the First World War) was signed.  We remember and we give thanks for the men and women who have given their lives in the pursuit of peace.

The spirit of sacrifice is the focus of our attention as we remember the gift that has been given by those who fought in the World Wars, in the Korean War, in Vietnam and in Afghanistan.  The spirit of sacrifice is also apparent in the lives of the men and women who are currently serving in our Armed Forces and in a variety of peace-keeping roles.

The spirit of sacrifice is also a central focus in all the readings that we have heard today.  In the first reading, the prophet Elijah has travelled to Zarephath, where he encounters a widow who is gathering sticks.  When he calls out to her and asks for water and something to eat, she explains: I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering ... sticks so that I may go home and prepare it ... so that we may eat, and then we will die (1 Kings 17:12).  Despite her dire situation, she sacrifices some of her meagre provisions in order to prepare bread for her visitor, and she is rewarded for her generosity (cf 1 Kings 17:15-16).

We see another example of sacrifice in the gospel.  In this case, Jesus points out the difference between those who are putting on a show of righteousness and those who sincerely seek to give what they have received with no regard for their own gain, like the poor widow who places two small copper coins in the temple treasury.  Understanding her sacrifice, Jesus says of her: Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others (cf Mk 12:43).

The examples provided by our war veterans and by the two widows mentioned today in the biblical accounts should always challenge us to live more and more authentically according to the gospel.  This is never easy to do.  The temptation is always for us to seek recognition for the things we do, or for the sacrifices that we make.  We can even fool ourselves into thinking that we have gone to great lengths to help others, but in truth what we really seek is control of a given situation or to ignore legitimate authority in order to achieve what we desire.  Following such human motivation only leads us down the path of the scribes who liked to walk around in long robes ... to be greeted with respect ... and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets (Mk 12:38-39).

Instead, an authentic spirit of sacrifice is born out of love, and it was love that was at the heart of Christ’s gift of himself.  It always boggles my mind to think that our God, who created the universe and everything that it contains humbled himself to become one of us, and even more, that he was willing to sacrifice himself not for any human measure of gain but rather to enter into heaven itself (cf Heb 9:24).  We cannot outdo God in His goodness or His level of generosity but we can strive to be like him by trying our best to live according to a spirit of sacrificial love.