If you were to ask people in the time of Jesus, people who lived in the Mediterranean world, the known world at the time, the Roman Empire, “Who is the Son of God, the redeemer, the saviour of the world?” Everyone would immediately answer “Caesar Augustus” and not “Jesus” as we would answer now. The emperor, in Jesus’ time, was seen as divine or at least as a demi-god, and if you were a good, law-abiding citizen of the Roman ...
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Well we’re coming up on New Year’s Day this week which means one thing for sure: 2020 will soon be in the rear view mirror. Most years we would spend some time thinking back on the year that had passed and re-living the wonderful times we had and the friends and family we shared them with. I am sure we will do the same this year, but the challenge will be how to fill the other 23 hours and 55 ...
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When Fr. Richard Rohr, the great Franciscan I love to quote, was newly ordained, he concocted a private agreement between himself and God; they were going to be a team. It was going to be a 50-50 arrangement. God would do 50% of the work in bringing salvation to the world, and Richard would make sure, through hard work and dedication, that he did his 50% as well. A few years into ordained ministry, Richard, unilaterally modified the percentages to ...
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We will never forget the year 2020 as the year of the pandemic! A small virus paralyzed the world!
The last months have been difficult. For a time, all activities were put on hold. We suffered through this confinement in many ways: fear, anxiety, uncertainty, routines disrupted, separation from loved ones, job loss, the realization that our planet is very ill. Some people, became infected and died alone under unimaginable circumstances, followed by a cruel period of grief for the surviving ...
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In this week’s Gospel account, the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary to tell her that she would bear a child who would be holy, called Jesus the Son of God. His words, “FOR NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD” have resonated over these thousands of years. These seven words have been the inspiration for many followers, faith-believers, over time.
The sport company Adidas had an ad years ago – Impossible Is Nothing. It was a very inspirational and motivational campaign, reminding ...
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Every Advent we are presented with one of the most perplexing figures in the entire Bible—John the Baptist. He is totally unorthodox. Orthodoxy in general, similar to Church orthodoxy, conjures up words like devout, structured, true blue, predictable, or traditional. An unorthodox person, however, would be described as unconventional, radical, off-centered, avant-garde or original. John the Baptist is definitely unorthodox even though he was born into an orthodox world. John the Baptist’s father was Zechariah, a well-respected priest. Following orthodox ...
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“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
This year, I hear these words in a new way. They are not just words that set the stage for Jesus’ earthly mission. They are not simply a prelude to the ...
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We are all familiar with the story of Moses receiving the 10 Commandment either by reading our own Bibles or maybe by watching the classic movie of the same title: “The 10 Commandments.” These commandments are still central to our lives as we try to live in relationship to God, neighbour, and self. Some theologians say that the 10 Commandments had a reincarnation, of sorts, when Jesus gave us the Beatitudes. I personally don’t think we ought to ditch the ...
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I said last weekend that meerkats, much like Timon the meerkat in the Lion King, were going to be my guides this Advent. I am still holding to that. I said that because the meerkat is a symbol of alertness, of attentiveness, of being awake. On my better/holier days, I try to be alert, attentive and awake to what God is doing in my life and what God is doing in the life of the world. And then, hopefully, responding ...
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The recent increase in COVID restrictions has added a whole new level of stress to an already stressful time of year for many. News that a vaccine may be available in the “near future” does little to alleviate the frustration of not being able to be with family and friends, or to ease the worries of financial insecurities. Our ability to be compassionate and tolerant with one another is being stretched to its limits.
I found unexpected comfort in today’s readings ...
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