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As you just heard, the tax collectors and prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of us. If this was a parable to be taken literally, I would be encouraging you all to work for Revenue Canada or to don fishnet stocking and hang out on street corners. The underlying message, nonetheless, is to be taken seriously. Jesus is addressing the chief priests and the elders, those who are supposed to be doing it all correctly, yet find themselves at the back of the line. ...

There are two things to keep in mind when we try to grapple with this parable (Mt. 20:1-16).  Firstly, Matthew is writing for his faith community that is a mixture of Jewish Christians and Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians. The Jewish Christians know that their faith has come down to them through the centuries beginning with Abraham, Moses, and all the great prophets. It is a long-standing and rich relationship with God who selected them as the Chosen People. The Gentile Christians, by contrast, are seen as late-comers to the ...

In the first reading, the Book of Sirach poses a question to us, and I do not think it is just a rhetorical question. Does anyone harbour anger against another, and expect healing from the, Lord? The answer unfortunately, is: of course! I know lots of people, including myself, who want God’s healing mercy for themselves but who also want punishment for others. Our logic goes something like this: that person over there, by their sin, has crossed a line that I have not crossed. And ...

Back in 1983 while taking an introductory psychology course in college, the professor told us students, on the first day of class that our term paper, due at the end of the semester, could be on any topic we wanted. He did, however, offer a list of suggestions, and I chose the topic of death and dying. By pure chance, three weeks later, the world’s authority on the topic of death and dying, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, was coming to town to give a talk. What an opportunity! I ...

Here is a line from the sacramentary (big, red book on the altar from which the priest prays the Eucharistic prayer) that I have publicly prayed numerous times over the past 23 years without giving it the attention it deserves. It goes like this; notice the last part especially. “Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death and Resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of Life and the Chalice (Cup) of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your ...