January 1st, 2012
I’ve always found January 1 st to be a cluttered day. We’re all winding down from our Christmas celebrations and here we are with another feast. In days past this was always the feast of the circumcision of Jesus. Now we celebrate the feast of Mary the Mother of God and it is also the world day of prayer for peace and of course it is New Years Day.
In the year 431 a church council held in Ephesus, which is in modern Turkey, declared Mary to be the Mother of God. St. John Chrysostom, one of the early Fathers of the Church has this to say about Mary being the Mother of God. “Believe what we say about the Virgin then, and do not hesitate to confess her to be both servant and Mother of God, both virgin and mother. She is a servant as the creature of him who was born of her; she is the Mother of God inasmuch as of her God was born in human flesh. She is a virgin because she did not conceive from the seed of man; she is a mother because she gave birth and became the mother of him who before all eternity was begotten of the Father.
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians Paul shows us the implications of the birth of Jesus on each one of us. God sent his son into the world, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law. Jesus became son of Mary that we might be sons and daughters of God. The birth of Jesus is the foundation of our personal status before God. St. Paul tells us that before the world began God chose us in Christ to be his adopted sons and daughters. Jesus became one with us so that we might be elevated to the status of children of God, for that is what we are.
Beyond all these things we basically see this day as New Year’s Day. That’s why we greet one another with the simple words, “happy new year.’ It is a day of new beginnings. We’ve made our own unrealistic resolutions about eating and drinking less, doing daily exercises, going to the gym more regularly etc etc. But we know from sad experience these sincere resolutions will fade away.
When we look back over the past year we remember un kept promises, un kept resolutions, many things we neglected to do, un-made phone calls, un-written letters. Maybe there are some things we remember with shame. We remember things we’ve done and things we left undone. Some of these memories can weigh us down with shame and guilt.
St. Paul never forgot he persecuted the early Christians, he saw himself as the least of all the Apostles but in one of his letters he offers great advice to all of us who may be haunted by past sins and mistakes. Paul writes ‘there is one thing I do, I forget what is behind and I strive on to what is ahead and I go with confidence to the throne of grace.”
We are all mistake making beings but mistake making being deeply loved by God. Let’s begin this New Year forgetting what is behind. May we have the boldness to go with confidence to the throne of grace and love.
| Posted in Homily |
In this week’s bulletin, the Eco-sabbath, offertory envelopes for Pre-authorized Giving plan subscribers, the Leprosy Mission of Canada used stamp collection and the Multicultural potluck dinner.
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| Posted in Bulletin |
December 25th, 2011
A couple of weeks ago I was in a doctor’s office for an appointment. A couple came in with a little girl about three years old. She was bundled up in a stroller. Her father had an electronic game for her and she was doing some puzzles. She didn’t look all that comfortable in the stroller and after a while she began to get restless. She started to whine a bit and the whining got a bit louder. The parents were trying to hush her up. All of a sudden the receptionist said “Santa’s watching you you know.” The little girl looked at her with wide eyes. “Oh yes,” the receptionist said, “Santa’s watching and Santa knows if you’re bad or good and Santa only comes to good boys and girls.” Of course the parents joined in the refrain, “Santa’s watching you, and you’d better be good.” I thought to myself, that’s a message we’ve all heard at one time or another and it’s a message that has messed us all up. Replace Santa with God and the message is ‘we are always being watched but we’re not always loved.’ We’re only loved if we’re good.
In this week’s bulletin, the rosary groups, Good Shepherd Centre casseroles, and our multicultural potluck dinner. We wish you a happy and peaceful New Year and always try to remember. “Holiness is in the ordinary.”
December 18th, 2011
In the first chapter of Luke we have the telling of two angelic visitations. The first was to a priest Zachariah who was taking his turn serving at the temple. Luke tells us that Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth were worthy in the sight of God, they were advanced in years and Elizabeth was barren. Zachariah is told that Elizabeth would conceive and have a son. Their son would be a delight to them and many would rejoice at his birth and he would bring back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord.
In today’s gospel we hear of how the Angel Gabriel came to a young 13 year old girl who was betrothed, promised to a fellow youngster name Joseph. Mary was confused and frightened by this strange visitation. She tried to get her head around what this strange being was saying to her. She wasn’t married yet, she was still a virgin and yet in some strange way she was to conceive and have a son. How would she explain this to her parents and Joseph?
The angel tells Mary about her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy to convince her that although all he says is so strange, so out of the ordinary, the reality is ‘nothing is impossible with God.’ Mary must have deeply believed that truth, nothing is impossible with God. So she got beyond the question ‘how can this happen?’ And trusting in the wonder of it all, the mystery of it all, Mary simply said ‘let it be.’ And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and the rest is history and mystery. What we celebrate this fourth Sunday of Advent is our affirmation of faith in the transcendental origin of Jesus. This is not something of flesh and blood this is of God for whom nothing is impossible.
Pope Paul VI referred to Mary as the one whose life was available to God. Be it done to me according to your word. As we ready ourselves for the celebration of the birth of Christ may we too make our lives available to God by making ourselves “available, open, welcoming to all those who come to us in need.” Like Mary may we be generous enough to be available to everyone who comes to us looking for love, understanding, support, acceptance, healing and forgiveness.
Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.
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Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk
