September 6th, 2009
In this part of the world, tomorrow we will pause from our workings and celebrate Labour Day. Tuesday school begins and we will begin again to work for our living.
Maybe we could spend some time and think about how our labouring is a blessing for us and for those around us. Working was one of the curses resulting from the fall of Adam and Eve. Listen to these heavy words from Genesis “Accursed be the soil because of you – with suffering shall you get your food from it – by the sweat of your brow shall you eat your bread until you return to the soil.”
By our being sent from this Mass we are meant to reverse that curse and help God bless and heal the mess we’ve made of God’s creation. Through our labour, no matter what our different labours may be, we work with God in bringing creation into God’s kingdom.
This past week the head of the United Nations went to the North Pole to see for himself the effects climate change is having on that region of the planet. There has been meeting after meeting on climate changes and nothing is really being done about it. Nations bicker and bargain but no one is willing to bite the bullet and make a commitment that will really make a difference. That’s because such a commitment will mean drastic changes in the way we live our lives. We’ve heard it time and time again; we won’t sign an environmental treaty if it means job losses in our country. We seem to be in denial of the impact climate change will have on all of us, especially on the poorer nations of the world.
A Passionist, Fr. Thomas Berry published a book in 1999 titled The Great Work. His belief is that the great work of our generation and generations to come, is to carry out the transition from a period of human devastation of the Earth, which has been going on from before the Industrial Revolution until now, to a period when humans would be present to the planet in a mutually beneficial manner. Remember how I keep saying, “the earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth and what we do to the earth we do to ourselves”. Because of over-fishing on both coasts the most abundant species of marine life have become commercially extinct, the cod on the East Coast and the salmon on the West Coast. We’ve heard of the devastation of the Amazon and different rain forests around the globe even though we know trees are the lungs of the planet.
Our great work, as humans and as Christian is to do what we can be to bring about that mutually life enhancing relationship between the human family and the earth community. This is a labour of mind and heart. It is a labour that calls us to look to our lifestyles, our consumerism, our wastefulness. It is a labour that calls us to a greater sensitivity to living conditions of billions of our brothers and sisters around the globe at whose expense we live the good life we live.
To quote Tom Berry, “Our future can exist only when we understand the universe as composed of subjects to be communed with, not as objects to be exploited. Use as our primary relationship with the planet must be abandoned.” The hymn that tells us God made us Lords of all creation and that everything is ours to use is a lie. We are not Lords we are family within creation.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.” We are all in denial as regards the seriousness of our global situation. We are not reading the signs of the times.
In the gospel we see Jesus curing a man who could neither hear nor speak correctly. In many ways the earth is saying to the human family, ‘enough already’ but we are not hearing that message, we’ve closed our ears. Because we won’t hear the message we cannot speak to its solution.
On this eve of Labour Day, with today’s gospel before us, we can pray for ourselves and for our human family that we have the courage to ask Christ, the first born of all creation, for a cure. May He open our ears to hear the cry of the earth, the message the earth is giving us – enough is enough – and give us voice to speak to the earth by saying ‘yes’ as individuals and as a nation, to changes in lifestyles that can bring about the healing of ourselves and of the earth.
Nourished by the bread of life, which earth has given and human hands have made, may each of us leave this Eucharist willing to be involved in the great work that will bring about a mutually life enhancing relationship between ourselves and mother earth.
| Posted in Homily |
Welcome back. We hope you have had an enjoyable and relaxing summer. For those young people who are off to university, we wish you every success as you begin a new stage of your life. For those students and teachers in our community returning to elementary and secondary school, we wish you a very positive and rewarding year.
Total: $7713
The “Pre-Authorized Giving” plan allows parishioners to make their regular offertory donations by automatic monthly bank withdrawal. This system is widely used in the Archdiocese of Toronto and is a safe and convenient method of giving for those interested. Forms, in a sealed envelope, may be placed in the collection basket or dropped off at the Parish Office.
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome:
These children received the Sacrament of Baptism during the summer.
Our journey of life and journey of faith are meant to converge at an early age. For many of us, however, we tend to grow physically, mentally, psychologically etc., but remain at a childish level of understanding our faith. The following information is for those who wish to keep growing, to be able to enjoy the Good news of God’s love for us as members of God’s Church.
R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) meetings begin on Monday, September 21st, 2009 at 8:00 PM. These evenings are for persons interested in learning about the Catholic Faith. Because the Parish Community itself is considered the official teacher and guide for potential new members, it is important that some parishioners participate by being present and by sharing their Faith in various ways. It is also an opportunity for “Born Catholics” to deepen their understanding of the faith. Adult Catholics who wish to celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist and/or Confirmation are welcome. For more information, please call Mary Landry at 416-221-8866.
Congratulations to the good people of St. Gabriel’s. Our goal for this year’s ShareLife Campaign was $175,000. Our final total was $177,080.19. Thank you for your very generous support.
Eco-Sabath, usually held on the first Sunday of each month, will resume on Sunday, September 13th. The Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality facilitates a 30 minute reflection and discussion prompted by the readings for that Sunday’s liturgy. The guided reflection brings an ecological perspective to the readings. All are welcome.
Professor Raymond Collins, STD, a renowned New Testament scholar will be giving a three-evening workshop on St. Paul at our parish on October 5 to 7, 2009 (Monday to Wednesday).
Until his retirement in 2006, Professor Collins, for more than three decades, was professor of New Testament at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, and then at the Catholic University of America. He is author of numerous books and articles on the New Testament.
If you wish to understand St. Paul better, this is an opportunity not to be missed. For details please refer to the notice on the bulletin board, or contact Fatima Lee. Please call 416-221-8866 to register; this will help us with arrangements for the venue.
A Marriage Preparation Course will take place at St. Gabriel’s Church on the weekend of November 6h to 8th. If you are interested, please contact the Parish Office. at 416-221-8866. Register early as space is limited.
Andrea Lucas of “Between Friends” wishes to thank everyone from St. Gabriel’s who generously donated to the Aboriginal communities in Northern Ontario.
The next shipment to the communities will be in October, but the collection will continue throughout the year. Most requested items are:
All items should be in good condition – something that you would use yourself.
As before, donations can be dropped off between 7:30 AM – 2 PM Monday to Friday at
“Kids Come First” Daycare
40 New Westminster Drive, Thornhill
(at Steeles between Bathurst and Dufferin).
Please enter through the black iron wrought gates.
If you have any questions, please contact Fatima Lee at 416-221-8866.
We wish to thank Otto Schmidt for his many years of service to the Parish Community of St. Gabriel’s. Otto started here as Coordinator of Sacramental Preparation of School Age Children in 2003.
Recently, he was hired by the Korea Poly Returnee Educational Institute in Seoul, Korea as chief program curriculum designer/consultant to create and write curriculum for three new streams of gifted education to be added to their existing programs.
We wish him every success in this new endeavor.
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre during the summer: 45 for June, 32 for July and 36 for August.
For September, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of September 26/27 for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers.
If you require more information or would like to get a copy of the recipe and a casserole pan, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
The Centre needs
Thank you for your donation. For more information, please contact Rebecca Ferguson at 416-869-3619, Ext. 262.
Rosalie Hall is a Centre for teen mothers and other single parents and their children. Amidst their ongoing great struggle and hardship, we depend on you, “the good people of St. Gabes”, to once again consider supporting these young women by feeding them and providing them with adequate clothing, as they strive to parent their children.
Our needs are basic: small bags of rice, pasta, Kraft dinner, breakfast and infant cereals, juice boxes, crackers, canned beans, pasta sauce, canned meats, tuna, canned fruit and diapers.
Teen and Women’s Clothing items such as socks, underwear, hats and mitts, shirts, pants, etc. are most welcome. We will also gratefully accept new and gently used clothing for babies and toddlers up to 14 months old.
Many thanks for your compassion and support as we all strive to be “doers of the word” in our reaching out to others. May you be blessed, as you are blessing.
| Posted in Bulletin |
August 30th, 2009
It’s hard to believe this is the last Sunday of the summer, the summer that wasn’t. I find it unfair that winter drags on so long and summer is gone in no time.
I’d like to say a few words on the second reading from James. James is such a practical writer; he tells it like it is. The first reading and the gospel are all about laws and traditions and their importance to our relationship with God. The gospel is about keeping things in perspective. James sums everything up with these two statements, be doers of the word and not merely hearers – religion pure and simple is this: to care for widows and orphans in their distress and keep oneself unstained by the world.
There is a tradition in the church that after the death of Pope Sixtus in 258 the prefect of Rome demanded that Lawrence, a Roman deacon, turn over the riches of the Church to the state. St.Ambrose is the earliest source for the tale that Lawrence asked for three days to gather together the wealth of the Church. Lawrence worked swiftly to distribute as much Church property to the poor as possible, so as to prevent its being seized by the prefect. On the third day, at the head of a small delegation, he presented himself to the prefect, and when ordered to give up the treasures of the Church, he presented the poor, the crippled, the blind and the suffering, and said that these were the true treasures of the Church. One account records him declaring to the prefect, “The Church is truly rich, far richer than your emperor.” This act of defiance led directly to his martyrdom.
I think what this tradition teaches us is that when we as a church care for the poor, the crippled, the blind, the widow and orphan, the unemployed or the under employed, the men and women who suffer discrimination because of race, religion or lifestyle then we are living our faith pure and undefiled. Then we are truly doers of the word and not just giving lip service to the faith.
The exasperated Jesus tries to tell the Pharisees and the scribes they’ve got it all wrong. They’ve abandoned the commandment of God “love God above all else and love your neighbour” and they’re stuck on traditions of human origin. They are more interested in correctness than compassion.
Sometimes we get our religious priorities all mixed up. An extreme example would be a convinced right to life person killing a doctor who performs abortions. In Islam we see people who, in a twisted way, are totally dedicated to the Prophet becoming suicide bombers, destroying the lives of innocent men, women and children.
Religion pure and undefiled is this, to care for widows and orphans – the most helpless of people. If this care is neglected then all the rest is for naught. As St. John asks us, “how can anyone say he loves God, whom he’s never seen, when he does not love his neighbour whom he sees?” Time and again the message in the Jewish scripture is, “I desire mercy not sacrifice.”
Love spoken must be love lived. Faith spoken must be faith lived, otherwise we are, as St. Paul says, “sounding brass and tinkling symbols.”
Looking at our own life as a parish family we should be grateful for the many good works, inspired by faith, that take place among us. So many of you good people respond generously to the many appeals put before you; the way you support Share Life, your support of Just Coffee – the food banks – casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre – the drive to help the young mothers at Rosalie Hall, the way you support the work of St Vincent de Paul – the help parishioners offer at NYGH by visiting the sick and bringing them communion, those who visit shut- ins, all these give witness to the fact that you are doers of the word.
As we continue to celebrate this Mass we can pray for ourselves and for each other that we have the courage to ask ourselves are we doers of the word or just hearers of the word? Do we live the love we speak? May we continue to be as generous as we have been in the past to live a religion pure and undefiled before God by caring for those less fortunate, less blessed than ourselves. May we always remember the words of Jesus,” as often as you did these things to one of these brothers and sisters of mine you did them to me.”
August 23rd, 2009
Among strictly Orthodox Jews there is a real resistance to any association with non Jews. They fear they will be contaminated by any such association. People can be offended by such an attitude but it goes way back in Jewish history. In our first reading we hear Joshua calling the people to make a choice, follow the God of their ancestors or follow the gods of the Amorites. Joshua makes his choice perfectly clear, “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
The Book of Judges tells us that after the death of Joshua the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord – they abandoned the God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them. They lusted after other gods and bowed down to them and turned aside from the ways in which their ancestors walked. They learned from experience that they two often allowed themselves to be influences and values from different from their own and thought it necessary to keep to themselves.
Many of us have family members who have left the church. They have not joined other Christian communities, they just left. God and the things of God are on the back burner of their lives. For a lot of good people the church and its structures, the church and its scandals, the church and its hard sayings about birth control, divorce, abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, its teachings on social justice and its fundamental option for the poor have soured their relationship with the Catholic community. Not just the young, but older Catholics see no value in coming to Mass, receiving the sacraments. At the end of a stressful work week the last thing they want to do is sit in church and be bored silly. They see any religious obligation as an intrusion into time better spend relaxing with their family or enjoying a golf game with friends.
The false god of our time is that of believing that any spiritual dimension of life is personal and private and non binding. Good people can be deeply involved in organized hockey, organized baseball, organized soccer, whatever, but organized religion is a dirty word. Prayer is used only in time of crisis, in time of need. You’ve heard of the man late for an important appointment who couldn’t find a parking space. In desperation he prays to God, ‘find me a parking space and I’ll go to church next Sunday. As he turns the corner there before him is an empty parking spot, he pulls in jumps out of his car, looks up to heaven and says, “forget it, I found one.”
Many parents and grandparents are saddened and disappointed by the choices made by family members. They can see these choices as choices to follow other gods, false gods offering false values. They can’t understand how people can live without the faith. But faith is a life time journey. Our parish motto is, “believing, belonging and becoming.” The most important of these is becoming. Becoming to believe, becoming to belong, and this ‘becoming’ can take a life time.
Our loved ones and family members have echoed the situation in today’s first reading and the gospel – the challenge to make a choice. In the first reading good people made a choice to serve the Lord but fell away from their commitment. In the gospel many of Jesus’ followers made the choice of walking away from His gift of Himself as life giving bread. They walked with Him no more.
We tend to think that our family members, our good friends have given up on God and the church but we have to trust that God, and the church, and we are the church, will never give up on them. We will respect their present choices and pray they come to that moment of grace when, with deep conviction, they can say, “Lord to whom shall we go, we have come to know and believe “You have the words of everlasting life, You are the Holy One of God.” Maybe we can all remember that becoming takes a life time.
August 16th, 2009
On most of the Sundays of August the gospels are about the Eucharist – Jesus is the bread of life, come down from heaven. He is not like the manna God provided His people as they journeyed in the desert, they all died. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.
The Eucharist is the greatest of the sacraments. The most important of the sacraments is Baptism because we can’t receive any sacrament until we are born into the Christian faith by baptism.
In a recent article Fr Ron Rolheiser tells of a famous English convert to Catholicism. He was the historian Christopher Dawson. He was from an aristocratic family and his mother was quite distressed at his decision to join the Catholic Church. She had nothing against Catholics as such but what really bothered her was that, becoming a Catholic her son would have to worship with the help. The English were very class conscious in those days after the First World War. She knew that in church at least, his aristocratic background would no longer set him apart from others or above others. At church he would be just an equal among equals because the Eucharist would strip him of his higher social status.
In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul is quite angry with the people because of the way they celebrated the Eucharist – which was quite different from the way we celebrate it today. The celebration would begin with an agape – a love meal at which people shared food and drink with one another and then they would celebrate the Lord’s Supper. But that didn’t work out too well, at least in Corinth. So we have Paul writing “I cannot say that you have done well in holding meetings that do you more harm than good. In the first place I hear that when you come together as a community there are separate factions among you, and I believe it – since there must no doubt be separate groups among you.’
As Paul points out ‘when the time comes for you to eat, everyone is in such a hurry to start his own supper that one person goes hungry while another is getting drunk.” Paul goes on “surely you have enough respect for the community of God not to make poor people embarrassed. When Paul condemns those who eat and drink without recognizing the Body he is referring as much to the Body of the community as he is to the Body of Christ in the Eucharist. Anyone who would participates in the Eucharist and would ignore or snub the person next to him or any other member of the gathering would be making, what we called in the old days “a bad communion.’ They are ignoring the very unity of the sacrament.
As Rolheiser says in his article ‘The Eucharistic table is by definition a table of social non-distinction, a place were rich and poor are called together beyond all class and status. At the Eucharist there is no rich and poor, only one equal family praying together in a common humanity.
At the Eucharist there is to be no distinction between rich and poor, noble and peasant, aristocrat and servant. Rich and poor, able and disabled, gifted and limited, men and women, adult and child, every nationality – we all line up together and come to be nourished with the Body of Christ. We are all equal. Not just here at this Mass. We live this Mass outside these walls when we put behind us our stereotyping of men and women of other faiths, cultures, social backgrounds and life styles. We live this Eucharist outside these walls when we try to accept and respect men and women we see as different from ourselves.
There can be times when we find this a bit challenging to do. It is difficult to rid ourselves on bias and prejudices instilled in us as children. What makes it possible is the promise of Jesus, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him.” The abiding Christ will give up that openness of mind and heart to help us keep his new commandment, “love one another as I have love you” The abiding Christ will give us the openness of mind and heart to love as he loved, to forgive and he forgave and to embrace and accept as equals all those He sends into our lives.
As we continue to celebrate this Mass we can pray for ourselves and for each other that we see in those who celebrate with us our brothers and sisters in Christ – all equally love and accepted by Christ, all equally loved and accepted by ourselves – in here and outside these walls.
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
