March 29th, 2009
Just a few words on our first reading from Jeremiah. He was not a popular person. He could be called a defeatist. He encouraged the king not to resist the invasion by the Babylonians, an invasion that would bring about the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. This was all in God’s hands. Jeremiah confronted king and people with the fact that they had been unfaithful to their covenant with God; they had broken their relationship with God. Now they were facing the consequences of that break. But Jeremiah wants them to know this national crisis could be the occasion of a national renewal, an opportunity to renew their commitment to God, to the law and to the relationship their sins had shattered.
In today’s reading Jeremiah offers the people a vision of the new possibilities to be found in a new covenant. He promised that after a time of suitable collective repentance God will restore the people and enter into a new covenant, a new bonding with them. This new covenant offers the people forgiveness; God would remember their sins no more. God, through Jeremiah offers a defeated, exiled people the strength and hope they need to go on.
In every age people get caught up in correctness, exactness, precision. Every word, every gesture must be just so. If I miss one First Friday or First Saturday I have to start all over again. How many chain letters and prayers have your received in your e-mail? Pass this message on to 12 others within 24 hours and you will be blessed – or else.
Say your prayers, do the rituals just so and things will be ok. Jeremiah encourages the people to move beyond such ‘correctness’. The most important word in his message is the word ‘within’. It’s a word that calls us to interiority. Externals are important but it is what is within us that matters most. Jesus made this point time and time again to the people of His time.
The best example I can use to express this sense of interiority is to ask you why you are here today. Are you at Mass because of obligation? There is an obligation to be here, to keep holy our Sabbath day. But are you here because you must be here or because you want to be here? Are you here because you have a sense of gratitude to God for the blessings with which you have been blessed and you want to give thanks for these blessings? Are you here because you want to be with other parishioners to praise and thank God? Are you here because of your own struggles and your need to be nourished by the Bread of Life, our daily bread, to give you the strength to go on? All these are examples of interiority – the law written not on stone but on the fleshy tablets of our hearts.
The same can be said of our life of prayer. Are we caught in the trap of thinking our prayer must be said so many times with strict attention or are do we see prayer as a open gentle conversation with God. If our prayer life is, what one saint described as “heart speaking to heart” then we have caught the spirit of interiority.
St. Paul calls us to grow to full maturity in Christ. Such growth helps us to move beyond ‘having to do things’ to wanting to do them, wanting out of a sense of a deep desire to deepen our relationship with Christ.
Interiority helps us to come to grips with the words of Jesus in today’s gospel about the grain of wheat dying to come to life, those who love their lives losing their lives.
As we continue to celebrate this Mass – here because we want to be here not because we must be here – we can pray for ourselves and for each other that God in His goodness will put His law within us, on the fleshy tablets of our hearts and we will all come to know the Lord, the Lord who remembers our sins no more.
| Posted in Homily |
Friday Evenings at 7:30 PM There will be no Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 27th.
Wednesday, April 1 at 7:30 PM
April 5 Masses 4:30 PM, 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
April 9 No 9:00 AM Mass 7:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper Followed by Adoration until 10:00 PM
April 10 10:00 AM Morning Prayer 3:00 PM Solemn Passion of Our Lord 7:30 PM Stations of the Cross
April 11 Confessions 11:00 AM to 12 Noon No 4:30 PM Mass 8:30 PM Easter Vigil
April 12 Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
April 13 No 9:00 AM Mass Office closed
EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL
Stations of the Cross will take place on Friday evenings during Lent at 7:30 PM.
Total: $9,474
–>
Number of Envelopes Issued: 1,136 Number of Envelopes Used: 476
Wednesday, April 1st at 7:30 PM
This is an opportunity to spend some time in peace and quiet, to reflect upon how we are responding to our call to be sons and daughters of God. Recognizing the fact that we are “good people”, we also accept the fact that good people can sin. Through an examination of conscience we face those sins, admit them and are reconciled to God. For those who wish, individual confessions will be celebrated after the service. We encourage you to take advantage of this celebration.
Wednesday, April 8th at 7:00 PM in the Gabriel Room
This annual parish event is again being sponsored by the Pastoral team. Passover is the oldest festival of the Hebrew liturgical calendar. It has been observed by the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. Passover is a religious family meal celebrating Jewish freedom from slavery. It occurs in the spring, the time of renewal in “Nissan”, the first month of the Hebrew year, and it lasts for eight days. Why do we celebrate this “meal” at St. Gabriel’s? First, this celebration helps us to understand our religious roots, which are Jewish. Second, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate our growth as a community and be together with families and friends at this most special time during Holy Week. Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 by Friday, April 1st to book your table of 6 or 8, or to have your name added to a table
Friday April 3rd from 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon. Please see the time schedule on the table inside the Church.
Saturday, April 4th at 3:15 PM in the Library For information, please contact Linda Law at 416 -918-8029.
Sunday, April 5th at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Sunday, April 5th at 11:30 AM Gabriel Room
On the first Sunday of each month, 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.
Program 1: Monday, April 6th – 9:00 PM (repeated at 11:00 PM)
Program 2: Tuesday, April 7th – 9:00 PM (repeated at 11:00 PM)
The host of the Mission, “Reflections of Lent” is Most Reverend Paul-Andre Durocher, the much loved Bishop who launched the first National Catholic Mission in the year 2000.
For more information, please contact the National Catholic Broadcasting Council at 1-888-383-6277 or at www.canadiandailymass.com.
The Children’s Liturgy of the Word Group are looking for another adult to help on Sundays at the 10:30 Mass. If you are able to help, please contact Tim Lychy at 416-733-2598.
Wednesday, April 1st at 10:30 AM Topic: What is “The Will of God”?
Tuesday, April 14t at 7:30 PM Topic: How the Bible Was Written
In case of inclement weather, please call Mary Landry at 416-293-3760.
By making a contribution to ShareLife today, you are making a significant impact in your parish, in your community and around the world.
Today is ShareLife Sunday.
Your sacrificial gift today will allow our agencies to continue to make a difference. Please give generously. You can work wonders!
The 2009 Ching Ming Remembrance Mass will be held in the Holy Family Mausoleum at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Thornhill on Saturday April 4th at 2:00 PM. The Mass, which is held in Chinese, is organized by Catholic Cemeteries – Archdiocese of Toronto with the support of the four Chinese parishes. For further details, please see the poster on the bulletin board.
If you are approached inside or outside the Church by anyone asking for money, please tell them to leave the property. We ask you not to give anyone money. People in need of assistance are referred to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
| Posted in Bulletin |
March 22nd, 2009
I was reading the story was of a young woman growing up in a very dysfunctional family of twisted relationships. It didn’t help matters that the family belonged to a very strict religious sect. Talking about her life and the things that were going on in her life she made this amazing statement. “My life is an embarrassment of blessings.” Those words stuck with me ever since. My life is an embarrassment of blessings.
If we think about it, each one of us here can say these words, “my life is an embarrassment of blessings”. No matter what personal struggles we may be facing, we are a blessed people. Consider our gift of sight, our gift of speech and hearing, our gift of mobility, our gift of health, our gift of family and friends, our gift of employment or career, especially our the gift of faith.
We are all blest; we are all gifted by our God who is rich in mercy. We are blest by a God who so loved the world He sent His Son to the world not to condemn or punish but to save the world through His passion death and resurrection. We are blest by God, Who before the world began chose us in Christ to be His adopted sons and daughters.
In one of his letters St. Paul asked his readers, “What have you that you have not received and if you have received it why do you glory as if you had not received it?” What Paul writes to the Ephesians is true for all of us; “By grace, you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing, it is a gift from God.” We do not earn gifts, they are freely given. Our lives are an embarrassment of blessings. “For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”
The gifts with which we are all blessed were given for good works and these good works are the necessary consequence and outcome our new life in Christ. These good works are the fruit of a faith that is professed with our lips and lived in our lives. We pray at every Mass, “may we live this Mass outside these walls in the lives we live, the work we do and the service we give” Faith without good works is dead.
One of the good works that will challenge us is this year’s Share Life Appeal. If you are on our mailing list you have already received a letter from Archbishop Collins inviting you to be part of this year’s Appeal. The theme of this year’s appeal “you can work wonders” fits so well into today’s second reading which reminds us we, gifted people that we are, are created for good works.
Share Life supports 33 agencies and grants 10 others, assisting over ¼ of a million people in the Archdiocese. At the end of the Mass Maggie O’Rourke a staff member of Rosalie Hall will tell you of the work she is able to do because of your support for Share Life. With your help she can work wonders.
Our lives are an embarrassment of blessings. A great blessing that is ours is the life we share with the Risen Christ, a life Christ shares with us through His passion, death and resurrection. As we continue to celebrate this Mass we can pray for ourselves and for each other that we come to appreciate how blessed we are and in supporting Share Life may we all work wonders.
There will be no Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 27th.
Total: $8,881
Number of Envelopes Issued: 1,136 Number of Envelopes Used: 490
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome: Lindsay Marie Denman Mattea Angelica James Akira Nathaniel Kan Madison Autumn Zuccato Sydney Alexis Zuccato These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, March 15th. Congratulations!
LENTEN DAY OF REFLECTION: EXPLORING GOD & ME
Lent is a great time to take a look at our relationships – especially our relationship with God. On Thursday, March 26th from 10 AM to 3 PM, we will take time to look at how, when and where the Spirit of God dwells within us (St. Paul). Lunch will be provided (suggested cost $10) so please register. Call Mary Landry at 416 221-8866.
Tuesday, March 24th at 7:30 PM Topic: How the Bible Was Written
Wednesday, April 1st at 10:30 AM Topic: The Reformation
As you know, on March 28th, millions of people around the world will be shutting off their lights for one hour in a symbolic demonstration of their concern for climate change.
As parishioners of Canada’s First Green Church, we at St. Gabriel’s will also be celebrating Earth Hour. Please join others from the Parish on March 28th here in the Church at 8:30 PM for an hour of prayer and reflection. All are welcome.
Dr. Lydia Adams with the Elmer Iseler Singers, working with The Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts singers and conductors, Mark Huang and Eric Hauser will hold a workshop/symposium at St. Gabriel’s Church on Friday, March 27th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.
The symposium will be followed, after an hour break, by a concert from 7:00 until 8:30 PM. This is an educational outreach initiative in memory of John C. Bird, by the Elmer Iseler Singers. It is a wonderful gift of music blessing our community! All are welcome.
Tickets are $10 and are available through Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041. Due to this concert, there will be no Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 27th.
Tuesday, March 24 at 2:00 PM Blessed Trinity Church Hall The guest speaker, Col. Brian MacDonald will talk on “Canada’s Involvement in Afghanistan” Prospective members are cordially invited to attend.
Your prepared chicken rice casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at all the Masses next weekend, March 28th and 29th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. More volunteers are encouraged to pick up a copy of the casserole recipe and a pan. Why not give it a try? For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
“Our society is presently going through significant financial and economic turbulence, with grave social consequences. In our own diocese, people are losing their jobs.
With the pressure arising from economic hard times, new problems are created in families and in the wider society and existing ones are made worse. Our agencies within Catholic Charities experience increased demands for their services, and this is true as well of other religious and secular social agencies.
Already domestic violence is a significant issue and the increased tensions arising from financial anxieties can only make it worse. The problems of poverty and homelessness were with us before the economic downturn and we may expect that they will become even more serious. Now is the time when even greater generosity is needed from all of us.
I urge everyone to contribute more generously than ever to ShareLife.”
Most Rev. Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto
ShareLife Sunday – March 29th, 2009 With your help, we can work wonders!
Sunday, March 29th, 2009 from 3:00Pm to 6:30PM Marshal McLuhan Catholic Secondary School 1107 Avenue Road (3 blocks north of Eglinton)
You are invited to attend a fundraising Spaghetti Dinner for CPPS Mission Projects on Sunday March 29th. Last summer a group of students from Toronto traveled to Tanzania to help erect a windmill to bring fresh water to a remote village. We need your help to continue our work as monies raised from this dinner will help erect another windmill in the same area.
Tickets: adults – $15 seniors/students -$10 children 12 & under – $5 To order tickets, please contact the school at 416-393-5561.
March 15th, 2009
When Jesus came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover He was met with great enthusiasm. Many believed in Him because of the signs He worked, the things He taught and the way He confronted the authorities of the day. The people saw Jesus as someone who was going to change things, bring them a better tomorrow. The way He cleansed the Temple and challenged the leadership that let this holy place become a market place was a sign of hope to the little people of the time. Jesus was their hero, their hope.
Then we read in today’s gospel, “But Jesus on His part would not entrust himself to them because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about human nature, for he himself knew what was in the human person.” Jesus knew this enthusiasm and excitement would not last. He knew this admiring crowd could be fickle and unpredictable. He was wise enough not to entrust Himself to them.
I find these words ‘He knew himself what was in the human person’ to be very consoling. As Christians we believe that Jesus of Nazareth is both human and divine. St. John begins his gospel stating, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Then John goes on to say, “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.” We could say Jesus knew what was in the human person because He was God. But the reality is, Jesus knew what was in the human person because He was human. Jesus knew what was in the human person because He was bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. St. Paul tells us that, like us Jesus was tempted in all things but He did not sin.
Jesus knew what it means to have close friends, to love and admire them, people like Mary and Martha and Lazarus. Jesus knew what it is like to be accepted and He knew what is what like to be rejected. His own people drove Him out of His own town. Jesus enjoyed a good meal and good wine.
As we will see during our celebration of Holy Week Jesus knew the deep pain and disappointment of being deserted by his followers, betrayed by one friend and denied by another. Jesus knew the shame of being publicly humiliated, falsely condemned and sentenced to death. Jesus knew what it is like to feel like a failure. Jesus experienced the feeling of being forgotten by God as He suffered the agony of the garden and the cross. Being one like us in all things but sin He was no stranger to human love and human pain.
The Church is the extension of Jesus in time and space bringing His life and love to the world through word, sacrament and service. You’ve heard the saying, “I have no hands but yours, no eyes but yours, no ears but yours.” From over 2000 years of experience the Church knows and understands human nature, for the church itself is made up of us, human beings, and mistake making beings. But there are times when the Church, we ourselves and those who officially represent the church do not give witness to that understanding of the human condition. I wonder how Jesus or a more compassionate bishop would have handled that tragic situation in Brazil that recently made headlines around the world. A 9 year old girl pregnant with twins after being raped by her stepfather had an abortion. The whole situation is fraught with sadness and madness. This abused child, a product of a poor and abusive family life is the victim. How could a nine year old be expected to deliver twins? Instead of excommunicating the mother of this child, cutting her off from the community of faith wouldn’t have been more Christ like, more understanding of what is within the human person, to be there for this child and her family. Wouldn’t this bishop be more faithful to Christ if he had shown compassion instead of condemnation, understanding before judgment? This is what this mother and daughter needed and deserved. This was not an easy decision for a mother to make for her daughter. Don’t you think that Christ, Who knew what was within human nature would have embraced this wounded family and brought them healing?
As we continue to celebrate this Eucharist we can pray for ourselves and for each other that as we struggle with the strengths and weaknesses of our own humanity and seek the understanding of others for our faults and failings, we be gifted with the grace to be more understanding and compassionate when we are touched by, hurt by, disappointed with the human nature of others, be they bishops, priests, even ourselves.
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.
Learn about Passionists and our insignia »
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk
