September 21st, 2008
The parable in today’s gospel was one that Jesus used for one occasion and the Church remembers for another reason.
Many people could relate to the story Jesus tells. Unskilled laborers gathered in the market place hoping they would find work that day. Some were successful others were not. We can imagine the disappointed of the un-chosen. They would go home that evening with no money to feed their families. Someone has referred to this Sunday as, “It ain’t fair” Sunday. At first reading it really isn’t fair. Those who worked all day should have received more than these Johnny come latelies.
Jesus said that He was sent first of all to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; to the people who followed God’s ways since Abraham and the early covenants. They have been faithful, laboring to be a part of God’s kingdom. The apostles are being prepared to enter the vineyard here at the last hour. The scribes and Pharisees represent the long line of holy and devout Israelites who bore the burden of faithfulness through the centuries. They well know that God’s ways are different from theirs as they remember their long religious history. As we heard in Isaiah “My thoughts are not your thoughts nor are My ways your ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher you’re your ways. In the eyes of the Scribes and Pharisees the followers of Jesus are not only new-comers, they don’t even keep the customs and traditions nor do they respect the authority structures of God’s ways. The key words in this parable are those about how the owner kept going out at all hours to invite and employ. This owner is constant, his message is the same and his promises for payment are standard. God is faithful and inclusive, as opposed to our ways which are so judicial and selective.
The Apostles and the disciples are the late-comers whom Jesus has called into the vineyard to labor with and for Him. They will be rewarded, though their fidelity has been shorter. Is this fair? The first and last will all be included. All will have to adjust their feelings based on God’s ways not being like theirs.
This was the original teaching Jesus had in mind. But Matthew tells this parable with something else in mind. One of the big issues in the early Christian communities was the fact that non-Jews, the Gentiles were anxious to follow Jesus, they wanted to join what was strictly a Jewish community. Some of the first followers of Jesus resented their presence, resented their being welcomed into the community. So the parable is addressed to those members of the community who resented these late comers and who were convinced “it ain’t fair”. The message of the parable is true in both understandings, the older and younger, the newly-called and the ancients are all going to receive God’s love equally.
Maybe a modern parallel to this parable can be found in the mentality of people who resent new comers to Canada. Have you ever heard anyone complain about ‘these people’ who come over here and take jobs away from Canadians, ‘these people who come here and get government assistance paid for by our taxes?’ They are Freddy free loaders. This parable could apply to the protectionism of different professions who hinder the newcomer from practicing their skills in Canada. They use the lame excuse, “they don’t meet our standards, and they have no Canadian experience.” In other words, “they don’t belong here.”
If you are not a member of our First Nations then you are a boat person. Our families, no matter when they came to Canada, came here looking for a better life, a freer life. If we take the time to look back into our own family histories we would learn that they were blessed in having the chance to make a life in this land. Why would we deny that same blessing to others?
The message of the parable is that we are all a graced people. We have no exclusive claim on the mercy and love of God. As St. John tells us, “this is the wonder, not that we love God but that God first loved us and sent His Son to be our Savior.” St. Paul teaches, “Before the world began God chose us to be His adopted sons and daughters.” If ever we find ourselves resenting the goodness or mercy of God to others we could ask ourselves, “where would we be without that same goodness and mercy.” We may resent the generosity of God toward others but where would we be without that same generosity?
As we continue to celebrate this Mass we can pray for ourselves and for each other that each of us finds in our hearts the generosity and inclusiveness we see the landowner and be happy that God is as generous with others and God is with us.
| Posted in Homily |
Total: $8,293.69
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The Altar Service is now recruiting new members. If you are in Grade 4 or higher and are interested in becoming an altar server, please leave your name and phone number with the Parish Office at 416-221-8866. The orientation and training for new members will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 2:30 PM to 4:15 PM.
The Children’s liturgy of the word, for children 4 – 10 years old, will begin on Sunday, September 21 at the 10:30 AM Mass. We are in need of volunteers to help us interpret the readings through discussion and activities. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Tim Lychy at 416- 953-0555 or email him at tim@dibrinasure.com.
Classes for the Children’s Faith Program, for children attending private or public schools, have already begun. However, registration forms are still being accepted until the October 5th class. These forms can be picked up at the Parish Office. For further information, please contact Cheryl Teixeira at 416-261-9693.
Attention: Those who are Interested in learning about the Catholic Faith
This is an invitation to come to our meeting on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 7:30 in the Library. Come with your questions, your curiosity, and your point of view. They will be the basis of our discussion. To Our Parishioners: Because our Parish Community is considered the official teacher and guide for possible new members, it is important that some of you help by being present and by sharing your faith in ways that are comfortable to you. Adult Catholics who wish to celebrate the sacraments of Eucharist and /or Confirmation are also welcome. For more information, please call Mary Landry at 416-221-8866.
In past years, Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings have been devoted to religious topics decided on by those who wish to participate. We have studied and discussed parts of the Bible, Church history, viewed videos, listened to tapes and read short but substantial books about Christ and the Church.
On Tuesday evening, September 30th at 7:30 PM, our topic will be “What is Liberation Theology?”.
On Wednesday morning, October 8th at 10:30 AM, we will finish studying St. Paul’s Letters.
Both groups will decide what topics they wish to study through the fall. If you are interested, please come with your questions, your “puzzlements”, your concerns and interests about the faith (and sometimes doubts) we share. For further information, please call Mary Landry at 416-221-8866, Ext. 224.
“Those who sing pray twice!”
We would like to invite new membership to our Senior and Junior Choirs. The Senior Choir practices Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 and sings at the 10:30 Mass. The Junior Choir practices Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 and sings at the 12:30 Mass. We invite all to consider joining this important ministry of music. For more information, please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041.
Many people have been asking “Where’s Ralph?” Ralph is fine but Eva has not been well for some time. Ralph doesn’t want to leave her alone so he has not been able to be here to take care of things for Sunday Masses. He asks for your prayers for his dear wife, Eva. His phone number is 1-905-571-2220 and his address is: Mr. Ralph Bardowell, 215 – 120 Waller Street, Whitby, Ontario, L1R 2G4
ALEX SEREDENKO, our 12:30 Mass accompanist, will be presenting a concert Thursday, September 25th at noon as part of the Piano Virtuoso Series. It will be held at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen Street West. All are welcome.
A group of synagogues in the Bayview corridor have a project to supply two First Nation’s communities, located about an hour from Owen Sound, with donated sports equipment including skates, hockey equipment, skis and bicycles. A date (probably in October) and a location where items can be dropped off will be announced. Donated items must be delivered the same day since storage is not possible. If anyone would like to donate items for this project, please keep the items aside pending further details. There may also be a request for volunteer drivers with vans. Please stay posted for further information.
Speak with confidence, control nervousness, communicate effectively and recognize your potential. The Christopher Leadership Course of Canada offers you the ability to develop and enhance your speaking and leadership skills. These enhanced skills benefit your home, place of worship, place of employment and the community. Learn all this while having fun during an 11 week course beginning the week of September 22, 2008 at four different locations in the GTA. For more information call 1-800-418-8925
All are welcome to join Archbishop Thomas Collins for Lectio Divina. Sunday, September 21, 2008. St. Michael’s Cathedral, 65 Bond Street, Toronto
Vespers are at 7:00PM followed by the Lectio Divina from 7:30 to 8:15 PM.
Your prepared chicken rice casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. More volunteers are encouraged to get a copy of the casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
Good Shepherd Ministries is unfortunately witnessing a growth in the number of people lining up to eat in their dining room each day. This past year, over 270,000 meals were served – 15,000 more than the previous year. We have been asked to participate in the 2008 Thanksgiving Food Drive. Rice, canned vegetables and meats, canned stews and soups, cereals pasta and sauces, peanut butter, jams, sugar, tea, ground and instant coffee, hot chocolate, powdered fruit juice, paprika, garlic powder, and condiments are urgently needed. Please drop off your donations in the designated containers at the doors of the Church. The parish’s donations of non-perishable food will make it possible for the Good Shepherd Ministries to continue to offer nutritious meals to those in need. They need our help more than ever!
September 28, 2008
Each year the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is asked to speak out, give leadership or provide guidelines for the faithful on topics such as education, ecumenism, interfaith relations, ethical issues and events that require common action here or elsewhere in the world. In order for our Bishops to be able to make proper judgments on modern topics, they must have the benefit of research and expert advice. This information gathering requires staff, time and money. Through the yearly Bishop’s collection for the needs of the Church in Canada, an appeal is made to all Catholics to be generous in supporting the work of their Bishops. In addition to contributions, we are also asked to pray for the work of the Bishops and to participate in and cooperate with the various projects of the CCCB.
The first meeting of the North York Retired Men’s Club for fall, 2008 will be held on September 23rd at 2:00 PM at Blessed Trinity Parish Hall. Dr. Charles Wright will speak on the current controversies in Healthcare. New members are welcome.
| Posted in Bulletin |
September 17th, 2008
| Posted in Events |
September 14th, 2008
This feast is always celebrated on September fourteenth. It is an extraordinary feast in the history and in the mind of the Church. It is believed that St. Helen, the mother of Constantine, while on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 326, found a piece of the “True Cross” on September 14th. The feast became important when it was believed that the “True Cross” was returned from Persia to Jerusalem in the seventh century after its having been stolen.
The second reading – Paul’s letter to the Philippians – pretty well sums up the whole reality of Jesus. Though Jesus was in the form of God, He did not consider being equal to God as something to be exploited or clung to. As the ancient Nicene Creed states, Jesus was God from God, light from light, true God from true God. From His divine reality Jesus was willing to empty Himself taking to Himself the form of a slave and being born in human likeness. Again, as our Creed proclaims, “He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.” As one like us in all things but sin, Jesus became obedient to His Father’s will even to the point of death, even death on a cross. As Jesus told the inquisitive Nicodemus, just as Moses lifted up the healing serpent in the desert so the Son of Man must be lifted up on the very cross we honor today, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. On that cross Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our offences, upon Him was the punishment that made us whole and it was by His wounds we are healed.
But that is not the end of Jesus. For handing over His very being to His Father’s will, His Father exalted Him. In the reality of the resurrection, Jesus is given a name above every name that can be named, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend in heaven and earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father. It is in the resurrection that Jesus the slave is vindicated and exalted by His Father.
In the cross we see the triumph of love over hate and of justice over injustice. In the crucified Christ we see the love of God made visible. As today’s gospel reminds us, “God sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world but to embrace the world with all its joys and sorrows” and by His death on the cross Christ bring life to the world.
On this feast of the Triumph of the Cross we can apply Jesus mentality to ourselves. By God’s grace we try to empty ourselves of all that is not Christ like – our selfishness, self satisfaction, bigotry, prejudice, any sense of injustice, anything in the way we live our lives that does not image in some way the teachings and example of Jesus.
I heard an interesting thing the other day. A person was asked, “are you a Christian and the answer was ask my neighbour’ or ask my wife or husband, ask my children, ask the people with whom I work.
On this triumphant feast of the Cross we can pray for ourselves and for each other that we be emptied of any un-Christ like aspects of our lives and be blessed to be able to echo the words of St. Paul, “I live now, not I but Christ lives in me and the life I live I live trusting in the Son of God who loved me and gave His life for me.”
Total: $11,417.00
The Archdiocese of Toronto wishes to thank you for your support. The 2008 ShareLife Parish Campaign raised $11,763,375 for 33 Catholic agencies and 10 grant recipients. Your contribution made a difference to more than 200,000 people who turned to Sharelife agencies for assistance this year.
The Children’s liturgy of the word, for children 4-10 years old, will begin on Sunday, September 21 at the 10:30 AM Mass. We are in need of volunteers to help us interpret the readings through discussion and activities. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Tim Lychy at 416-953-0555 or email him at tim@dibrinasure.com.
This is an invitation to come to our first meeting on Monday, September 15th, 2008 at 7:30 in the Library. Come with your questions, your curiosity, and your point of view. They will be the basis of our discussion.
To Our Parishioners: Because our Parish Community is considered the official teacher and guide for possible new members, it is important that some of you help by being present and by sharing your faith in ways that are comfortable to you. Adult Catholics who wish to celebrate the sacraments of Eucharist and /or Confirmation are also welcome. For more information, please call Mary Landry at 416-221-8866 after Monday, September 8th, 2008.
We would like to invite new membership to our Senior and Junior Choirs. The Senior Choir practices Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 and sings at the 10:30 Mass. The Junior Choir practices Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 and sings at the 12:30 Mass. We invite all to consider joining this important ministry of music.
For more information, please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041.
A Marriage Preparation Course will take place at St. Gabriel’s Church on the weekend of October 24th to 26th. If you are interested, please contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866. Register early as space is limited.
Fair Trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.
Regular ground coffee: $5 Decaffeinated: $6 Whole beans: $5 Chocolate Bars: $4 incl. taxes Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $4.50 Teas: $3.25 to $3.50 by variety
Blessed Trinity CWL is having the first General Meeting for the fall on Tuesday, September 16 in the parish hall. There will be a Mass at 1:00 PM followed by a brief meeting and a special guest speaker. All the ladies of St. Gabriel’s are cordially invited to come and socialize with old friends and meet new people.
Blessed Trinity Knights of Columbus will be hosting an Italian Dinner Dance followed by a Silent Auction and Raffle on Saturday, September 20th at Blessed Trinity Church. To order tickets, please contact Rocco at 416-225-7673. All proceeds will be donated to charity.
From September 21 to October 4 and October 15 to October 18, 2008, we will retrace St. Paul’s journeys in Greece, the Greek Isles and Turkey. Paul’s journeys and life are recorded in his letters and in the Acts of the Apostles.
For further information, please visit the Catholic Biblical Association website at www.cbac.org, email Sr. Jocelyn Monette at jocmon@sympatico.ca or call 416 – 406 – 4398
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides an annual receipt for tax purposes for all known donors. This is usually achieved by the donors giving cheques from which all relevant information can be obtained. However, some donors have been putting significant amounts in the Poor Box for which no receipt can be given since their identity is not known. St. Vincent de Paul envelopes are now available on the tables by the doors of the Church for use by those giving cash, if they would like a receipt. Either their name and address or envelope number must be filled in on the envelope so that the amounts can be recorded.
The televised Sunday Mass on CTV for shut-ins is moving to a new time. As of September 21, 2008, the televised Sunday Mass will begin at 8:30 AM.
Providence healthcare welcomes you to come out and visit us. See and hear first-hand about our excellent programs and services with a personalized tour. To arrange your tour, please contact Gloria Vidovich at 416-285-3669 or gvidovic@providence.on.ca. We are located at 3276 St. Clair Avenue East (corner of Warden & St. Clair Ave.). Our website is www.providence.on.ca
Faith Connections: Scripture Sound Bytes
Are you between the ages of 18-39 years? Interested in enhancing you spiritual life? The Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto and The Mississauga Parishes invite you to discover with other young adults how the Sunday Readings relate to your life. Join us for an evening of prayer, reflection and social time! Come & bring friends.
Tuesday Evenings from 7:30-9:30pm, St. Christopher’s Parish 1171 Clarkson Rd. North, Mississauga.
More Info? www.faithconnections.ca or call Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt at 416-222-1101.
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
