January 7th, 2007
In today’s gospel we have Matthew’s version of the birth of Christ with the emphasis on a king who would brook no rival and the arrival of these sages from a distant country seeking a new born king. Luke’s telling of the birth of Jesus let us know that this new born king, born in a stable, came for the least of the least. The first to witness the birth of the Savior, were poor shepherds, people who had no standing in society at all. Today we would call them marginalized. These least were the first to see this wonder of wonder, God entering into humanity in the person of His Son, Jesus.
In Matthew’s gospel his take on the birth of Jesus is that Jesus came for everyone – for any person of any nationality who does what is right – these sages from – who knows where, represent all that nations of the earth – all are welcome, all are changed by this wonder of Divinity embracing humanity. Matthew’s gospel which was written long after Paul’s letter to Ephesians is affirming what Paul taught: the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body and sharers in the same promise in Christ Jesus.
Of all the teachings of Paul, this was the hardest one for Jewish Christians to accept, that Gentiles, non Jews, were embraced by God just as they were, that the Gentiles were the new Israel of God. In Christ there was no longer Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free – all were one – all were equally loved by God – all were reconciled, made one with God, through the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ. Matthew, who wrote for Jewish Christians, affirms this teaching of Paul in and through the imagery of these strangers, searchers coming from afar and who are welcomed by the Christ.
One of the great problems we face today is that of fundamentalism – not just the Islam extremist who sees anyone who does not agree with them as infidels. Not just the Hindu extremist who would kill anyone who converted to a different faith. We Christians have our own fundamentalist our own extremists too – Catholic and non-Catholic – unless we buy into their narrow, restricted, even distorted beliefs on God, on Jesus, on the church – we are out.
I love that statue of Christ at the entrance of the underground parking – I call it, ‘the welcoming Christ’, arms outstretched to embrace any and all who come to Him burdened with life’s troubles. But there are those who would tie those outstretched arms behind His back, restraining His love and welcome from those who do not believe as they believe, from those who have the maturity to think for themselves, to question and to search as these wise men in the gospel did.
As you know epiphany means manifestation – a eureka experience – an insight into something new and wonderful. That’s what we celebrate today – that awesome insight hidden to former generations but now revealed through God’s Spirit – the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body and sharers in the same promise in Christ Jesus.’ As St. Peter put it: ‘any person of any nationality who does what is right, is acceptable to God.’
As we continue to celebrate this feast of wonder and revelation we can pray for ourselves and for each other that we be blessed to have those welcoming arms of the welcoming Christ and rejoice and respect the many ways the grace of God is working in the lives of all people – of all faiths, all denominations, and all nationalities.
| Posted in Homily |
THE EPIPHANY OF CHRIST IS A SHINING LIGHT SET AT THE TURNING OF THE YEAR TO ILLUMINATE ALL THAT HAS GONE BEFORE, AND TO GUIDE US THROUGH THE YEAR AHEAD.
With this Feast of the Epiphany we close our celebration of Christmas and we look forward to a Peaceful New Year.
Sincere thanks to all who helped make this Christmas celebration possible: the Organists and Choir, the Cantors, the Lectors, the Ministers of Hospitality, the Ministers of the Eucharist, the Servers, and to those who decorated the Church so beautifully. Thank you to all those who supported the Toy and Food Drives. You are wonderful people!
TIME: 10:30AM to NOON PLACE: Gabriel Room on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10th (repeat of January 3rd). This presentation will also be offered on TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9th at 7:30PM.
TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 16th TIME: 7:30 – 9:00PM PLACE: Library “How are our Christian life and ethics similar to those of other faith traditions? How are they different?”
Total: $34,656.00
Total: $5,782.00
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul would like to thank the parishioners, St. Gabriel’s Crafters and families of students at St. Gabriel’s School for their generosity throughout the year, but particularly during the Christmas period. This has enabled us to help many of our neighbours in need, in and around the parish, all of whom are very grateful for your practical thoughtfulness.
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 54 casseroles for December. For January, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of January 27/28 for delivery. 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 a copy of the recipe and a casserole pan, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
| Posted in Bulletin |
December 31st, 2006
I went to see the movie ‘The Nativity’. In my opinion it was spared all the excesses of a Hollywood production. When we think back on our memories of movies such as the Ten Commandments, Ben Hur or the Robe with all the extravagance and poetic license they took with Scripture, the Nativity was a breathe of fresh air. It certainly had nothing in common with The Passion of Christ.
The Nativity showed the common yet harsh life of the poor people of the time. The simple homes, the cramped living conditions, the hard labor and yet the sense of community in small villages such as Nazareth. It was a hard life. The movie showed in its own way how Jesus became as we all are, one like us in all things. I think they portrayed Mary as an ordinary young woman of the time – helping with family chores, having friends, helping others. But I liked Joseph the best. A hard working, friendly young man looking for a bride, approaching Mary’s father for her hand – the deal being made with Mary having little if anything to say about it. Poor Joseph is shocked when Mary comes back to Nazareth after her three month visit with her cousin Elizabeth, obviously pregnant. Tongues wag and knowing looks are exchanged when Mary walks through the streets. But as the Gospel tells us Joseph took her as his wife and took away the shame. From then on in different scenes of their journey to Bethlehem Joseph always referred to ‘our child.’
I’ve mentioned on every feast of the Holy Family what a disservice Christian artists have done to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Everything is so serene, so unruffled, they are like porcelain dolls. They’ve taken them out of the realm of reality – especially the harsh reality portrayed in The Nativity. Their’s was not an easy life.
I think today’s gospel story of the loss of the young Jesus in the bustling city of Jerusalem gives points to this truth. Can you imagine if a son or daughter of yours just disappears without a word – you have no idea where they are? Imagine the panic. You are distraught. You call the police, you call friends – does anybody know where he or she is. Then when they do show up you’re caught between relief and anger. You want to take them and shake them, you want to take them and hug them. Mary and Joseph were no different. Joseph lets Mary do the talking, ‘why have you done so to us’ how could you be so thoughtless, so irresponsible’ but Joseph must have had words with Jesus as well.
How many parents have asked a son or daughter – no matter what their age; ‘why have you done so to us?” How could you do such a stupid, thoughtless thing? How could you pick such friends? What were you thinking? The circumstances that cause such questions are endless. They leave you confused and questioning; where did we go wrong? Why didn’t we see this coming?
I say this every year and I mean it. Looking at you good people, good parents, I have to say, ‘ I took the easy way out’ The saints of the church are in the pews of the church, people like yourselves, whether you are in two parent or single parent homes. Good people like yourselves trying to do the best you can as you struggle with trying to keep your own relationship alive, as you worry about keeping a roof over your heads and raise a family. You are the saints.
As we continue to celebrate this Mass on this feast of the Holy Family – a family that knew its own struggles and its own joys, we pray for every family in the parish that they have the faith and strength to face their problems, the insight to appreciate how special is each member of the family and the love to bear one another’s weaknesses, knowing that all of us, as individuals and as family; we are all a work in progress.
Total: $14,769.54
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Some of you may have already heard that the Holy Father has accepted the resignation of His Eminence, Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic as the Archbishop of Toronto in accord with Canon Law, which requires bishops to offer their resignation when they are 75 years old. The Cardinal had offered his resignation in January of 2005, but served almost two more years since that time.
The Holy Father has also named Archbishop of Edmonton, Thomas Collins, as the next Archbishop of Toronto. He will become the 12th Bishop and the 10th Archbishop of Toronto to lead the diocese since it was established in 1842. We offer prayers of thanksgiving for Cardinal Ambrozic and pray for Archbishop Collins as he prepares to join us here in the Archdiocese of Toronto.
Friday, January 5th at 9:30 AM Every first Friday of the month from 9:30AM to 12 noon. Please see the time schedule on the table inside the Church.
Saturday, January 6th at 3:15PM We meet in the Library on the first Saturday of every month at 3:15 PM. We welcome all who wish to share this time with us. For information please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Sunday, January 7th at 4:00PM We are a group of Chinese (Cantonese speaking) who get together the first Sunday of every month at 4:00 PM in the Gabriel Room. For information please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Sunday, January 7th at 11:30 AM in the 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.
The Brothers could use our help during this Season. Please bring non-perishable food items such as: canned soups and stews, powdered milk, instant and ground coffee, canned tuna, canned meats, canned fruit juices, powdered soup base, hot chocolate, cooking spices, canned salmon, and cold breakfast cereals. Kindly leave donations at the doors of the Church in the designated containers.
Your prepared chicken (or turkey) rice casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses this weekend of December 30/31 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.
There will be no Family Mass in January 2007. The next one will take place on FEBRUARY 12th at 12:30 PM.
Dear Father Paul,
Congratulations to you, the Staff of St. Gabriel’s and all who participated in the hard work and long hours to bring about the successful transition of St. Gabriel’s from “the old” to “the new”.
I can fully appreciate the frustrations you must have experienced. But in spite of the obstacles, you all made that transition run smoothly for us, the parishioners.
I must admit I had to “grow” gradually with the changes that evolved, but am now completely won over to what we are blessed with today.
The final result is a wonderful, comfortable place of peace and worship in tune with God’s creation and culminating in the beautiful dedication of St. Gabriel’s on November 19th with the hope of a promising future.
December 25th, 2006
One past president of the United States said that the day a man landed on the moon was the greatest event since Creation. It was a great event, a breakthrough in space exploration. But it can’t compare with the event we celebrate today – the Son of God landing on the earth. The church uses a quote from scripture to describe that moment. ‘When all things were in quiet silence and the night was in the midst of its course your Almighty Word leapt down from heaven, from your royal throne.’
Luke describes the Son of God landing on earth in the beautiful gospel we’ve just heard.
St. Paul describes Christ’s landing on the earth this way – Have this mind in you which was also in Christ. He did not consider being equal to God as something to be clung to, but he emptied himself to take to himself the condition of a slave and became as we are – and being as we all are he humbled himself even to accepting death on the cross. And because of this God has exalted him and given him a name that is above all other names 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 God the Father.
Today we celebrate the awesome truth Jesus became one of us – one like us in all things – though he did not sin. Jesus lived in troubled times as we do today – his homeland occupied by foreigners – a society troubled by political and religious unrest. He grew up in a nondescript home in Nazareth, his father Joseph taught him a trade and we can be sure that there were times when He who made the world was out of work.
Today we celebrate the awesome truth that Jesus is one of us – like us in all things. Jesus knows what it is like to be poor and homeless, he knows what it is like to have to flee one’s homeland for safety’s sake. He experienced the struggles of adolescence, the search for his own identity and the discovery of His life’s vocation – a vocation His parents did not understand. He knew what it was like to grieve the loss of someone he loved when Joseph died. Jesus knew He was to bear witness to the truth of God’s love for all of us – and He was faithful to that witness even to the point of dying. And in His death He gave witness to the truth that God loved the world so much He sent His Son to the world and He loved us so much He gave His life for us.
We all have our own problems and worries, our own joy and our own heartaches. If we think about it too much we can be over whelmed by the injustices, the senseless violence, and the personal tragedies that destroy good people’s lives that we hear about every day. There can be times when we get down on ourselves, we’re disappointed in ourselves; we’re discouraged by unfulfilled hopes and dreams, embarrassed by personal weakness. We can worry about financial and job security, we worry about family stability and well being.
This is why Christmas is such an important feast and celebration for all of us, it reminds us that Christ emptied Himself of divinity to take upon Himself our humanity – to become one like us – knowing and experiencing all our joys and all our pains. Christ walks with us as we live our lives – He knows how burdened we can be and offers us the wonderful invitation – ‘come to me all you who labor and find life burdensome and I will refresh you’.
We can continue our Christmas celebration giving thanks to Jesus Christ for becoming one of us, sharing our burdens, enjoying our joys and trusting His promise that He would be with us, supporting us, healing us, forgiving and loving us all through our lives. We can all go through life trusting the awesome truth of Emmanuel – God with us – God with us in joy and sorrow, but always God with us.
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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