Wednesday, October 28, 2009 Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles Readings: Ephesians 2;19-22; Psalm 19:2-5; Luke 6:12-19 Citizenship is an important characteristic for many people. When I have applied to study at universities, or to work, the applications have often asked me to state my citizenship. With some pride about having been born in and living in a prosperous and peaceful country, I have filled in or selected “Canadian.” That said, it brings me much sadness at times to complete ... Read Full Story

Friday, October 23, 2009 Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Readings: Romans 7:18-25a; Psalm 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94; Luke 12:54-59 Today’s readings are very Basilian. In the first verse of the Responsorial Psalm, we hear the Congregation’s motto, “Teach me goodness, discipline, and knowledge,” in a more up-to-date translation: “Teach me good judgement and knowledge.” (1) In place of “good judgement,” other English translations read “discernment” or “wisdom.” (2) Whatever th... Read Full Story

Monday, October 19, 2009 Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Readings: Romans 4:20-25; Luke 1:68-75 (Responsorial Canticle); Luke 12:13-21 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has come to His people.” (1) In place of a responsorial Psalm, today’s Mass includes the Benedictus, the beautiful hymn of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, from the Gospel of Luke. As religious, we recite this canticle every day as part of Morning Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. The r... Read Full Story

Friday, October 16, 2009 Memorial of Ste. Marguerite d’Youville Readings: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13; Psalm 146:2-10; Matthew 25:31-40 Less than three weeks ago, the memorial of eight Jesuit “Canadian Martyrs” was celebrated in Canada. Those men gave their lives courageously to the service and spread of the word of God to the Native peoples of North America, and are therefore rightly honoured. In three days, the anniversary of the death of one of the eight “North American Martyrs,” St. Isaa... Read Full Story

Thursday, October 8, 2009 Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Readings: Malachi 3:13-20; Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Luke 11:5-13 Much discussion about how Christians pray is centered upon the methods of prayer. People I have talked with have asked the question of me as to whether formal or rote prayer is better than spontaneous dialogue with God, or whether silence is better yet. I believe all these are necessary and helpful. We have formulas like the Lord’s Prayer, from yesterday’s Go... Read Full Story

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 Memorial of St. Jerome Readings: Nehemiah 2:1-8; Psalm 137:1-6; Luke 9:57-62 Over the past two weeks, feast days excepted, the first readings have centered upon the activities of the Israelite people after the Babylonian exile. Following their conquest of the Babylonians, the Persian kings, beginning with Cyrus, were sympathetic toward Israel and allowed the exiles to return to their land and to rebuild the walls and temple of Jerusalem. (1) Two especially impor... Read Full Story

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Readings: Ezra 4:4-5, 6:1, 6-8, 12, 14-20; Psalm 122:1-5; Luke 8:19-21 This past August, I visited the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada, with my family. There, stories of the greatest people in the sport’s history are told, and their memorabilia is enshrined. But the exploits of some less heralded members of the Hall- broadcasters, coaches, executives- are recalled in a section dedicated to the game’s “builde... Read Full Story

Monday, September 14, 2009 Feast of the Triumph of the Cross Readings: Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38; John 3:13-17 As a small child I often wondered why Jesus had to die so hideously, crucified between two criminals. Each time I asked that question, the response from relatives was that the death of Christ was necessary: “It had to happen that way.” “But why?,” I would protest. No answer was satisfactory for me, even the minimal though accurate clarification I received if I... Read Full Story

Friday, September 11, 2009 Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time Readings: 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14; Psalm 16:1-2a, 3-5a, 6-7; Luke 6:39-42 St. Paul begins his first letter to Timothy by wishing three gifts from God- “Grace, mercy, and peace”- upon his friend and legate in Ephesus. (1) This salutation resembles a phrase often used by Paul to initiate his letters. One of the opening greetings of the Mass follows the same formula: “The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Je... Read Full Story

Sunday, August 9, 2009 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:2-9; Ephesians 4:30- 5:2; John 6:41-51  Prophecy is a difficult, even dangerous, undertaking. Elijah knew this well. He contended with the unprecedented depravity of King Ahab who, as Scripture recounts, had done “evil in the sight of the Lord more than any of his predecessors.” (1) Just when Ahab would have been hard-pressed to do any worse, he married Jezebel, who proceeded to murder all the prophet... Read Full Story