Advent teaches us to be ready for the arrival of Jesus, not just at the end of time, but in the various ways that Jesus enters our life each and every day.
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An unexpected King
Christ the King
The Solemnity of Christ the King reminds us that central to Jesus' mission was establishing the kingdom of God. Just as Jesus is a king unlike any other, so the kingdom of God is unlike any kingdom the world has ever seen.
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A different kind of Apocalypse
33 Sunday Ordinary Time year B
Apocalyptic literature in the Bible, like we read about during today's Mass, is meant to inspire hope in a community that is suffering.
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What does it mean to be great?
32 Sunday of Ordinary Time, year B
In the Gospel today (Mark 12:38-44), Jesus challenges us to consider who is truly great. It is not the rich, powerful or wealthy who are great. Rather, those who are generous and self-sacrificial are the ones who are truly great in God's eyes.
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Service and the Synodal Way (29 Sunday Ordinary Time)
Jesus shows us that leaders must serve (Mark 10:35-45). This has major implications for the way that the Church exists. The Synodal process, recently inaugurated by Pope Francis, is meant to shape the Church so that it is marked by service and collaboration between all the baptized.
The Letters of Saint Paul - Part 1 (Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles)
Recently I gave a talk on St. Paul for the Archdiocese of Vancouver. This will be the first of a four-part series.
In this introductory session, we will explore the remarkable life and mission of St. Paul. Join us as we investigate the fascinating biography of Paul and the tumultuous world in which he lived. Paul is an inspiring example for us in our own journey of discipleship.
Watch here:
In this introductory session, we will explore the remarkable life and mission of St. Paul. Join us as we investigate the fascinating biography of Paul and the tumultuous world in which he lived. Paul is an inspiring example for us in our own journey of discipleship.
Watch here:
https://youtu.be/NkZ94El50mo
Law of the Gift
A paradox at the heart of Christianity is this: we find fulfillment for ourselves when we make ourselves a gift to others. This truth, which St. John Paul II called "the law of the gift", is at the heart of today's Gospel (Mark 9:30-37).
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Does it matter what Jesus looked like?
The Gospel reading for today, Mark 8:27-35 (24 Sunday of Ordinary Time, year B), discusses the identity of Jesus. The image we have of Jesus matters because it determines how we live our life as Christians. We hear in the Gospel that Peter gets some aspects of Jesus' identity correct but is very wrong when it comes to some fundamentals of who Jesus is.
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Does it matter what language Jesus spoke?
In the Gospel today (Mark 7:31-37, 23 Sunday of Ordinary Time, year B), we find Jesus speaking Aramaic. This teaches us something important about Jesus' identity and the way that God works in the world.
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Dealing with doubt
Doubt is a normal part of our spiritual journey. Although it seems counterintuitive, when we respond to doubt in the right way, it can be an opportunity to strengthen our faith (Jn 6:60-69).
How we ignore God's help
God always wants to help us when we need help. Sometimes, however, like the people in today’s Gospel, we reject God’s assistance because because it comes in a form we do not expect. Asking for help is an act of faith.
Missing the Sign
Just as the people in the Gospel (John 6:24-35) are corrected by Jesus for focusing on the good, but external aspects of a sign (bread) rather than the better, divine truth it represented (Jesus is the bread of life), the Gospel today challenges us to ensure we come to Mass for the right reasons.
Ascension: Why does Jesus leave us?
When Jesus ascends into heaven, we are confronted with a paradox: Jesus loved us so much that He needed to leave us behind. If Jesus had not ascended, we would never have matured as disciples.
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Preparing for a COVID Christmas
I recently gave a talk to my neighbours (the Madonna House community) and some of their friends in preparation for Christmas. In it, I try to reflect on what we can learn from the nativity story during this Christmas in a pandemic. In addition, I bring in some of Pope Francis' teaching from his most recent encyclical Fratelli Tutti.
The Mandalorian and a COVID Christmas
The Mandalorian and the Nativity both tell the story of a child entering a dark world who, though rejected by some, has the potential to bring hope and a new direction to life. Don't worry, there are no spoilers in this reflection for the 4th Sunday of Advent!
Rejoicing in a dark place (3rd Sunday of Advent)
Living in a pandemic, it can be very hard to appreciate how we are supposed to rejoice on this Gaudete (Rejoice!) Sunday. The Gospel today (John 1) gives us hope. It tells us that Jesus is light in the darkness. When we are in a dark place, a little light makes a big difference. We can rejoice by recognizing the small ways Jesus is a light to us and by being a light to those around us.
COVID Desert (2nd Sunday of Advent)
The COVID pandemic has been like the wilderness or desert experiences we read about in the Bible. At different times, God's people found themselves in a literal or figurative desert. These were times of suffering, confusion and disruption. We can have hope because in the midst of these desert experiences God always proclaims a message of comfort to his people: God's saving help is on the way! Desert experiences are transformed into times of renewal. We, like the people in the readings today (Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8), are called to prepare ourselves to receive this salvation that comes at Christmas in a new way.
The Gospel of Luke: Turning the World Upside Down (with Fr. Nick Meisl)
Here's a talk I gave recently on the Gospel of St. Luke:
Living Advent in a pandemic (1 Sunday Advent)
Every Advent season - especially an Advent during a pandemic - is a special time to pay attention to how God is working in our life and world. As the Gospel (Mk 13:33-37) tells us, we need to "Be watchful! Be alert!". God is trying to teach us something. Let us pay attention.
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Use it or lose it! (33 Sunday ofOT)
God has given each one of us incredibly valuable gifts. In the Gospel (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus teaches us that we will be judged based on how well we have used these gifts. This challenges us to change our perspective regarding what it means to follow Jesus well. Instead of focusing solely on the bad actions that we commit, we also need to pay close attention to those good actions that we neglected to do.
Be prepared! (32 Sunday Ordinary time)
Waiting is difficult! Today's Gospel (Matthew 25:1-13) shows us that the tension of waiting is an opportunity for growth. We prepare ourselves to meet Jesus by growing in faith and the practice of charity. This challenge is particularly important during the pandemic, during which we can accept regulations and other sacrifices out of love and concern for others. In addition, reaching out to the lonely and isolated is especially important now.
Longer audio version:
Saints are like pumpkins
The Feast of All Saints reminds us we are all called to be saints. Jesus' beatitudes are a roadmap for how we can be holy. Saints are people who let God's light shine through them.
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One question with three answers (30 Sunday OT)
When asked, "what is the greatest commandment?" it is significant that Jesus answers with more than one commandment (Mt 22:34-40). We need to love God... but... we can't really love God unless we love our neighbour... but... we can't really love our neighbour unless we love ourselves. To love God, then, we need to love others (especially the difficult ones) in a way that shows we actually like them.
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Voting and Jesus (29 Sunday of Ordinary time)
Have you voted yet? In today's Gospel (Matthew 22:15-21) Jesus does not tell us who to vote for, but He does indicate important principles that should guide our participation in the political process. In escaping a trap set by Pharisees and Herodians, Jesus wants His hearers to recall they are made in God's image. In doing this He restores dignity to people who were oppressed by Rome and reminds them they belong to God and are to build up God's Kingdom. These are truths we should remember when we vote.
Longer audio version:
Longer audio version:
How does God act in the world? (27 Sunday Ordinary Time)
In today's Gospel, Jesus reminds us that God shows love and care for the world through his people. We are God's vineyard, the way He produces good fruit in the world (Mt 21:33-43). Today, on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, we are reminded that one way we can bear good fruit is by working to strengthen bonds of love and fraternity among all people.
Longer audio version:
https://theextrameisl.podbean.com/e/how-does-god-act-in-the-world-27-sunday-ordinary-time/
Longer audio version:
https://theextrameisl.podbean.com/e/how-does-god-act-in-the-world-27-sunday-ordinary-time/
Kenosis instead of crankiness (26 Sunday Ordinary Time)
During the pandemic we have all experienced losses. In the second reading today from Phil 2, Paul teaches his audience how to live in peace when things are taken away from them. By following Jesus' example of kenosis (= self-emptying) and accepting losses for the good of others we can ensure our loses do not wound us and lead to crankiness.
Longer audio version:
That's not fair! (25th Sunday of Ordinary Time)
The parable of the vineyard owner and the workers that Jesus tells in the Gospel today (Matthew 20:1-16) is unsettling because it seems so unfair. Like all parables, this one is supposed to provoke and unsettle us so that we can see some deeper spiritual truths. The parable teaches us that God's grace is something we could never earn, it's pure gift. It also shows us that in God's eyes we all have the same dignity since God is equally generous with us. Finally, the Gospel challenges us to be generous like God, especially with those we don't believe deserve our generosity.
THE wedding reading
Paul's hymn to love (1 Cor 13), which we hear in the first reading a Mass today, is by far the most popular reading for weddings. For good reason! This beautiful reading is a challenge for all of us. It teaches us that love is above all a verb - an action - and encourages us to become more like God who is love (1 Jn 4:8).
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