Share
Page 4 of 12
Share
As some of you know, millions of soccer fans from around the world have been gathering in front of their tv sets to watch the Euro Cup. On Tuesday I watched Croatia vs Scotland. Both teams had to win to move on in the tournament. After 90 minutes of physical and mental torment in front of a loud Scottish crowd, Croatia won the game 3-1 and secured their place in the final 16 of the tournament.
One of the outstanding parts of the match for me happened after the final whistle. Croatia’s captain, Luka Modric, dropped to the ground covering his eyes as tears flowed out of them.
He looked as if he just won the entire tournament. Winning that game meant so much to Modric because he went all out for the game, easily covering nearly 12 km on the pitch, and scoring a goal that curled the ball around the Scottish keeper.
Celebrate, But Don’t Become Complacent
As you reach the end of the school year, it’s important to celebrate. In the past two years we have been bombarded with so much bad news that we often forget to celebrate the small wins in life. Sometimes, we even have the tendency to downplay our achievements. Celebrating life is a major theme in the Bible. Psalm 145:7 reads, “They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness, And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.”
I know many of you gave it your all this year, and then some. Finishing this school year deserves celebration; especially if you’re a graduate.
Make sure to honor God in your celebration. Thank Him for sustaining you throughout this year and being there to lean on when you felt like giving up.
Finally, keep in mind that while celebration is important, don’t become complacent. There will be new challenges awaiting you in the near future. Don’t look at these challenges as something bad; look at them as opportunities to further win at life and celebrate further achievements.
Finishing this school year is like winning one game in a tournament, except the tournament for us lasts a lifetime. We have to celebrate, but then we have to prepare once more.
Let us pray,
Almighty Father, We offer you all honour and praise. We thank you for sustaining us throughout this school year. Thank you for keeping us close to your Sacred Heart. Help us to always be aware of your Holy Spirit in our lives. Continue to guide us as we move into the summer. Grant us much deserved rest and to our families many blessings and good health. Throughout the next two months equip us with virtues and spiritual gifts to overcome future obstacles and to conquer any crosses that may burden us. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Hail Mary…
Share
In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus says that “there is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend.”
What comes to mind when you hear the words “lay down your life”?
Story
My mother in-law, Anna, lost her husband 20 years ago to cancer. Anna’s husband was an only child so she became responsible for the wellbeing of her in-laws as they aged.
Her father-in-law developed Alzheimer not long after his son’s passing. Not long after Anna’s mother in-law fell into depression followed by an avalanche of health complications that made her a regular at the St. Catharines General Hospital. Anna tirelessly drove them from appointment to appointment, cleaned their home, cooked for them and was always a call away. This was in addition to her duties as a mom, her job as a nurse, and tending to her own parents when needed. Both Anna’s in-laws have since past. Yet, if you knew Anna during those times you’d never guess what she was dedicated to. She was laying down her life for her in-laws, her daughter Jennine (my wife), her parents, and her patients at work.
Here’s one more story.
Sarah, a high school teacher, is a hard-working teacher and dedicated wife and mother. While at school Sarah remains positive and inspires her students. When at home, she is loving towards her children. Perhaps, it’s only her husband who knows what she is going through. Sarah’s mom is an alcoholic and lives alone, one hour away. Despite being anxious, exhausted and even angry at her mom, Sarah drives one hour to see her mom every day after school and one hour home. She brings her a bottle of liquor (because it’s dangerous for alcoholics to suddenly stop), prepares food for her and ensures she’s comfortable and safe for the night. In the evening she gets home in time to tuck her own children into bed. She repeats the next day. Sarah lays down her life for her students, her family and her mom.
Connection
Do you know people who lay down their life daily?
Do you lay down your life daily for someone?
When I hear the words “lay down your life,” I immediately think about grand heroic acts. But laying down one’s life is not always so grand that it would make a good movie. You and I can lay down our lives by doing little acts with great love. Here’s some examples:
Wash the dishes after dinner. There’s nothing exciting about washing dishes, but it can make a huge difference for your parents. Study and do your homework, even when you feel tempted to play video games or scroll through Instagram. Don’t dismiss someone just because you don’t see eye to eye them. Teach yourself to listen. Be present for your younger siblings, even if they are annoying. Honor and respect the dignity of your friends, peers and teachers. Finally, lay down your life for your own sake, by stopping negative life-degrading habits. None of this is glorifying and you may even be made fun of, but it’s the virtuous thing to do.
The measure of our love is found in our willingness to lay down our lives every day.
Let us pray,
Lord Jesus, you laid down your life for us in an extraordinary way on the cross. But you also laid down your life in more ordinary ways when you encountered those who were marginalized or in need of forgiveness. We thank you Lord for your example of love and the examples set by countless saints before us. Sometimes the most difficult thing to do is to lay down our lives daily for our friends, family, co-workers and peers. When we feel lazy or unmotivated, help us to see opportunities to lay down our lives in simple ways. We pray for the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit. We make this prayer in Your Holy Name. Amen. St. Joseph…Pray for Us!
Share
What are the relationships you value most in your life?
My close friend, David and I have had similar life experiences growing up. We had similar family dynamics, similar interests, and our faith journeys parallel one another. What makes our similarities awe inspiring is that we grew up in different parts of the world, separated by thousands of kilometres, speaking different languages, and being influenced by different cultures. We only met because we happened to share a class during our Master’s program.
Accountability
One of the things that I value most about my friendship with David is that we hold each other accountable. We have an agreement to hold each other accountable to the high (and sometimes difficult) standards set out by Jesus. When we fail to live up to these standards, we are compassionate, but at the same time we have a mutual understanding to give each other a kick in the butt. Kind of like a coach who sees great potential in an athlete, then tries to push the athlete beyond his/her limit, good relationships should be defined by inspiring greater holiness and virtue.
My friendship with David has inspired me to seek discomfort. David calls me out whenever I drop the ball. He doesn’t affirm every decision I make. Instead of getting offended, I am shaken out of my guilt and inspired to push forward with greater resolve. In the 10 years I’ve known David, I’ve overcome personal sins I struggled with and have grown in my relationship with God.
Fertile Soil
A good relationship is like fertile soil that allows for a tree to grow strong and resilient against the harmful and unpredictable elements of nature. If the soil is poor quality, then the tree may not grow to its intended height, the roots can become weak and fragile and the tree will eventually fall over and die before it’s time. Good relationships aren’t primarily defined by how we are made to feel, but by how much it inspires growth and the conquering of sin in our lives. Yes, David and I have things in common and we laugh at the same stupid things, but so do a bunch of other people, including strangers I’ve met.
We Can’t Fix Ourselves
God created us to be in relationships because we are broken and we can’t fix ourselves. In fact, God, Himself, is a relationship of three persons – a Trinity. So if we are created in God’s image and likeness, it only makes sense for us to be created for relationships. Moreover, we are all in the same boat. It doesn’t matter what you struggle with, we all struggle with something, some sin. The people in our relationships are God’s potential instruments to start repairing us, a bit at a time, on the road to Eternity with God.
Life is An Endurance Race
I see life as an endurance race. When athletes run marathons, along the sidelines are people offering them water, food, first aid and even massages to rehabilitate their aching limbs. Can you imagine if the people on the sidelines just told you to just give up, you ran enough, you should be happy where you are? Our friends, loved ones, and family are like the people at the sidelines, constantly pushing us forward. That includes you. You too have been placed in people’s lives on their journey to Eternity. The question you have to ask yourself is: Are you inspiring them to keep moving forward?
Let us pray,
The most important relationships in our lives are our family. Our family are our first educators, for Christians, the family is the domestic church.
Let us pray for healing, blessings and an increase in love in our families.
God of light, we know that no family is perfect. We often take things for granted and place higher standards on our own family members. Help us to overcome any jealousies, conflicts, or bitter feelings that may get in the way of family harmony. May we always show pride in and appreciation for our family members. Help us to express the care and concern we truly have for one another. May our families be blessed with good health, joy and love. Amen.
Share
Share
Reflection & Prayer – January 7, 2020
So… What Now?
A reading from the first letter of St. John:
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.
Reflection
Did you turn on the TV last night or look at your phone? How did you feel?
Typically, when a new year starts one tries to be optimistic. After a year violence, economic instability and health crises I feel emotionally drained? For some of you all these challenges were additional weight to personal challenges. For some of you, what you saw last night is the last thing you needed and may have crushed any reminisce of optimism you had for the new year.
So what now?
Let me share with you a brief story.
An Unintended Friendship
Seven years ago the director of a retirement home asked me to lead a Remembrance Day prayer service for their residence.
At the end of the prayer service I met a man who was a former Canadian navy officer in the Second World War. He was stationed on a battleship in the North Atlantic Ocean. One day they captured a German submarine. After the submarine pulled up next to their ship, the Canadian officer recalled how he opened the hatch of the submarine to find the Nazi soldiers ready to die. One of the Nazi soldiers spoke English, so through him, the Canadian sailors were able to give them instruction.
When the German soldiers came on board, the Canadian sailors didn’t shoot them and throw them overboard, but gave them food, conversed and even played cards with them.
The former Canadian sailor was the son of German immigrants. To his surprise, he discovered that one of the German soldiers they captured was his cousin. What are the chances?! He told me that the rest of the time out at sea, it was like a family reunion. No hate, no anger, but laughter.
The retired navy officer told me that it didn’t take long for his Canadian crew and German soldiers to ask each other, “What the hell are we even doing?”. In other words, what’s the purpose of all this violence?
The Victory that Overcomes Evil
This encounter between the two men is an example of Christ’s great commandment lived out: “Love God above all things; and love others as yourself.”
In today’s reading, the apostle John writes, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.”
John then continues to say, “For his commandments are not burdensome.” Was this encounter a burden on the Canadian sailor? No! In fact, it was the opposite, it led to reconciliation. Yet, if his crew executed the German soldiers, that violence and hatred may have haunted him for the rest of his life.
John then concludes with the words, “…this, is the victory that overcomes the world. Faith.” In the Bible “the world” is characterized as being under the influence of satan (the devil; the great deceiver). St. Paul writes, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Not only did this man overcome hate, but by his love, he conquered evil…he conquered the devil, just as Christ did. The man was a devout Christian.
So what to do? If you want peace in the world, start by loving those people whom God has placed in front of you every day, even if you find it difficult. For many of you, that’s your friends, teachers and families.
Mother Teresa once said, “If you want peace in the world, go home and love your family.”
Let us pray,
Prince of Peace, today we pray for the peace in our hearts, in our minds, and in our actions. In the world that is struggling to find meaning and often itself witnessing deliberate acts of violence, help us to be peacemakers. Grant us the wisdom, insight and prudence to be able to distinguish the need and necessity to resolve issues and conflicts without violence. Grant us the vision to recognize that although we are all unique and different, we share a commonality rooted in our humanity, dignity, and worth. Help us to embrace the model that you lived and to love one another as you continue to love us. Amen.
Share
Reflection & Prayer – November 27, 2020
Story of Michael
By his mid 30s Michael became a successful entrepreneur and social activist for his community in Birmingham, Alabama. After a life of hardship, growing up to a single mom, making bad financial decisions that cost him his home, car and first business, Michael felt that he finally “rose from the ashes.”
By Teddy Osterblom from Unsplash
Mike was on his way to pick up his mat black 2019 Audi A7. It was going to be the first new car he has ever owned. Mike arrives at the dealership, he’s handed the keys, and off he drives.
He pulled out of the dealership in his brand new Audi and rolled to a stop at a red light. While waiting at the lights Mike noticed a trailer pulling into the dealership carrying the 2020 models of the car he just bought.
The adrenaline he felt from driving his new Audi for less than a minute immediately disappeared as his eyes watered over the newest model. He quickly turned around and entered the dealership desperate to buy a 2020 model.
Thankfully for Mike, sanity kicked in when he realised that, not only could he not afford the latest model, but that he would lose 25% on the car he just got minutes ago.
Black Friday and Consumerism
As many people in the world flock to get the best deals on this Black Friday and the upcoming Cyber Monday, Michael’s story should remind us of one important lesson:
We have the tendency to confuse gratification with satisfaction.
Gratification is a high that never fulfils itself.
If you’ve ever bought something only to forget about it a short while later, you know things do not satisfy. Things do not satisfy our longing for fulfillment and peace. In fact they do the opposite, they disturb our peace.
It’s ok to like nice and shiny things, but it’s not ok for your desire for these things to control you.
Finally, when you do shop, be conscious of the items you are buying. Recognize that every item you purchase has the fingerprints of another human being on it. The question to ask yourself, do those finger prints belong to someone who received a fair, living wage or to someone who has been unjustly exploited.
Jesus says, ‘What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?“
Regarding consumerism…
Carolyn Knapp says “Consumerism thrives on emotional voids.”
Former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter said, “Too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and pleasure.”
Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “Advertising tries to stimulate our sensuous desires, converting luxuries into necessities, but it only intensifies man’s inner misery. The business world is bent on creating hungers which its wares never satisfy, and thus it adds to the frustrations and broken minds of our times.”
Let us pray,
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Lord Jesus, I thank you for all the good possessions in my life. On this Black Friday help me to recognize the human value attached to all my belongings. Help me to recognize that real fulfilment does not come from things, but from a solid friendship with you. I pray for the people around the world who endure unjust working conditions only to make ends meet. Help us as a society to recognize the inherent dignity of every human person, especially exploited workers around the globe who are fighting for their dignity day in and day out.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
Share
One Sunday in August my family and I decided to go for a walk on Lakeshore Blvd. near the Exhibition grounds and BMO field.
As we were making our way towards Lake Ontario we noticed a gathering of fancy sports cars in front of a building. It appeared to be some kind of fundraiser. Car enthusiasts with classic American muscle cars like 67 Corvettes and Mustangs to modern marvels of engineering such 2020 McClaren P1s, Ferrari La Ferraris and Porche 918 Spiders lined Lakeshore Blvd.
They were all in immaculate condition. Not a scuff. You could be blinded by the sunshine reflecting off their surface. I remember telling my wife how afraid I would be to drive one of those cars. I’d be terrified of getting a small scratch on them or someone hitting it in a parking lot. There was no doubt about it; the owners of these cars treated them like their own children…. Maybe even better.
Body and Soul Unity
Similar to a state of the art supercar our God-given bodies have a value that is greater than any material thing in this world. The dignity of our bodies are not defined by dollar signs, but by their source and designer, God.
Not only did God design us, His Holy Spirit also dwells in us. In today’s reading St. Paul writes, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are.”
Our bodies are not merely outer casings for our souls. God created both our bodies and souls; therefore, there is an inseparable connection between the two. We are not merely our bodies, nor are we merely our souls, in the same way a car shell alone is not a car, nor is an engine alone a car. A car is a sum of all its parts.
This unity of our body and soul is the dwelling place of God’s Holy Spirit. For this reason, you and I have an inherent dignity that is greater than anything else in this world. Do not look down on yourself. Treat yourself with the same dignity and respect you would treat a loved one. God demands it.
Let us pray,
In the name of the Father…
I invite you to make this prayer your own.
Father God. Thank you for creating me. You envisioned every intricate detail about me before bringing me into existence. I’m sorry for the times I looked down on myself. Help me to see myself as you see me. The perfect temple for your Spirit. I pray this in your holy name. Amen.
In the name of the Father…
Share
Is Holiness Boring?
Before becoming Catholic I believed that holiness was being pious and serious. Whenever, I’d enter a Catholic Church I would see stained glass windows and statues of saints praying on their knees with their eyes and arms outstretched toward heaven. Moreover, none of the saints ever smiled. Since then I’ve come to learn that the icons in Catholic (and Orthodox) churches are reminiscent of an artistic style that stretches back nearly 1700 years. I mean, what was I thinking? Should icons of saints resemble TikTok, Instagram, or SnapChat posts?
Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen
from Unsplash.com
Even so, if holiness is defined by nonstop prayer and seriousness, count me out. Maybe I don’t want to be a saint. Even after becoming Catholic, I’d pray for God to make me “holy…enough,” because I didn’t want to be miserable.
But if you think about it, if holiness is defined by misery then God is not Our Father, but a narcissistic master who imposes duties on us so, in turn, we get what we need.
Holiness = Peace, Confidence & Acceptance
What surprised me even more, is that when I came across nuns wearing habits, faithful priests or married couples striving to live an authentic Christian marriage they were the furthest from misery. They were filled with peace, confidence, love and weren’t judgemental. I always wanted to be around them.
Josh & Lisa
One example is my friend Josh. Josh and his wife Lisa, and now 8 children, live in Florida. If you met Josh and Lisa you’d get the impression that they live a stress free life. Couldn’t be further from the truth. Josh has struggled with depression and Lisa is a business owner, mom and a cancer survivor. Despite their struggles they are generous with their time, money and marriage. If you’d like to learn more about Josh and Lisa visit Lisa’s YouTube Channel @LisaCanning. There’s a lot more I can say about Josh and Lisa’s example of holiness, but in brief, their example has led me closer to Jesus and continues to inspire my marriage.
Holiness = Joy + Conquering Tribulation
Holiness is simply striving to live communion with Jesus’ teachings. If Jesus is God, and not a conman, then his teachings will naturally lead us to a life of joy, even in the face of tribulation.
So this is holiness: To live a life in union (or friendship) with Jesus while overcoming tribulations on our way to heaven. Once we reach heaven we become saints.
The apostle John’s vision in the book of Revelation is of all the men, women and children who have conquered through the tribulations of life, just as Jesus conquered the Cross. John writes, “”These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
In my experience, people who strive for holiness are able to be positive and joyful because they don’t allow the tribulations of this world to overwhelm them. Ultimately, they recognize God is in control and that this life is but a comma in light of eternity with Jesus. Ironically, like Josh and Lisa, those who live for eternity, also have the greatest impact on this world.
Let us pray,
Almighty God,
as in this morning prayer we offer you our praise,
grant that in your kingdom,
together with your saints,
we may praise you with even greater joy.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
(one) God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Share
To be frank, I hated religion class all through elementary and high school. Not because I was closed to God’s existence or even the Catholic Christian faith, but because the curriculum seemed so bland.
Photo by Mathew T. Rader from Unsplash.com
Learning the same thing every year: the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Fruits of the Holy Spirit and stories of Jesus helping the less fortunate. By grade 11 I became numb to religion class and I couldn’t wait to learn to about anything, but Christianity. This was the beginning of my journey away from Christianity and towards embracing secular philosophies, specifically founded on Marxism and various post-modern thought.
Is Jesus all about Social Justice?
To be clear, the Ten Commandment, the Beatitudes and other items I listed above are important and lay at the heart of Christianity, but teaching without the greater context of history, the Church and foundational philosophy gives the impression that Christianity is just about being a nice person following the example of Jesus.
Or as contemporary culture would say, Jesus was a “social justice warrior.”
The greatest logical consequence about the above assumption is that if Jesus is just another wise and just teacher then there is nothing to separate him from other great religious, or even, political leaders. Most prominent religious leaders of the past and today believe in a variation of the Golden Rule: Treat others as you’d like to be treated.
Jesus was SENT for THIS PURPOSE
But here’s the major point that Catholic Education by in large fails to focus on: Jesus Christ is God. He proved it by dying and resurrecting from the dead.
In addition, while Jesus healed many, including St. Peter’s mother-in-law (see Luke 4), his primary vocation was to teach the Good News (the Gospel) that he is God among his people.
After healing Peter’s mother-in-law along with several inflicted people that came to her home, Jesus was preparing to leave.
But people kept coming to Jesus, preventing him from leaving. Jesus responded: “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose” (Luke 4:43).
“I was sent for this purpose.” Christ’s purpose was not be a nice person, but to show us that he is God in the flesh amongst his people. Jesus wanted to show us that God loves us and understands our suffering so much that he is willing to endure humiliation and death and then conquer it. This gives us hope that suffering, evil and death DO NOT get the final word.
This message ought to be the foundation and starting point of Catholic Education.