“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds. "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
James 2:14-18
The first week of Lent often seems to be accompanied by questions along the lines of ‘What are you giving up for Lent?’ followed by laudable personal goals like eating or drinking less, exercising more and so on.
Then, as the 40 days go on, or after them, this exercise in privation in the face of temptation sometimes ebbs away, much to our chagrin.
To encourage us in our efforts, some priests have preached about Jesus Christ’s 40 days and 40 nights of fasting and temptation by the Devil in the desert.
But when I think of Lent in this way, it seems that when many of us ask ourselves what our act of faith will be, we are framing the question in the negative, rather than the positive.
It’s as though we make a deal with ourselves that this is the penance we will choose for ourselves for this period of time and then it’s back to business as usual.
It’s almost as though we are implying to ourselves that we think the loving God we worship wants us to harm ourselves.
Maybe a more successful way to achieve what we set out for ourselves during Lent is to flip this logic on its head: our loving God actually wants us to choose a course of action during these 40 days to get rid of some of the junk in our lives.
And that by praying for God’s support in this crucial period when trying to shed old, harmful habits, proves most difficult, we end the exercise taking one step closer to our loving God.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Our Parish Lenten Journey
The schedule of weekly events during Lent has been posted at the parish web site. Click here to read it in PDF format.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Christian Meditation Ministry
Blessed Sacrament’s Christian Meditation Ministry promotes the practice of Christian meditation in our Parish. If you are interested in learning about Christian meditation, we invite you to join us. Youth are especially welcome.
Meeting Details
We meet every Sunday, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. in the Parish Library. At our meetings, we listen to a recording of a talk by Father John Main. Then, we meditate for 25 minutes.
What Is Christian Meditation?
Christian meditation is a practice through which we quiet the mind and become still and attentive to God. It is a prayer of silence that takes us beyond words, thoughts and images to experience the presence of Christ in us.
Read more....
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Bible Study Ministry!
Catechesis Study Program-Winter 2009
Blessed Sacrament's Catechesis Study Program is designed to deepen your understanding of the Catechism through instruction in Catholic doctrine. The Program's in-depth teachings will provide insight for novices and for those well versed in the doctrines of the Catholic Faith.
Read more about it here. You can also see the schedule here.
Blessed Sacrament's Catechesis Study Program is designed to deepen your understanding of the Catechism through instruction in Catholic doctrine. The Program's in-depth teachings will provide insight for novices and for those well versed in the doctrines of the Catholic Faith.
Read more about it here. You can also see the schedule here.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Stewardship
The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?" Luke 12:42
This verse is about stewardship. In this life we are called upon – regardless of our spiritual convictions – to be stewards of our bodies, of our relationships and of our world.
I've been thinking about Fr. Joe's comments this past Sunday on opting for a positive attitude.
God places challenges on the paths of our lives. I'll be the first to admit that I've spent too much time wondering why some bad things have happened to me and not enough time counting my blessings.
I regret that, but instead of dwelling on it, I hope I've learned from it. Let me share with you what I think I've learned: these challenges we all experience in various forms, frequency and intensity are probably the Lord plumbing the depths of our spirituality.
How else would God know whether we are "faithful and wise" managers?
One way I try to manage my life well is to read passages from the Bible every (well, almost every) morning at the start of my day.
I reckon there's nothing like refreshing yourself on the rules than reading the rule book itself.
"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night." Luke 12:35-38
This verse is about stewardship. In this life we are called upon – regardless of our spiritual convictions – to be stewards of our bodies, of our relationships and of our world.
I've been thinking about Fr. Joe's comments this past Sunday on opting for a positive attitude.
God places challenges on the paths of our lives. I'll be the first to admit that I've spent too much time wondering why some bad things have happened to me and not enough time counting my blessings.
I regret that, but instead of dwelling on it, I hope I've learned from it. Let me share with you what I think I've learned: these challenges we all experience in various forms, frequency and intensity are probably the Lord plumbing the depths of our spirituality.
How else would God know whether we are "faithful and wise" managers?
One way I try to manage my life well is to read passages from the Bible every (well, almost every) morning at the start of my day.
I reckon there's nothing like refreshing yourself on the rules than reading the rule book itself.
"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night." Luke 12:35-38
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Happy New Year
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew 2:1-12
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew 2:1-12
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Gift of Hope
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
God's plan for us may seem further from being clear this year than most, but times like these certainly give pause for reflection on the things in life that truly matter.
Pope Benedict XVI on Dec. 17 spoke about the global economic crisis during his audience with pilgrims and tourists at Vatican City, expressing hope that the financial turmoil would help people focus on the spiritual meaning of Christmas.
I've been reading the Pope's book about Jesus – which I highly recommend – and among the many things I learned I'd like to share this insight.
In the Lord's Prayer, I've often been puzzled by the second last verse: "Lead us not into temptation".
At the risk of oversimplifying the Pope's explanation, this petition is an opportunity for us to ask that while we realize God grants some latitude for us to be put to the test, we are reminding Him in this petition of our personal limits when He tests our mettle.
Speaking for myself, I've been surprised to see how much I've been expected to endure. My mother often told me that God never gives us more than we can handle, so I guess I'm stronger than I had realized!
Seven years ago, when my eldest son was born in Argentina, the economy there collapsed into a depression deeper than the U.S. Great Depression. A year later, my employer transferred my family to Canada in what was a very difficult separation for my then spouse from her parents and sister in Argentina. Two years later, she took our boys back to Argentina for what she said would be a visit but then informed me once she was there that it was a permanent relocation. A year later, I almost went bankrupt and the year after that a restructuring squeezed me out of my vocation of 20 years.
Now I have met a kind and loving woman here in Ottawa whose children are very warm and accepting of me.
I've managed to organize my life in a way that's allowed me to fly down to see my sons in Argentina six times each year for the last three years.
People I have known for a long time often ask me how I managed not to succumb to despair (or vengefulness) in the past seven years. My answer is simple: Faith, family and friends got me through this.
Honestly, there have been times where almost all hope appeared to be lost. At those low points I would just remind myself to take things one day (sometimes even just one hour) at a time and that's when my prayers would be answered.
I wouldn't wish the travails of the last seven years of my life on my worst enemy, but I have prospered through it in the form of a much stronger faith, tougher character and life in a healthy and loving family setting here in Ottawa.
Despite all that has been said and done to impede my relationship with my sons, whom I see at most a total of 45 days each year, they are always enthusiastic and grateful each time we are reunited.
This gives me hope for an even brighter future than the one that has begun to dawn in my life now.
I'm not financially richer than I was in the year 2000, but in so many other ways God has blessed me with a prosperity that transcends materialism.
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
God's plan for us may seem further from being clear this year than most, but times like these certainly give pause for reflection on the things in life that truly matter.
Pope Benedict XVI on Dec. 17 spoke about the global economic crisis during his audience with pilgrims and tourists at Vatican City, expressing hope that the financial turmoil would help people focus on the spiritual meaning of Christmas.
I've been reading the Pope's book about Jesus – which I highly recommend – and among the many things I learned I'd like to share this insight.
In the Lord's Prayer, I've often been puzzled by the second last verse: "Lead us not into temptation".
At the risk of oversimplifying the Pope's explanation, this petition is an opportunity for us to ask that while we realize God grants some latitude for us to be put to the test, we are reminding Him in this petition of our personal limits when He tests our mettle.
Speaking for myself, I've been surprised to see how much I've been expected to endure. My mother often told me that God never gives us more than we can handle, so I guess I'm stronger than I had realized!
Seven years ago, when my eldest son was born in Argentina, the economy there collapsed into a depression deeper than the U.S. Great Depression. A year later, my employer transferred my family to Canada in what was a very difficult separation for my then spouse from her parents and sister in Argentina. Two years later, she took our boys back to Argentina for what she said would be a visit but then informed me once she was there that it was a permanent relocation. A year later, I almost went bankrupt and the year after that a restructuring squeezed me out of my vocation of 20 years.
Now I have met a kind and loving woman here in Ottawa whose children are very warm and accepting of me.
I've managed to organize my life in a way that's allowed me to fly down to see my sons in Argentina six times each year for the last three years.
People I have known for a long time often ask me how I managed not to succumb to despair (or vengefulness) in the past seven years. My answer is simple: Faith, family and friends got me through this.
Honestly, there have been times where almost all hope appeared to be lost. At those low points I would just remind myself to take things one day (sometimes even just one hour) at a time and that's when my prayers would be answered.
I wouldn't wish the travails of the last seven years of my life on my worst enemy, but I have prospered through it in the form of a much stronger faith, tougher character and life in a healthy and loving family setting here in Ottawa.
Despite all that has been said and done to impede my relationship with my sons, whom I see at most a total of 45 days each year, they are always enthusiastic and grateful each time we are reunited.
This gives me hope for an even brighter future than the one that has begun to dawn in my life now.
I'm not financially richer than I was in the year 2000, but in so many other ways God has blessed me with a prosperity that transcends materialism.
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
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