THE VANCOUVER TRAGEDY

The news was shocking. At a wonderful street Vancouver

 festival of Filipino people and culture a man turned his SUV into a killing machine and killed eleven people and wounded many others (we are uncertain of their condition in hospital).

 

Too many Canadians are afraid to come to grips with the reality of evil. But now evil is right in our face. 

 

Let us focus on the victims.  These were ordinary people, working and selling; many just enjoying the festival and many enjoying being together in music, food, dance and story -telling. Into this wonderful celebration of being human, explodes death and destruction.

 

Every death with a weapon is senseless. There are no explanations to make sense of why the innocent would lose their lives. But each victim has a family and connection to many friends and co-workers. No explanation is possible for these people. The effects of this senseless tragedy will last for generations. The pain will not be felt only in the months of 20225.  There will be so many struggles in the lives of the survivors; years down the line.

 

When I watch on the news of strangers carrying flowers to leave as a shrine to the  victims  I too experience the compassion that these strangers (nameless) people have toward their fellow human beings. Their actions arise from a heart that knows that death and tragedy strikes all of us. We must grieve together. Every handful of flowers left behind speaks loudly of compassion and solidarity. We may not know the victims or belong to your ethnic group but we care,  cry and grieve with you. Your loss is also our loss.

 

This tragedy was in no way sent by God. This was done by a human being and he must be held responsible for such evil action.

 

But as believers we stand before God and we ask why. We stand in all our powerlessness and try to seek some answers. But we will find that there are no answers that could ever satisfy the human heart. 

 

We connect with our ancestors in the faith and shout to God for help and strength to get through this. Be with us in the pain, the senselessness of this evil. This must be our walk through the dark night holding the hand of God in faith and trust.

 

We are living life in the raw. Our prayers are for the many victims of this tragedy and with ourselves that we walk in solidarity with the Filipino community, seeking the hand of God in our tears and our stumbling walk through this suffering.

 

 

 

 

 

POPE FRANCIS SET THE TONE

 

Pope Francis changed nothing in the doctrine and teachings of the Church, but he sure gave the Church a new feel. 

 

The leader of any group of human beings always sets the tone of the group, whether that be a nation, a corporation, a school, a hospital or the faith community. One insightful man put it out there in clear fashion: “I cannot define what it means to set the tone but I sure can feel it.”

 

You walk into a medical cli clinic. You can feel the tone immediately. Are they people of service or is this just a business like getting your gas tank filled at the gas station?

 

The best example of setting the tone is your own family. Probably the person who set the tone was your mother. You knew how far you could go as a child; and you always knew where the boundaries were set. Your father knew how to read the tone set by your mother!

 

Pope Francis will be best remembered for challenging Christianity and the world (i.e., governments and big corporations) to be a Church of the poor. May he always be remembered that Christians were to the noted for their dirty shoes because they have been out on the streets giving assistance to the poor and the misplaced of the society. 

 

Since when did dirty shoes become a sign of our faith and service to God?

 

When does a world leader live in a two-room apartment? And drive around in small cars?

 

The Church (i.e., each individual believer) must become a people of service and compassion towards those who are pushed to the margins . This is a shift, not to reforming the doctrines of the faith (which a pretty solid already) but to living our Christian commitment on daily life. 

 

People should only believe what they see in action. Pope Francis is leading the way. 

 

I believe in the faith of our Church because I experience generous believers bringing in groceries to be shared with families who are struggling to make the ends meet. They do not know these people. They care with a generous heart and they donate pasta, canned soup, toilet paper and bags of rice. 

 

I believe because committed Christians become involved with refugees and new Canadians. They take time to help them with their English, learn how to maneuver the Canadian banking system and help them obtain medical services. They take them grocery shopping and learn how we ‘do it here!’

 

After Pope Francis Christianity will never be the same!  The people of the Church will think differently about themselves. 

 

May the tone that Pope Francis has given to Christianity (all the churches – Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant) challenge us well into the next century.

 

 

 

IT IS EASTER!

Always approach our Christian faith as the challenge it actually is. Unfortunately, too many people try to tame the religion God has given us to become like a fat house cat that we can control. How much better it is to understand that our Christian faith is more like a powerful wind that blows where it wills – and will challenge many structures in its path.

 

The coming of God in the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ is not to make us feel good and secure. Just the opposite. God has become flesh like you and me to bring us to become like God. Simply put, our human flesh is meant to share and become divine!

 

In the working of God’s plan for the redemption of all humans the sacrificial death of Jesus brought all humanity to God. In his sacrificial death our sins are remitted. We are destined to be united with God.

 

Now, the resurrection of Jesus is not only a historical event. There was an actual resurrection on a specific night. But this was the giving, the outpouring of the verry life and spirit of the very Son of God. God is  given to us!

 

Easter is all about the revelation/the giving of the life of the God/man, Jesus, to us. Now the resurrection of Jesus must happen in each believer.

 

It is never good enough to say ‘I believe in God.’  Now, the life and heart of Jesus must burst forth in our lives. We must become the face and the hands of Jesus in this world; in the here and now!

 

The resurrected Jesus comes alive in our life in our daily prayer. We try to find some time to spend with our God. Prayer does not mean a lot of words, but it is a daily presence to the Holy Spirit. It may be in your appreciation (not in a lot of words) for the creative hand of God in creation. Each flock of wild geese flying north is a sign of the working hands  of God in creation. In the resurrected Jesus, we bathe in appreciation and enjoyment at each breath of the created world.

 

We try to focus on the teachings of Jesus and apply them to our own lives. In a society that is so shrill, filled with name calling and untruths, we try to speak works of truth, encouragement and support to all the people we deal with on a daily basis. The presence of Christ is lived out in our truth-filled words.

 

Our co-worker who is struggling with her son’s drug addiction and needs a supportive ear. The resurrected Jesus is lived out in our patience and understanding towards her tears and suffering. We may feel that we are not doing much, but we are listening, supportive and walking with her in this terrible ordeal. We understand her fears and her moments of anger.

 

Easter is always a lived event. The resurrection must happen in each one of us. May you wrestle and struggle with the powerful life and work that the resurrected Jesus has given you. May you become the face and the hands of Jesus! 

 

 

THE DEEPER MEANIG OF THE LAST SUPPER

We live in a Church that goes back to its roots. We are a faith community that lives from the richness of its Scriptures. We return to the Bible to grasp the origins of our faith and strong values for our lives.

 

When the Gospel of John was written (approximately seventy years after the Resurrection of Jesus) there was serious discussion about what the meaning of the Eucharist (i.e., the Last Supper) actually was. John, the gospel writer, shapes the story of the Last Supper to bring out the truth, the deeper meaning, of what Jesus was doing and saying.

 

In the Gospel of John there is no bread and wine at the Last Supper story. What we haev is the washing of the feet. John was trying to tell his faith community what it actually meant to share in the Lord’s Supper. 

 

These were people who lived in a very dry climate. They walked everywhere. As a sign of courtesy, the host would call over the servant who would wash, refresh, the feet of the guests. This was first and foremost the work of the servants.

 

Now, Jesus upsets everything. Jesus takes the pitcher of water, the towel and he does the work of the servant. He washes the feet of his disciples. They are most embarrassed. Peter protests. Jesus makes it very clear: “Unless I wash you have no share with me.” (Jn. 13,8)

 

The Gospel writer’s church would have immediately grasped that unless you live and be a servant like Jesus, you are not celebrating the Eucharist honestly. The Eucharist is not a religious ritual to be followed exactly. It is a sharing in the outpouring giving of a servant God. Remember how much the washing of the feet has upset our notion of an all-powerful God, who demands subservience from humanity. No, God is a servant who comes among us to bring us life and goodness. This is a god who pours out God’s mercy, love and compassion; not a divinity caught up in his ego!

 

This means that when we gather each Sunday to share in the holy Eucharist we are entering into the outpouring love and mercy of Jesus Christ. This is about sharing in the self-giving of Jesus toward humanity. Now, we are the people who share our life, energy and time for others. The Eucharist is a sharing in the very heart of Jesus Christ. As he assumed the role of the servant in the washing of the feet, so we too are being empowered to share of our life in like-manner. We too are meant to wash the feet of our sisters and brothers.

 

The Eucharist leads us, challenges us, to break our life like good bread and share it with the poor of this world. Our lives are empowered by the mercy of Jesus Christ to bring healing to the broken, hope to the dispirited and forgiveness to the wayward, the sinner.

 

We may have the washing of the feet only once a year but this ritual action spells out very clearly what it means to celebrate and live the Eucharist.

 

In your prayer, see what the risen Lord is leading you to wash the feet of the poor and the forgotten of this world. 

 

RELIGION IS ABOUT MERCY

 

One of the hardest lessons that human beings have to learn about God is that we do not control anything that God does. The mystery of God is above and beyond us. God is like the prairie wind: it blows where it wills; we never control it!

 

This is why the Gospel story for this Sunday, the woman taken in adultery (John 8,1-11) is such a challenge. Simply put, this is about mercy, not misery! We are more than just a little challenged by what Jesus actually did. Where there is rightfully to be judgement (i.e., punishment by death) he does mercy. I am sure the woman in the story could not believe her ears!

 

The enemies of Jesus were working a set-up. (Hopefully this opens the eyes of the overly-pious that think that Jesus had no enemies or people out to get him!)  They bring a woman caught in the very act of adultery. This was always a crime against the husband because it defaced his property, i.e,. the marriage! If Jesus approved the death by stoning he would have run into serious conflict with the Roman authorities,  who prohibited the Jews from executing anyone. If he gave permission, he would have discredited himself as a teacher of peace and mercy. The enemies thought they had a sure-fire trap for Jesus!

 

Jesus turns the whole event on his enemies. Go ahead! Let the one without sin cast the first stone! These men stood there, caught naked in their guilty plans. You can feel each one of them slinking away like a dog caught stealing food from a picnic table!

 

Jesus brings mercy to this woman who had failed. He did not ignore her failure but he brough the mercy, the healing and the freedom that only God’s mercy can bring.

 

Now, this is not a polite story for Christians to read in their Sunday liturgies. It is an event that each one of us must wrestle with: do I accept the mercy and goodness of God toward the sinner? How well am I able to live and practice the mercy and goodness lived by Jesus Christ. Where do I put into practice the command of mercy: “Neither do I condemn you. Go forth and sin no more!

 

How am I bringing mercy and compassion toward the nephew (age 34) who is struggling to keep drug free and sober? Our memories  of his life during the past ten years are not good. Is the spirit of God’s mercy active within me to support and nourish him in his recovery? Is there mercy here or just some rough evaluation of his past and miserable history? Can I be merciful toward this nephew?

 

Take this story of the woman taken in adultery. Work through it once again. How is the mercy of Jesus (i.e., the challenge) affecting your daily life?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUT WE ARE SO FLAWED!

There is a insightful story told of the man who was looking for the perfect woman.

At last, he found her!

People asked him:  “Well, if you found the perfect woman, why didn’t you marry her?”

A long pause. “She was looking for the perfect man!”

 

All human beings are a combination of great strengths; but they can also be so flawed!

 

The wonderful story-teller can be the life of the party. People enjoy this person – but they can also be so boring because they focus all the attention on themselves and are poor listeners!

 

We have all be let down by people we thought we could count on. When we were in trouble and needing assistance, they were no where to be found! We know the world of broken promises.

 

It is very difficult to live with such flawed persons. But then, they will say the same thing about us. We may not be aware of our weaknesses and faults, but everyone else suffers through the flaws of our personality.

 

The observation has been made that if we honestly knew ourselves for who we really are, with all our strengths and weaknesses, we would all be humble. We may be quick to be offended when someone criticizes us, but if we felt the full impact of our criticism of the faults of others, we would certainly walk in humble shoes. 

 

This is how we come before God: we are loved, wanted and chosen – but oh how flawed!

 

Take a look at the women and men that Jesus choose to be part of God’s great work of salvation. Peter was boastful – but he denied knowing Jesus at a very crucial moment. The disciples were guilty of arguing about who was the most important (talk about an ego trip!).

And then there was Judas who sold him down the river for money! Could you find a group of human beings who were less flawed than the disciples?

 

And this is the great mystery of our redemption. God walks with us, chooses us, who are such flawed individuals. This is not the height of humanity – but it is the plodding of weak human beings who have so many weaknesses. 

 

If you turn to the fourth Gospel in the New Testament, the gospel fo John, and you hear the story of the woman taking in adultery. The Jewish law was correct: her punishment was to be stoned to death! 

 

What does Jesus do? He gets down, writes in the sand, “Whoever is without sin, you cast the first stone!”

 

And they all slinked away! They were caught in their own evil trap!

 

Today, spend some time reflecting on your own weaknesses, your own flaws. What are they teaching you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHERE OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH LEADS US.

 

When was the las time that you were looking for a particular address and had to stop a stranger on the street and ask for directions? 

 

Some of our new developments have streets, lanes, alleys and roads in the same corner. How do I find the right one? From time to time, we need a helpful person to point us in the correct direction. 

 

This season of Lent is a moment to see that all parts of our Christiaan faith lead in only one direction. Religion is not about doing the right things: i.e., ‘see what a good person I am by what I do!” Religion is not about feeling good and secure. Religion is not a power-trip to make us feel successful.

 

Simply put: the closer we draw toward God, the closer we will draw to our fellow human being. What was the name of the Russian writer who said: “that to love another human being is to see the face of God”?

 

Prayer should never be about manipulating and pressuring the divine to bend to our biding. Prayer is opening our own lives to the heartbeat of God. We want to be shaped, strengthened by the love and compassion of God. 

 

God is always a God who is self-giving. When we pray we share in the  outpouring  of the love of God. If we are sharing in the divine life; we will become self-giving as God is self-giving. 

 

Religion is life in friendship with the divine life and power.  Understand this beginning   from a very human level. Healthy human friendship influence, shape and challenge each other. A good friend always become a part of our own life and personality. 

 

Now, what happens when God becomes a part of your personality, your life and values?

 

A beautiful sign is the food donations that so many of our parishioners bring for the food bank. Grocery prices are very high for anyone on a fixed income. Every donation arises out of a nudge from God to bring your struggling fellow human being into your circle of concern. 

 

The respect that so many of our nursing personnel bring to the care of the elderly is remarkable. They could do they job of feeding, moving and cleaning up people with their dementia but they are patient, gentle and respectful with the feeble elderly. There is a touch of God right here in this wheel chair!

 

It is also remarkable how many Church people are involved in the Meals on Wheels program. They volunteer their time and friendship to bring meals to so many elderly shut-ins. Is this not another unspoken grace of God in action?

 

A lived religious faith does make a difference. Our Christian faith is never centered on the self, but rather sharing the out-pouring of God. And God is so magnificently generous; and so generous we become when we share the divine heart!