The 13th Century Persian poet and Sufi mystic, Rumi, once said that this is how faith moves in our lives: We live with a deep secret that sometimes we know, then not, and then know again. New York columnist David Brooks says something quite similar. In his book, The Second Mountain, he shares how he…
Deacon Greg Kandra Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, August 6Deuteronomy 7:9-10,13-14Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9II Peter 1:16-19Matthew 17:1-9 A lot of children will tell you (and some of their grownup friends will agree) that they are afraid of the dark. The unknown and unseeable can be frightening. There are the usual things to be…
In a 1990s movie, City Slickers, there’s a scene that sheds light on the importance of private integrity. Three men, New Yorkers, close friends, have gone off together for a summer to ride on a cattle drive in the hope that this experience will help them sort through their respective mid-life issues. There is no…
The Sunday Gospel Jem Sullivan 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time I Kings 3:5, 7-12 Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130 Romans 8:28-30 Matthew 13:44-52 Antiques Roadshow is a long running, popular television programme that evokes the treasure hunter in all of us. The show features art experts and appraisers who see people from all walks…
When Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper, he held up bread and wine as two elements within which to make himself especially present to us. Since that time, now more than 2,000 years ago, Christians celebrating the Eucharist have used the same two things, bread and wine, to ask Christ to bless this…
Deacon Greg Kandra The Sunday Gospel July 23 – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Wis 12:13, 16-19 Ps 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 Rom 8:26-27 Mt 13:24-43 As a city dweller who is more familiar with steel and cement than weeds and wheat, I never really connected with this Sunday’s Gospel. I’m sure the people of Jesus’s…
For too many years, for me, Christ was simply Jesus’ last name: Jack Smith, Susan Parker, Jesus Christ. Intellectually, I knew better; but practically, both in my private faith and as a theologian, I functioned as if Christ were simply Jesus’ surname. Whether in prayer, writing or preaching, I almost always used the two names…
The Sunday Gospel Jem Sullivan July 16, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 55:10-11 Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14 Rom 8:18-23 Mt 13:1-23 A real estate agent friend often reminds customers that location is the most important element in buying or selling land. The location of a home or business makes a difference as it determines the…
Scripture tells us that in this life we have no lasting city. True enough. But, it seems, we also don’t have a lasting house, school, neighbourhood, town, zip code address or most anything else. Eventually nothing lasts. Perhaps my case isn’t typical, but a lot of things in my life haven’t lasted. My grandparents were…
The Sunday Gospel Deacon Greg Kandra 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Zec 9:9-10 Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14 Rom 8:9, 11-13 Mt 11:25-301 Jesus makes us an invitation that is irresistible: “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from…
Fr Ronald Rolheiser