Sunday Reflections

The encounter between the Canaanite woman and Jesus is an unusual one.  First of all, she was an unaccompanied woman, and second she was a pagan.  The culture of their time and place would not permit such an encounter.  Yet, Jesus, as God-made-man, shows the universality of God's love, ministering to the Canaanite woman in her need.  Her faith moves Jesus to a response, to heal her afflicted daughter.  The fundamental characteristic of Resurrectionist Spirituality is the unconditional love of God, reflected in this gospel.

Years ago we were interviewing for a job and a Sister applied.  Fr. Ed wasn’t too sure if she was the best candidate for the job so he suggested that we take her fishing with us.  Unfortunately one of the fishing hooks got caught on a log a good ways from the boat.  The Sister says “I’ll get it” and then proceeds to walk across the water to release the hook from the log.  Fr Ed’s response to witnessing this miracle is “See she can’t even swim!” His focus is elsewhere and he totally misses the point.

Recently I had the opportunity to be in Rome. I visited the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. The museum contains the incredible painting by Raphael of the Transfiguration. http://www.artbible.info/art/large/613.html. It was reproduced in mosaic within St. Peter’s Basilica. If you look at the painting, you will notice that there are really two scenes depicted. The first scene is the Transfiguration itself, where the transfigured Jesus, accompanied by Moses (The Law) and Elijah (The Prophets) is revealed to the apostles Peter, James, and John.

We have all heard of ‘treasure hunters’ throughout history.  We can easily think of them as ‘out there’.   But, in many ways we are all treasure hunters.  It begins by identifying what is the treasure we seek.  Our gospel this weekend leads us in a reflection on the treasures of the kingdom of God.  These are not for the showcase or the safety deposit box, but are found in our mind, heart and spirit.  This is what motivates us and encourages us to be children of God, followers of Jesus, and people open to the Father’s will.  However, in our human cond

Harry had been an usher at the parish for a long time. Gert had been coming to this parish for many years and every Sunday Harry would greet her with a welcoming hug.  One day Gert gave Harry some bad news.  She had been diagnosed with cancer and the prognosis was not good. “Be there for me” she asked Harry.  Harry continued to greet her with the same hospitality he had all through the years. When Gert passed away she was welcomed with the same hospitality into her new home.

           The Charism Statement of the Congregation of the Resurrection proclaims: “We believe that God’s love for us is merciful and unfailing.” This echoes the Constitutions of the Resurrectionists, which begins with the sentence: “God loves each of us with a personal, unconditional love” (art. 1).

I remember visiting Agricultural Museums and seeing many yokes, of leather and wood, used on farms in rural Ontario.  Usually they are a 'double' yoke, for two - for two beasts of burden.  This brings new hope when Jesus tells us that his "yoke is easy, and my burden light" because He is in the yoke at our side.  We are not alone!  We are not only responding to God under our own power!  Jesus shares the yoke with us.   We can and will do the work of the Lord, because he accompanies us constantly.  Thanks be to God! 

Today’s Gospel highlights for us the importance of hospitality in the Christian life. To welcome another in Jesus’ name is to extend hospitality to Jesus himself. We have many opportunities in our daily life to reach out to others, to be a welcoming presence and a sign of God’s love.

I write this reflection in Rome in the midst of the 33^rd General Chapter of the Congregation of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a grace-filled time to be gathered at this Chapter with delegates representing Resurrectionists from all over the world: Canada, U.S.A., Poland, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Australia, Tanzania, Germany, Austria, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Israel, Slovenia, and Italy. It is a time to celebrate the ways that we see the presence of God in our community and the hand of God in our ministry.