Sunday Reflections

In our world we recognize that we hunger for many things – for things beyond food.  We hunger for love, for forgiveness, for success, for recognition, for acceptance, to name only a few.

A common denominator in our first reading and our gospel reading is that people have a short memory and are never satisfied! In our first reading from the Book of Exodus, God has accomplished a marvelous deed of freeing Israel from Egypt, including the crossing of the Red Sea as Pharaoh’s chariots pursued the fleeing Israelites. Yet, no sooner have they began to enjoy their freedom, the Israelites begin to complain that they were better off in Egypt than to die of famine in the desert. As if God would not be faithful in caring for the people who God had just saved!

For many people, the multiplication of loaves and fishes is one of the most memorable acts in the Scriptures.  The great director, Cecil B.

As a young man, I was always inspired by the generous care that I saw embodied in the priests and brothers whom I had met.  Our family attended a parish that was ministered by Franciscan priests and brothers, my high school was staffed with many diocesan priests, and my college had Resurrectionists who served as administrators, teachers, and campus ministers.  At each stage of my life, I found that their generous service and care of others stirred something within me to want to do the same.   Later in life, I realized that they had taken up the call to be shepherds of th

As a young boy growing up in North Bay, Ontario, I had the opportunity to go to Catholic elementary and secondary schools and to belong to the wonderful parish of the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption.  There, in the context of growing up in my Catholic family, slowly and eventually, I began to experience the call to follow Jesus in the priesthood. But, which priesthood?  The priests in my parish were diocesan priests and the priests in my high school were Resurrectionists.  Both were wonderful and both attracted me, but how to decide?

We are all called to be prophets – those who speak for God to his people.  Ezekiel was a reluctant prophet.  St.

In the gospels we see the healing touch of Jesus.  Usually He touched someone, but on other occasions someone reached out and touched Him, and on a few occasions He healed ‘from a distance’.  Our gospel dramatically bears witness to the healing power of Jesus.  Jesus continues to heal and raise up, but often these healing graces and powers are curtailed because we fail to seek them out – perhaps out of ignorance or fear, or feeling our unworthiness, or doubting God’s love for us.  I am sure we are all in need of healing – physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  It

The Constitutions of the Congregation of the Resurrection demand faith from its members, when it states, “By our vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, we dedicate and consecrate ourselves totally to the Risen Christ in the religious life.  This dedication entails an act of faith whereby we respond to God’s call to give ourselves completely with all our talents, abilities, and powers to him, to the church, and to the Congregation” (article #13). 

I remember being in grade school (a former millennia) and we were asked to bring in a jar and paper towels for we were going to plant peas.  Put the paper towel in the jar and carefully place the peas in between the towels and the jar so you can see them.  Then add water and wait and wait and wait.  It seemed like an eternity, especially as a child.  I would go to the jar several times a day to see if anything was happening.  Then came the weekend.  On Monday when I went to school voila, the seeds began to sprout.

We see the making of well-intended promises in the Last Supper in Mark’s gospel. Earlier in Mark (chapter 10), James and John have boldly asked Jesus for seats at His right and left when He comes into His glory. Lest we think that these two disciples are the exception to the rule, Mark reports that all the other disciples were “indignant” when they found out what James and John had done. They wanted these seats for themselves!