Sunday Reflection

This portion of Luke’s Gospel gives us Images of God - as shepherd and woman - and of God’s ridiculous pursuit! Ridiculous – because it makes no sense ... For the Shepherd – it would have been foolish to leave the 99 and search after the 1 missing... And the image of God as a Woman – sweeping for the coin and then throw a party – it make no sense! until we learn that perhaps it was a coin from her betrothal hedress.

Yet the God Jesus comes to reveal, is not an efficient – corporate – SWOT Analysis God (Strengths / Weaknesses - Opportunities / Threats).  Jesus reveals a God who pursues us, has pursued each of us - for we are each and together precious in the sight of God. Each of us is worthy of nonsensical pursuit!

EVERY CHILD 

HAS KNOWN GOD
NOT THE GOD OF NAMES
NOT THE GOD OF DON'TS
NOT THE GOD WHO
EVER DOES ANYTHING WEIRD

BUT THE GOD WHO KNOWS
ONLY FOUR WORDS,
AND KEEPS REPEATING THEM, SAYING:
"COME, DANCE WITH ME"
In Baptism - in This Eucharist God, 

who delights to be in our presence, is saying:
COME      DANCE       WITH       ME!

St. Mary's Nobleton

St. Mary's Parish in Nobleton is hosting the Bratislava Boys Choir this coming Saturday evening.  Although I cannot go - I encourage people to consider this event as a fine evening of music and song!

Peace

Praying for Peace

This past Sunday - in the Angelus Pope Francis spoke about the developing situation in Syria:

Dear brothers and sisters, I wish to add my voice to the cry which rises up with increasing anguish from every part of the world,... it is the cry for peace! War never again! Never again war! Peace is a precious gift, which must be promoted and protected.
There are so many conflicts in this world which cause me great suffering and worry, but in these days my heart is deeply wounded in particular by what is happening in Syria and anguished by the dramatic developments which are looming. I appeal strongly for peace, an appeal which arises from the deep within me. How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake in that martyred country, especially among civilians and the unarmed! I think of many children will not see the light of the future! With utmost firmness I condemn the use of chemical weapons: I tell you that those terrible images from recent days are burned into my mind and heart. There is a judgement of God and of history upon our actions which are inescapable! Never has the use of violence brought peace in its wake. War begets war, violence begets violence.
With all my strength, I ask each party in this conflict to listen to the voice of their own conscience, not to close themselves in solely on their own interests, but rather to look at each other as brothers and decisively and courageously to follow the path of encounter and negotiation, and so overcome blind conflict. With similar vigour I exhort the international community to make every effort to promote clear proposals for peace in that country without further delay, a peace based on dialogue and negotiation, for the good of the entire Syrian people.
May the plea for peace rise up and touch the heart of everyone so that they may lay down their weapons and be let themselves be led by the desire for peace. To this end, brothers and sisters, I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world, and I also invite each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men and women of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative.
Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

At Holy Family we will have Adoration on Friday Evening - and we encourage people to Fast and Pray for peace until the parish mass at 5:00 pm on Saturday.

After that Mass we will have a reception to wish our Refugee family well before they move to the Hamilton area at the end of September.
Peace