Feed, Tend, Go...its Ground-breaking!

This is the second week of a message series for the Easter Season called “Ground-breaking”. It is a unique series for us because of its double meaning. First, in just a little over a month we are actually going to be breaking ground on a 1500sq. ft expansion which is part of our Generations campaign. This new space on to the front of our Church will connect and complete our campus and provide us with additional space for groups, activities and our growing Family of Faith. (See the drawings in Parish Centre). Second - we are in the Season which celebrates the most ground breaking event in history – Easter.

A ground breaking describes something that has never been seen or done or even thought of before - its pioneering. Usually is surprises and shocks and maybe shapes culture or redefines the way people live or work. Something ground breaking changes stuff....and certainly Easter was that..... it changed things.... it was groundbreaking - the impact is still being felt today

This first week we look at that heart of the ground-breaking of the Resurrection is the fact of its a new vision - one of Mercy. In this second week we take a look at Fear and how we can overcome up due to the Resurrection of Jesus by making three things a part of our life – the call to “feed, tend, go”

Listen to this wonderful song by JJ Week Band – “Alive in Me”.

Feel free to listen to the Lord’s Day Message  

In the Gospel, we continue from the introduction above, after the Apostles recognized Jesus, “It is the Lord!” Jesus has some unfinished business to clear up with Peter. After Jesus was arrested, Peter (fearful of being arrested) cursed and swore, and three times denied that he did not know Jesus. “I do not know him!” So Jesus asked him three times “Peter, do you love me more than these?” The word ‘these’ is not clear. It could mean ‘these fishing boats and nets’. Are you willing to leave these worldly things behind, and follow me? (as in any call to the Priesthood and Religious Life?) Or it could mean ‘these other Apostles’. Peter humbly answered, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” And Jesus answered three times “Feed my lambs (sheep).” Jesus confirms the Call of Peter, the “Rock”, who now holds the keys to the Kingdom of God, to be in charge of his fellow Apostles (bishops) and the people of God (the Church). These triple questions relate to Peter’s triple denial of Jesus.

After Peter confirms three times, “Yes Lord, You know that I love you!” Jesus said, “Follow me!” We often need to confirm our call to follow Jesus, “Here I am Lord. I come to do your Will!”

In this “year of Mercy” Pope Francis reminds us that Jesus is not so much interested in our sins, but in our knowing that we have a loving and merciful Father. Is this love mutual? This is the single most important question any lover can ask of the one loved. Peter’s “Yes” empowered him to build God’s Church. Do we hear the question? Do we have a response? Do we bring God’s love and mercy to others? Remember, God works through us.

Mercy – or Misericordia - is derived from two Latin words - miserere (pity or misere) and cor (heart). When we ask for God’s mercy we are essentially asking God to relieve us of a heart that is in misery, and our heart can be in misery not just because of sin, but from the deep hurt caused by a broken relationship with a family member, from physical or mental illness, from losing a job, being betrayed, used or abandoned rom spiritual or physical poverty

If we think of Mercy as being relieved from a heart of misery - than each of us has experienced Mercy a lot more than we think. Mercy paves the way for peace with self, with others, with God. Mercy roots us in peace. A peace that comes from within. A peace that comes from Him and is founded on His principles. Without this peace we live as people of judgement, we live as people who are self-absorbed, we live lives that are self centered and we live without happiness or joy.

But each day in our life there can be moments without happiness or joy. Life is filled with many difficulties and challenges that cause us to be fearful. Each day we are confronted with many events that may cause us to become apprehensive. Going to a new school; starting a new job; having to take the car in for repairs on the busiest day of the week; dealing with a computer virus; missing an important deadline at work; getting laid off from work; coping with a child's sudden illness; these are just some of the many things that happen each day that may cause us to be filled with fear, sick with apprehension. And sometimes, when the pain is deep and real we can even be tempted to ask “Does God love me?”

When Jesus and Peter dialogued about it (Gospel), the Resurrected Lord knew the heart of a fragile Peter who was dealing with the confusion of everything in his life now that Jesus had died and this ground-breaking story of the resurrection did not yet make sense. So Jesus says - when Fear is a Factor don’t ask if God loves me - but rather get out of the board and be someone who show love for God. Jesus says - if you love Him - then we must be people who feed, tend, go

Feed – The Eucharist is the place where we are fed. In His Body and Blood, Jesus becomes food for our journey. This food (Himself) carries us and nourishes us in the moments when we question the plan, purpose or providence that is before us. This is why embracing the Eucharist weekly on the Lord’s Day is so vital. This is also why we should not be shy about inviting others to be with us at Mass, and even embracing the fact that our presence (and witness) to each other at Mass by weekly attendance is a powerful and encouraging!

Tend – To tend is to care for. We need to be people who tend to one another. Who care for one another. Small groups are a way of doing this, but our small groups must not be cliques of exclusive care, but always remain intimate and inviting. Small groups should also be on the same page as the wider parish – not doing their own thing – but connected to the community which gathers on the Lord’s Day. Likewise, we tend by reaching out – Ministers of Communion to the Sick, Ministry of Compassion, Neighbourhood Ministry – are all ways in our parish we care for others in their moment of need.

Go – We are about being called and sent. Haiti, Kenya, Toronto, Hamilton – but also go and witnessing in our school, office, gym, grocery store, library and even the waiting line. These are all missionary fields where we can make a difference. Do we?

But here is the ground breaking reality! If we feed tend, go....then we also begin to live as people without fear!

•                     If we are being Fed by God - then we are trusting Him and fear is not a factor- ground breaking

•                     If we are Tending to Others then we are less prone to be focussed on self - ground breaking

•            If we go to our mission field is not just Haiti, Hamilton and Toronto - but people in your workplace, neighbourhood and school - and invest and invite in them  - we tend to be less about what we can’t do and more about what God is doing - ground breaking

Focus not on Fear but rather Concentrate on being a people feed tend, go...

Mercy Makes it Rock!

Feel free to listen to the Lord’s Day Message  

There is no doubt that the most ground-breaking event in history was Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. His resurrection changed everything, proving that He is who says He is, and that He is the ultimate authority on life. It opened up access to a relationship with God and the forgiveness of sin.  Easter also marks a new time in the whole history of the world. Here, a new body of believers, who would become the Church, begins to take shape with the world changing charge of introducing God’s kingdom among us.

This remains the work of the Church given to us, to serve the kingdom of God in our generation: bringing more people to Christ, and helping them to grow as disciples. Over the next few weeks we will be taking some time to reflect upon what it means to be a Ground Breaking Generation - we do this with the backdrop of our new expansion about to take place, but even more so with the back ground of the Resurrection.

This first week we look at that heart of the ground-breaking of the Resurrection is the fact of its a new vision - one of Mercy.

Mercy – or Misericordia - is derived from two Latin words - miserere (pity or misere) and cor (heart). When we ask for God’s mercy we are essentially asking God to relieve us of a heart that is in misery, and our heart can be in misery not just because of sin, but from the deep hurt caused by a broken relationship with a family member, from physical or mental illness, from losing a job, being betrayed, used or abandoned rom spiritual or physical poverty

If we think of Mercy as being relieved from a heart of misery - than each of us has experienced Mercy a lot more than we think. Certainly the apostles in the Gospels experienced Mercy         - certainly the early Church did. They were lost, filled with anguished...and Jesus appeared and continued the ground-breaking - He shared Mercy

But here is the thing - that is just as important - if misery is relieving a heart from misery - then it is also something we can share - when the Apostles experienced it - they encouraged each other - so can we. More than just offering forgiveness - the ground-breaking vision of the Resurrection calls us to Mercy.

When we invest in another person - share with them the lessons and struggles we have learned so they do not have to undergo the pain we have - we are sharing mercy. When you help instruct a grandchild in the faith, so deference to someone in traffic or the store. When we offer counsel to another - we are aiding with Mercy, and by the way, counsel comes from the Latin - con silium which means to offer a decision. To offer counsel is more than just listening - its giving direction - which means to show them a mind - the mind of Christ in things. Mercy - undeserved forgiveness and unearned kindness

When we say Lord Have Mercy..... Our prayer should be relieve me of a heart in misery and if life is good for you....it should then be directed to another ...child, grandchild, friend, co-worker, friend.... relieve them of a heart in misery

God’s Mercy

            - It comes to us in so many ways. It comes in kind comments (even if untrue)

            - It comes on occasions when we are forgiven or when we forgive another

            - It comes at times when things could have fallen apart but they didn’t

            - It comes when it just seems God is protecting us

Mercy paves the way for peace with self, with others, with God. Mercy roots us in peace. A peace that comes from within. A peace that comes from Him and is founded on His principles. Without this peace we live as people of judgement, we live as people who are self-absorbed, we live lives that are self centered and we live without happiness or joy.

"Fessing Up" in Faith - its a Merciful Moment

Feel free to listen to the Lord’s Day Message  

The rubber is hitting the road for the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus. Their sonar is pinging, and though they believe in Jesus, after all they have been with Him long enough now - probably 3 years - and they are thinking:

            - We do good work, we see Him heal the lame, the blind, the deaf

            - His teaching are changing Hearts...and the crowds are getting bigger

- He seems to be feeding people not only with fish & loaves, but also spiritually

- But trouble is brewing - the leaders are going to kill Him - and He doesn’t seem worried

So the Disciples instead of “fessing up” to their faith, well they “cover up” their faith in Jesus out of fear. Jesus knows their hearts, and know what awaits them at the groan of the cross, and so He calls them forth and tells them a parable – about the fig tree. To all appearances, it is a useless twig, not producing any fruit, just taking up room in the orchard. But the gardener saw something in that fig tree that gave him hope, and he convinced the property owner to give it one more year. At the same time he was asking for one more year for himself, so that he could do all humanly possible to revive the fig tree and give it the opportunity to bear fruit. Both took a claim of responsibility and the desire to make a significant change in the pattern and scope of life. The old way of caring for the fig tree was not going to do it, so a new way would be required for the gardener. It is so also with us. If our current way of life is not bearing the fruit of mercy. If we are missing merciful moments, then we must do all humanly possible to revive and give ourselves the opportunities to bear fruit.

This is why, while the fig tree is the focus of the story, it’s actually the soil which is the most important.  Its sort like our own lives, if we look wonderful but our root is rotting – well in time we too will not flourish. One thing that aides in this is when we take responsibility for the times we mess up. Too often in our lives, when our soil is not producing we blame others, seek to cover it up, claim someone in leadership lacks or an institution has failed instead up “fessing up” for ourselves the mistake and seeking to change. Failure to accept responsibility for our failures prevents us from receiving the forgiveness from God we desperately need. It also prevents us from experiencing that new beginning we all desire.

Merciful Moments come not just in solitude when we escape busyness. Merciful Moments arise not just in transfigurations when we let God reign in our heart and life and no one has free rent in our lives. But Merciful Moments come when we take a hard look at ourselves - and say Jesus Son of the Living God Have Mercy on Me a Sinner and then change! We have to Fess Up to our Mess Up! 

As we get ready for our Parish Mission next weekend - where is God calling you to escape from busyness? Where is He seeking to invite you to see Him in a new way? But this week also consider - where is God calling you to Fess Up? Make plans for the parish mission and this encounter with the Lord this Lent. Without doing so - not only might a new beginning escape you, but so too will a life changing Merciful Moment pass you by!  

No Free Rent - Next Step in Merciful Moments

Feel free to listen to the Lord’s Day Message  

In today’s Gospel the three Apostles witness Jesus transfigured in all His dazzling splendour, as a glimpse of His divinity. “Lord, it is good for us to be here!” I hope that this is your sense of your Lenten journey this far – that it is good that we have this time to be here. During this Season of Lent - we are looking at Merciful Moments. We all have them in our life - times when God in His Mercy offers to us a second chance or when we are called to do the same. It is good that we pause and reflect on them and realize that a Merciful Moment is not just the expression or actualization of a Corporal Work of Mercy (i.e. I fed the hungry therefore it must have been a merciful moment), no, it’s also what happens because you fed the hungry – what did that action do to your heart and how did that action affect the heart an life of the one fed, and even the ones who witnessed the feeding?  This is where the power of transfiguration takes place.  We are called to be a people who are touched by the lives we touch. It is where the power of relationship comes in.

Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain. Here they saw Jesus “changed” before their eyes. It wasn’t that He physically changed (yes His clothes before dazzling white but Jesus was the same physical man). It was that because of what they saw and the realization of who Jesus was and is about, that their lives changed from that moment forth – their relationship with Him was different. This is so with us and our relationship with Jesus and others (or so it should be).

So often we give people’s negative comments “free rent” in our head instead of giving Christ “free reign” in our hearts. We remember the moments we failed, or the moments others hurt us, or the occasions when we “could have or should have.” Instead, we are invited to root our lives, our “citizenship”, in Christ and the merciful moments He gives us where we can be transfigured and His will, way, purpose and plan for our lives becomes – dazzling white.

Last week Jesus began in the desert. There He was faced with temptations but even more so He was faced with something else: solitude and isolation. It was a reminder to us that it wouldn’t be the brokenness of busyness, but rather the solitude and isolation of a time in the presence of God, that would instill in Jesus – Mercy. So too for us in our relationships. What echoes in your head? The comment of failure or the casting of grace? Do you allow the Lord to show you the merciful moments in your life where He and He alone is seeking to show His transfigured self to you and seeking at the same time to transfigure you into His beloved child – or does something (or someone) have free rent in your head?

Our definition, purpose and significance must come from God - a girlfriend will not complete us, a boyfriend will not define us, an engagement will not be the answer to all things. Jesus the beloved and chosen Son of God will be and is the only one who can be! If we decide that our definition as a person - our purpose as people – will be determined not by popularity, power or persuasion but by the Son of God and His purpose, plan and provision in our life, then not only will Christ and Christ alone be the one behind our corporal works of mercy this Lent, but He will be behind the merciful moments in our life. What a transfiguration that would be! No more “free rent”, only a “free reign”! 

Breaking Busyness - First Step in Merciful Moments

Feel free to listen to the Lord’s Day Message  

In this Season of Lent we begin a new message series called “Merciful Moments”. We all have them in our life - times when God is His Mercy offers to us a second chance or when we are called to do the same. Let’s review together this Lent how to find them, how to seek them, how to express them and how to extend them.

The forty days of Lent are often described as a penitential season. Traditionally we are invited to alter our lives in spiritual ways during Lent in order to prepare ourselves for the great celebration of Easter, the unfolding of the Paschal Mystery. The three areas of our spiritual lives we are encouraged to develop during Lent are prayer, fasting and works of mercy. In other words to pray more, to fast more and to carry out more works of mercy. How will you address this call during Lent? How can we assist one another in this spiritual endeavour? What are some examples of works of mercy?Each year the church gives us a different account (Matthew, Mark and Luke) of the same event: Jesus’ temptation in the desert. Luke tells us today that right after Jesus’ Baptism and right before his public ministry, He was led into the desert by the Spirit. What a great image to begin this Season of Lent. Jesus knew the commitment He made out of love for us—a love beyond all love. He then spent 40 days trying to get his mind around the enormity and complexity of it all

Yes, we know the Gospel well, but what is it really saying to us as we begin these 40 days of Lent? Are these 40 days just another 40 out of a year or are we being called by the Spirit into our own desert? Deserts are isolated places, barren landscapes, and yet they are so much more. Life can grow there. But roots must run deep to find nourishment. That’s perhaps a scary thought for us. Taking 40 days and focusing on our commitment to follow the example of Christ and let our roots run deep to discover Him. The temptations Jesus faced are some of the same temptations we have in our lives. Jesus was one of us. Surely, He felt the desire to give in, but He didn’t.

While in the desert, Jesus faced these temptations but here even more so He is faced with something else: solitude and isolation. We are afraid as a society not of temptation - that faces us every day - and we develop ways with maturity for dealing with it, but we are afraid of solitude and isolation - people busy themselves with digital devices, with music and noise, with conversations (even about other people) all with the goal of avoiding solitude and isolation. There is a productivity to busyness but there is a cost to busyness - you can’t hear a still small voice in busyness.

Our world often resists solitude, yet Jesus desired it before He went forth to be a source of Mercy to others. In fact our scriptures tell us throughout Lent it was because of this initial isolation that He was better able to deal with moments that called Him toward Mercy. There is truth here, for in our busyness we miss so much and so many people. We often are critical, snappy, judgemental, incentive - not because we want to be - but because it is what we have time for.

Jesus knew it would take effort to resist the idolatry of wanting too much, seeking too much, worship the wrong things, and putting God to the test, but Jesus also knew it wouldn't take the brokenness of busyness but rather the solitude and isolation of a time in the desert to transform them in to the blessing of blooms in our life – it would take merciful moments and the willingness not to stand up holding a wall of busyness - but to well dance into the solitude of looking for merciful moments by taking on the things that matter most.

As followers of Jesus, we’re asked to keep our call in mind and resist the temptation to do otherwise. Jesus gave us the best example we could have been given. It’s our choice whether to follow that example or to take the bait the devil offers. The problem is the bait is never satisfying, and then it’s on to something more. Make a conscious decision today to give GOD the burden you are going through. Spend 5 minutes each day this week in silence/quiet reflection. Go into your own ‘personal desert’ and let God speak to you.

May this Lent lead us toward many Merciful Moments of hearing His Call in our life and responding to it with greater dependence on His Grace. It is how we truly move forward – as always – it’s your move – so why not make it toward seeking not busyness but rather seeking merciful moments with, for and by those that you love

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Your Move - our new series for a new year

Not that long ago my nephew and I were travelling together and I decided to take the 407. To be honest it was because I was running a little late and wanted to make up some time. Once we got on the 407 the bumper to bumper traffic of the 401 was a distant memory. Even my nephew noticed it and responded – “this is a “super highway!”

Baptism offers us the off ramp to a super highway to know the one who Himself told us: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” This event at the Jordan was a profoundly significant moment in the history of Israel, in the story of Jesus, and in the lives of all His followers. Our mission—empowered by our Baptism into Christ, and identified with Christ is to carry out Christ’s mission to all peoples. Today’s readings spell out for us the dimensions of this vision and mission but they also, as we end our Christmas celebrations, lead us to ask ourselves what we have been doing since our Baptism – what has your move been?

For this reason we begin a message series which will span the next four weeks entitled “Your Move.” Its goal and purpose is to lead us in reflecting, especially as we begin this New Year, upon the call of Discipleship and the fulfillment of our Baptism…how have we been acting as “beloved” in the Lord? The series begins with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord which invites us to consider our relationship with the Lord and then moves to the Gospel story of the Wedding Feast of Cana and the perfect Disciple - Mary the Mother of God.

During this past month of January we have been reflecting on our relationship with God. Our Good Good Father is one on whom we can Cast our Cares. He calls us - He knocks on the door of our heart - and it’s your move - if you respond.

During Week #1, we will look at the need to trust His voice. God’s voice is for Good, and when we do, we take the first step - Listen and Look. Listen to message of gracious goodness that God offers and we Look at the area of our life that God is calling us to open or close - so His grace may grow within

During Week #2, we will accept that our failures need not be final or fatal but that we take our mistakes in life and turn them into stepping stones for superior success if we simply follow the example and advice of the Perfect Disciple – Mary – and in reference to Jesus :  “ do what ever He tells you.”

This advice helps us to discern and look for the signs of the Lord and ask ourselves “what is gripping you, and is it from the Lord?” It helps us to search in prayer and find what His Word says and then to seek His peace! Even with this peace we may feel there are moments of not enough - time, resources, abilities, courage - all these grip us, but our  God can transform...in fact He wants to.... but first we must make Him our reference point and desire a happy soul with our Reference Point  - Jesus Christ as the one on whom we cast our cares.

During Week # 3 we will ask ourselves if we have the Disposition and the trait of Docility. Christ lived with the full knowledge that His life was not His own - God the Father chose Him at Baptism (my beloved) but it was His move to allow it to be fulfilled. His life was not His own. He was not just the carpenter’s son – He was the Son of God – beloved and chosen. His move would be for the Father!

Our final week will lead us to  ask if we consumers of our faith or committed to being disciples of the Lord as we walk in faith with Him as our reference point always. After all our lives are His?  It’s your move.

Check out our messages 

Advent 4 - The Gift Exchange - Week # 4

We’ve almost made it! Was it just like last year or did we actually do something different this year to change our Advent Season?

Check out our message series 

Anticipation, even for great things can be stressful. Think about our last vacation and all the preparation for hotels, travel arrangements, new clothing, etc. The process takes time and can be difficult but the destination makes it all worthwhile. As we move through this last week of Advent and can clearly see our DESTINATION IS NEAR, we know the small things we’ve accomplished and the bigger things we have planned for our future journey in life are possible. But we also know these last few days could ruin the entire trip. The stable is in sight! 

Let us pray when we finally see God face to face he will repeat the words of Elizabeth in today’s Gospel, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Please try this activity as a family:

Take 2 minutes and pray together as a family that we can help each other recognize God’s presence, not just at Christmas time, but all the time, and that we can recognize how God continually works throughout the year in our lives. In honor of Mary’s “Yes,” pray together the Hail Mary.