More Than Survive - Week # 1

We begin this Lord’s Day a four part Message Series called “More than Just Survive”. If you want to know what it is about…well…check out the video link below….and feel free to share it with friends and neighbours:

Most often, when we hear of Saints, we think of those of long ago, perhaps our Patron Saint, the Saint whose name we took for Confirmation, or that of our Parish School or Church. Because they may seem so 'far off' from here and now, we can tend to think of them as people whose lives were a breeze, who never had hardship or suffering, who walked a meter above the earth. This separates us from them, and 'gets us off the hook' in terms of thinking about being a future Saint in the Church of God.

But the Saints actually teach us how we can become like them, not in leading lives of idealism, but real lives faced with challenge. Even in the hustle and bustle of life, they make us ask the question – “what are you chasing?” Put another way, they make us take a long hard look at where we are rooted and where we get our strength and significance from.

Over the next four weeks we will take a look at these who questions:

·         What are you chasing?

·         Where are you rooted?

You may wish to listen again to the Audio of the Lord’s Day Message

The Beatitudes reflect the heart and mind of Jesus the Lord. This is what a Christian looks like, because this is what Jesus Christ looks like. We are called to resemble – reflect Him. These values and virtues should distinguish us as followers of Jesus, 'saints' in the making! They make us people who are not “running around”, chasing that which we can not even name, but rather people who – Rest in the Lord, Resist the World, Reflect our God. These three are the attributes of the saints and they are counter-cultural but they are also firmly implanted in the fact that (1 John 3:1-3) “we may be called children of God.”

Over the next three weeks will examine these three aspects of being saints and being people who don’t just want to survive. For the world will ask - who wants to be poor in spirit, or mourn, be meek, be hungry and thirsty for righteousness, be merciful, be clean of heart, be peacemakers, or be insulted or persecuted for the sake of righteousness? Whereas we see these as positive, our society sees them as negative - for losers and the weak. These are the values and virtues that saints are made of. These are the extra-ordinary gifts that they shared with others and with the Church, and continue to share with us. They not only unite us to God, but bring us into harmony with one another. They lead us away from “the rat race” into a rootedness which allows us not to “survive” but to “thrive.”

Message this week – Before concluding – listen in mediation to this beautiful song which will be our “theme song” during this series – it is called “Good, Good Father” by Chris Tomlin. Don’t only listen to the tune, but examine the words. In particular listen for the words…..”and I am loved by you…its who I am.” There it is – the secret to being a saint – and not just surviving!

Fan or Follower?

You may wish to listen again to the Audio of the Lord’s Day Message

Life is a journey and during it, in our relationship with Jesus, we are often either: fascinated by Jesus, a fan of Jesus, frustrated by Jesus or we are followers of Jesus. In the readings of today we see all of those portrayed and the challenge of God’s word – as we discern to see the road ahead for us - is to decide which we are, and do you wish to remain there or move toward full discipleship in Christ – being His follower

Bartimaeus, the main figure in the Gospel this Lord's Day, was a blind beggar sitting by the side of the road. All he could say was “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me”—a prayer of last resort. The people there scolded him and tried to shut him up, but he wouldn’t stop, just kept repeating, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Jesus notices him and beckons him to approach. Bartimaeus does so without hesitation.

He asks nothing of Bartimaeus, demands nothing. He simply inquires, “What do you want me to do for you?” Is this not the question we really want to hear? Could it be that the distancing we so often feel between God and ourselves is not so much God’s doing as it is my own? Am I even aware of the blindness, the tardiness, the hesitation that keeps me from following Jesus? A blindness, tardiness and hesitation which turns us into fan instead of follower disciples? 

Bartimaeus got his sight and followed Jesus on the way (he took the step and saw the affect of Christ in his life and followed Him.) It is easy to be fascinated, frustrated and even to be a fan of Jesus. Well, because its dependent on us. But that is not what allows us to see. Jesus wants followers on the Way Forward – He wanted Disciples and the cornerstone of making the step from fan to follower is to rely on God’s Mercy. It is openness to letting God do His will that permits us to take the next step.

St. John Paul II stated that: 'the Church lives an authentic life when she professes and proclaims mercy ... and when she brings people close to the sources of the Saviour’s mercy, of which she is the trustee and dispenser'.

Benedict XVI, too, said: 'Mercy is indeed the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name of God … May all that the Church says and does manifest the mercy God feels for mankind. When the Church has to recall an unrecognised truth, or a betrayed good, she always does so impelled by merciful love, so that men may have life and have it abundantly'.

Mark, the Gospel’s author, sums up this story: “He (Bartimaeus) followed Jesus on the way.” His point is that only a person enlightened by faith can walk “the Jesus walk” without fear because they are not “fans” but they truly see and are “followers/disciples”. Might this turn of events be an example of such a reversal? Perhaps it is our turn to cry out and insist, as did Bartimaeus: “Master, I want to see.”

Thanksgiving Message.

 Here at St. Mary of the Visitation Parish we are thankful and blessed to have so many wonderful and amazing people as part of our parish family...

- Our member ministers (volunteers) are the best & the most gracious folks you could ever meet, they serve our Family of Faith in so many different ministries.

- Our Families big and small are giving, loving and doing all they can to be apart of our parish. 

- Our Seniors are loving elders of wisdom and support.

- Our Youth are dynamic and always challenge us to be and do better.

- Our Committees are humble servants, giving so much to those they serve, in all they do.
- Our Choir and music ministries fill our hearts with "joyful prayer" in everything they do and sing.

- Our Staff is dedicated and committed to all that they do for you.

Today we want to share our blessings with all of you, your families and all those you love.

No matter what our situations, our health challenges, let us take time....a long time....to be thankful, grateful and joyful that we live in Ontario, that we have the right to vote, that our homes are better than most of the world enjoys, no matter how simple. 

We are blessed and to God we give the Glory.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

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A Way Forward - Week # 4

This is the final week of our Message Series: A Way Forward. It’s all about doing what disciples do and, in the process, finding our way to more successful living

Week One invited us to be “of God”. To know that we belong to Him, that we accomplish what we do with His inspiration and that we must be people who are firmly rooted not solely in our religious tradition, but also our ability to relate to the person of Jesus.

Week Two challenged us to take the last place, to be servants. The only way we know who we are is by who He is – and that comes through service especially to the least, the last and the lost.

Week Three called forth from us the declaration that our serenity, peace and purpose comes not from outside of us, but rather from within us – a Way Forward – rooted in Mercy which comes not from an outwardly found happiness but an inwardly rooted happiness.

The recent visit of Pope Francis to the United States, in part for the World Meeting of Families, has given our Holy Father an opportunity to discuss so many issues, and I must admit that I love the issues he is talking about and how he is talking about them. Pope Francis has a profound commitment to God’s word - and a lifestyle that backs it up. He is crating conversation around important issues - poverty, justice, immigration. He call us to be part of a society that is tolerant and inclusive, but has a solid stance on the institution and definition of marriage, family and speaks about restoring hope and building peace – he asks us to treat one another with passion but compassion. In our society of today – this is a challenge and if we are a people of both passion and compassion – well we stand out. The courage to do that - stand out - is the final point in our Way Forward.

This “standing out” can overwhelms us - overtakes us - over stresses us and we feel lost and as our 2^nd Reading today - the presence of Jesus offers a hope -  “do not be ashamed”. What stops us at times in our way forward - well is fear of standing out  and yet the answers to our problems, including that of fear – is that we must have Confidence in Christ. For we are a child of God, chosen, redeemed, loved, cherished and cared for. We should stand out – for His love calls us to. Part of this call to stand out is rooted in a life of Prayer which leads us to decide and discern to do it Christ’s way, not our way forward.

Jesus says - try it my way forward:

I.                   Seek righteousness in your heart and there will be beauty in your character

II.                seek beauty in your character and there will be harmony in the home

III.             seek harmony in the home and there will be order in the nations

IV.             seek order in the nations and there will be peace in the world

It all begins by seeking Christ’s Way Forward: Being of God. Being rooted in Service to least, last, lost. Being  People who Make Every Effort to be rooted in Mercy - people who walk along with Christ standing out (living differently) – and being willing to stand out from the crowd.

At this point please use the video Message for this series – Week #4

Your group may wish to listen again to the Audio of the Lord’s Day Message

A Way Forward - Week # 3

Our Message Series continues: A Way Forward. It’s all about doing what disciples do and, in the process, finding our way to more successful living

Week One invited us to be “of God”. To know that we belong to Him, that we accomplish what we do with His inspiration and that we must be people who are firmly rooted not solely in our religious tradition, but also our ability to relate to the person of Jesus.

Week Two challenged us to take the last place, to be servants. The only way we know who we are is by who He is – and that comes through service especially to the least, the last and the lost.

The Gospel of today, as Jesus talks to us about the importance of our example for others. He uses dramatic and severe examples of how serious our rejection of temptation and sin should be. By sharing in His life, He is empowering us to choose grace over temptation, and redemption over condemnation. Today's challenge highlighted in the readings is that we have to actively wage peace, promote it, and base our critical decisions on the common good as we make our Way Forward – one rooted in peace which comes not from an outwardly found happiness but an inwardly rooted happiness.

Although we may think of our Gospel as filled with condemnation, there is a glimmer of hope. Jesus tells us that "For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward." Again – to be “of God” and to be “people of service”. But here we come to understand the next step – we must also walk on this Way Forward as people of mercy!

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.

Are you of Happy?   Do you have Mercy in your life ? The answer to that should not depend on an outward force, person or event, rather it should come from within as we make every effort to be people of Mercy.

At this point please use the video Message for this series – Week # 3

Your group may wish to listen again to the Audio of the Lord’s Day Message

A Way Forward - Week # 2

This Lord’s Day Weekend we continue our four week Message Series called “A Way Forward”. Any journey, long or short, is just a series of steps which we take seeking to find a way forward. Faith, as is often said, is a journey and it all comes down to simple steps moving us in His direction. We think there are basically four steps that the Bible teaches us to take toward greater maturity in our Catholic faith. To kick off the 2015-2016 year we’re offering an all-new series taking a fresh look at those steps as we seek to discern A Way Forward. It’s all about doing what disciples do and, in the process, finding our way to more successful living

Last week we discerned that we must be “of God”. That this is essential to our way forward. To know that we belong to Him, that we accomplish what we do with His inspiration and that we must be people who are firmly rooted not solely in our religious tradition, but also our ability to relate to the person of Jesus.

This week our readings reflect the fact that often we tend to be much more interested in who are the most successful, the richest, the most glamorous. In a culture rich in examples of selfish ambition and jealousy, righteousness is not a quality to be prized. While we expect people to be honest, we are more apt to applaud the clever, those who know how to get ahead. Yet, we are reminded today that righteousness is a pillar of the reign of God, The righteous ones strive to be people of peace, to be willing to take the last place, to be servants

St. James, the author of our 2^nd Readings, locates the center of the conflict as being seated in our passions—the spirit of coveting, of envy and of aggression. The fruits of righteousness, he tells us, can only be sown in peace. But to have peace we have to deliberately cultivate it. Peace, James insists, is more than the absence of war. Today's challenge highlighted in the readings is that we have to actively wage peace, promote it, and base our critical decisions on the common good as we make our Way Forward.

In this action, Jesus makes the message even clearer on the Way Forward, not only is He saying, as He did last week, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” But now also the element of service and humility arrive at our pathway. Thus, for us the next step on the Way Forward is not only to Be Of God, but that we must know who we are and therefore we will know what to do?

See the Disciples knew who Christ was - “the Son of the Living God” - remember Peter last week! The Disciples understood what He was to do - “die and rise again” - they got that!  They said to themselves - we will accept this and Be of God, but they forget that had been commissioned - to do the same in His name! They did not take the time to discern what it meant in relation to their friendship with Christ - that can happen to us on our way forward...we can say.... I am of God and I know He is important, His Son died for me, the Holy Spirit guides me. But when it comes then to applying it to my life and how I live day to day - I am of God - is that not enough?  That attitude and question is what made the Disciples argue about who was “the greatest”…who was “more of God”. Instead they should have focussed on who was seeking to see their relationship “of God” to being in the service of the least, the last and the lost. We are made for it - we are co missioned for it, this is part of who we are. We are not who the world say we are, we are commissioned by Christ to go forth in service – in His name. The only way we know who we are is by who He is – and that comes through service especially to the least, the last and the lost.

At this point please use the video Message for this series – Week # 2

Your group may wish to listen again to the Audio of the Lord’s Day Message

A Way Forward - Week # 1

This Lord’s Day Weekend we begin a four week Message Series called “A Way Forward”. Any journey, long or short, is just a series of steps which we take seeking to find a way forward. Faith, as is often said, is a journey and it all comes down to simple steps moving us in His direction. We think there are basically four steps that the Bible teaches us to take toward greater maturity in our Catholic faith. To kick off the 2015-2016 year we’re offering an all-new series taking a fresh look at those steps as we seek to discern A Way Forward. It’s all about doing what disciples do and, in the process, finding our way to more successful living

There are so many different responses to Jesus, the Messiah, and many of them are firmly rooted in our religious tradition. This very fact causes much of our misunderstanding and explains our inability to relate to the person of Jesus. The people of Jesus’ time held various views as to who he was. They commonly expected Him to act in a certain way, and almost always misunderstood him. Even the disciples were confused by what he said, and they too misunderstood him. Can we be so sure that we have the kind of insight they lacked? Can we claim to understand him? Or are we more like the people in James’ community (2nd reading): people who professed faith in Jesus but who did not always live it out; people who often spoke pleasant words to others and said the right things but often failed to back up their words with how they lived their lives—their good works? 

Our focus on this first week of our message series is to remember that our call is foremost to be “Of God”. St James is saying as much in today's Second Reading: "Faith without good works is dead." It is one thing to make a verbal declaration of faith weekly, to pray piously daily but if both are not backed up by a lifetime of authentic service and charitable outlook then it becomes – well odd! Our mission as Christians to build up the reign of God; it is quite clear what God requires of us: to be compassionate as Jesus was, to take care of the poor, to forgive each other, to welcome your enemy as a brother or sister. In other words, all our religious behavior is intended to get us to the starting gate of good works. But it must not end there!

When the journey of faith seems too difficult, when we are prone to experience to fatigue before the sea of human suffering, it seems that there are times when we really struggle to believe in the person of Jesus. At such times it is good for us to remember the wrenching struggle of the apostle, Peter in the Gospel.

Peter heard Jesus’ words about suffering and that is all they could comprehend. Hence Jesus for the moment became a stumbling block for them. Jesus knew their thoughts; He turned to them and sharply rebuked Peter in the hearing of everyone. “Get behind me, Satan!” By trying to dissuade Jesus from the cross and death, by trying to deflect Him from His divinely appointed purpose, Peter was renewing the vicious temptations Jesus had experienced in the desert. Jesus reacted to this TEMPTATION as He had done elsewhere to temptation with a fierce and determined reflex: “Get behind me, Satan!” Peter, and eventually all the disciples, must proceed to a deeper and holier understanding. Jesus wins for them the grace to realize the folly and the glory of the mystery of the cross. It is only then that they are truly able to say “You are the Messiah, the very Son of God.” In today's Gospel Jesus, asked the disciples "Who do you say that I am?" Peter then makes a great act of faith in Jesus as the Messiah. This is precisely what Jesus is now asking of us!

At thispoint please use the video Message for this series – Week # 1

Youmay also as a group wish to listen again to the Audio of the Lord’s Day Message