Spiritual Reflections

Thomas the doubter 2020 April 25

Finding Meaning in a World in Chaos

“For every time there is a season” (Ecc: 3:1)

Father Deacon Howard

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was a period of belief, it was a time of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair…”

These memorable words of Charles Dickens in the opening paragraph of his historical novel The Tale of Two Cities describe the chaos of life in Paris and London, prior to the French Revolution. They could just as well have been written by the editorial board of the New York Times to describe the havoc humanity faces today.

As it was in the time of Dickens our body politic is sick. And like those in London and Paris in 1859, today’s victims of injustice seek justice, even if it entails revolution. Some sectors in society are fighting to change the systems that govern them. They want institutional reforms to deal with endemic police brutality, rampant racism, homelessness, poverty, widespread discrimination, pervasive social exclusion, gender inequality, and employment and salary inequities.

The difficulty we face today is not only with political systems that have failed us but also health care systems that struggle to look after us as they confront a toxic pandemic virus. Despite the heroic efforts of scientific communities world-wide to discover a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus and the courageous care of health-care professionals to contain it, millions more will be infected and100’s of thousands of people will die. This virulent virus continues to have the upper hand and it has caused many of us to reassess the way we have become accustomed to living our life and celebrate our Divine Liturgy.

A significant number of people believe that it’s best to ignore the pandemic virus. They tell us to stop worrying.” We will come out of it on the other side”. Yet, it has shaken the confidence of people world-wide as to “how they will come out of it”. They find little comfort in this rationale when for 1000’s, the other side is death. In despair and with a sense of helplessness they ask themselves “how should I deal with it.”  Ignoring our problems when faced with such a calamity is not the answer to finding meaning in one’s life.  It’s a recipe for disaster.

Others think that the best way to deal with despair and feelings of helplessness is to live out the philosophy as put forward in the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes. It contains the wisdom of a man called the Philosopher, who reflected deeply on how contradictory life is with its mysterious injustices and frustrations. His philosophy of life is rooted in the passage 3:1 “for every time there is a season”. In other words, everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. You can’t add anything or take anything away from what God does. The best thing we can do is to eat, and drink and enjoy what we have worked for during the short time God has given us (2:24). Besides it makes no difference what we do. It’s our fate (5:18). “The same fate comes to the righteous and the wicked, to the good or bad, to those who are religious and those who are not. A good person is no better off than the sinner” (9:2).One fate comes to all alike.  “Go ahead – eat your food and be happy; drink your wine and be cheerful. It’s all right with God. God has given you this world. Enjoy, every useless day of it”. (9:7-9) “Useless, useless, said the Philosopher.  It is all useless”. (12:8)

The “Philosopher” hoped that people would find his words of wisdom reassuring. But his conclusion that “life is useless” is not a consoling plan of action in a time of crisis. In spite of that, many take comfort in seeing themselves in the mirror of Ecclesiastes. They have discovered that the same Bible which reflects these negative and depressing thoughts also offers the hope in God that gives life its greater meaning.

St. Paul tells us in Romans 10:1-10 that if we want to find meaning in life we must recognize the righteousness that comes from God. He tells us that the Jews promoted their own idea of what is required to be right with God. In doing so, they put their salvation in jeopardy. St. Paul is unwavering in his belief that we must submit to the righteousness of God. And for those who do not live a righteous life, salvation is not possible.

Righteousness is a common theme in Paul’s Epistles. To understand righteousness is to understand that God created us in his own image.  In his image God made us free to withhold our hearts and wills from Him. We can dare to say that when we respond to His love, we please our Creator; when we reject it, by sin, we grieve and offend Him. To be right with God then means to freely chose to love Him and willfully chose not to offend Him by acting contrary to His wishes.

Lastly, Paul reminds us that righteousness comes from faith proclaimed in the Word of God. Everyone who has this faith in their heart, and believes it, is made righteous. And by confessing that Jesus is Lord they are saved.

 

Glory be to Jesus Christ! Glory be forever!

Are there Marian Miracles in Vancouver?

By Roxanne Davies

The recent December 2015 issue of the National Geographic magazine featured an article entitled “How the Virgin Mary Became the World’s Most Powerful Woman”.  The lengthy cover story by noted writer Maureen Orth was accompanied with beautiful images by photographer Diana Markosian.

At first I thought it an unusual subject for a secular magazine normally devoted to stories of geographical interest until I thought about it:  there have been numerous apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Apparently Mary appears to anyone she wants, any time she wants, anywhere she wants. No doubt Orth pitched the idea of visiting some of these international holy hot spots thereby reassuring her editors to sign off on her project.

Orth visited some of the most famous international Marian sites: Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fatima in Portugal, and Our Lady of Guadaloupe in Mexico all sites where the Virgin Mary has been said to appear.

It is amazing to learn that since 40 AD there have been 2000 apparitions yet only 28 are approved by the local bishops and of those apparitions; only 16 have been recognized by the Vatican. All of Mary’s sightings over the past millennia have been codified by Michael O’Neill a professional engineer by day and a fervent Mary observer in his heart and soul. (Visit his website for more information – www.miraclehunter.com).

Orth interviewed believers who visited these shrines to Mary and reported on their experience. She started her research as a dispassionate journalist. By the end of the trip she was, well … by the end of her journey Maureen Orth discovered much more than she had anticipated.

Praying for the Virgin Mary’s intercession and being devoted to her are a global phenomenon. Mary is a universal symbol of maternal love and sacrifice. Mary’s often the touchstone for our longing for meaning and a more accessible link to the supernatural than formal church teachings. Her mantle offers both security and protection. Mary is the spiritual confidante of billions of people no matter how isolated or forgotten. She is our mother.

Although Mary did not appear to me as she did to the poor shepherds in Medjugorje or the Indian Juan Diego in Mexico,

I believe that Mary hears my fervent prayers and intercedes on my behalf and brings my prayers to her son, Jesus. I want to relate one such experience of divine intercession. My prayers were answered in a timely fashion with great love, and, believe it or not, with a bit of humor thrown in!

Let me tell you my story.

About ten years ago our son was an unhappy and listless young man. His father and I were at a loss on how to help him safely navigate a particularly grueling stretch of road on his way to adulthood. I was working for an entrepreneur who offered to hire him to do some construction work in an isolated resource town in the Pacific Northwest.  So, we fixed his old but sturdy pick-up truck to the tune of $3000 and bid him farewell.

Oh by the way, he told me,” I’m going to a friend’s party at Christina Lake next week.”  “That’s at least 1000 kms from where you’ll be”, I said with alarm. “You’re there to work in the town and not traipse off to some party! “I hollered.  But I knew that there was little I could do to prevent him from doing what he had in mind once he was out of our orbit.

And so I resorted to what I hoped would help me achieve what I wanted and at the very least to bring me some peace of mind. I prayed. Before Sunday morning mass began, I lit a candle and knelt down to pray

I looked deeply into the eyes of the Virgin Mary represented by the beautiful mosaic that graces the altar.  I whispered: “You’re a mother, I’m a mother. Please take care of my boy.”

As our son made his way up north he called several times along the way.  He got to Prince George without any mishaps.  A day later he called from Terrace. Ditto. He said he was enjoying the trip. I hoped the solo journey would give him some time and space to think about life.  On the third day he called from the town where he would be working for the next five months. I was delighted that he got to the town safely. He was furious.

Apparently as he drove into the town with the convoy of trucks, his transmission blew up and his pick-up came to a dead stop on the other side of the gate.

I had to chuckle when I thought about his predicament. Yes he was in the town where he would be working until October. Yes he would be safe. No Christina Lake. I believe that Christ Himself was offering to help.

I got off the phone and shared the news with my husband.  Our son was safe and sound where he would be working for the next five months.  I said a silent prayer of thanks and continued chuckling.

Then my husband said, “well he got there okay but he’ll eventually have to drive the truck back home.” Oh right. Reality check. We called the mechanic who had fixed his truck. He told us he had had a young guy work on our son’s truck. Maybe something was overlooked. If we could get the truck to his shop he would fix it for free. We called around and got an estimate. To get the pick-up out of the wilderness, place it on a flatbed truck and deliver it to Vancouver would cost $2000.  I was stunned. He had hardly worked a week and already the trip would cost us $5,000!

I went back to St Mary’s.

I said a prayer of thanks for all our blessings and asked Mary to help me solve this new problem.

When I told a fellow parishioner my predicament she said you’re not supposed to pray for anything specific. In the time worn words, you should pray not “My will” but “Thy will be done.” Yet I was feeling desperate.

 

As often happens in these isolated resource towns you’ll find a collection of capable men who have a bit of knowledge about fixing just about anything. One day a crusty old guy took pity on our son and told him he would look at his truck.  They opened the hood and took a look inside.  Eventually someone discovered that the transmission plug had somehow popped off and was sitting at the bottom of the wheel well.

It must have come off during the 100 km drive on the gravel road from Terrace.  Forty-five dollars’ worth of transmission liquid and the truck started up.  He was ready to go when the time came to leave town before the winter snows filled the mountain passes and he would have been stuck there until the spring thaw.

Was it a miracle?  Some would call it serendipity, a mere coincidence, a lucky break, an interesting example of non-rational phenomena. I believe my prayers played a role if only to make me feel a sense of peace as I cut the apron strings and my son found solid footing in the adult world.

He learned a lot during those months away from us.  How to be on his own out in the wilderness where you stayed inside after a hard day at work when the sun went down for fear of running into some wild animals in the night. He had to work hard and take orders from a cranky boss he did not particularly like. He was the only white kid on the work team of Nisga’a boys and he learned how reverse discrimination feels. He also made some friends

On one of his last trips to Terrace to get supplies he had an experience many people who live in the Pacific Northwest only dream of. He saw the elusive Spirit Bear, the majestic creature that calls the Great Bear Rainforest home. The big white bear was ambling across the road.

 

Our son had his camera ready and he took a photo.  The stately creature stopped and looked at our son. It was as if there was a thought bubble above his head. Do you get it? The bear seemed to ask him. Do you get it?

 

 

 

If you have had an experience praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary that you would like to share I would love to hear from you.  Please E mail me at arttales@telus.net

 

Ascension of our Lord May 26e

Thomas the doubter 2020 April 25

Easter Sermon Failure of Jesus, Triumph of Christ

Perogies and Politics: Canada’s Ukrainian Left, 1891-1991
By Rhonda L. Hinther
© 2018
In Perogies and Politics, Rhonda Hinther explores the twentieth-century history of the Ukrainian left in Canada from the standpoint of the women, men, and children who formed and fostered it.
For twentieth-century leftist Ukrainians, culture and politics were inextricably linked. The interaction of Ukrainian socio-cultural identity with Marxist-Leninism resulted in one of the most dynamic national working-class movements Canada has ever known. The Ukrainian left’s success lay in its ability to meet the needs of and speak in meaningful, respectful, and empowering ways to its supporters’ experiences and interests as individuals and as members of a distinct immigrant working-class community. This offered to Ukrainians a radical social, cultural, and political alternative to the fledgling Ukrainian churches and right-wing Ukrainian nationalist movements. Hinther’s colourful and in-depth work reveals how left-wing Ukrainians were affected by changing social, economic, and political forces and how they in turn responded to and challenged these forces.

 

https://utorontopress.com/ca/perogies-and-politics-1

Remembering our Mothers

Father Deacon Howard Burton BA, MSW, MSc, M.Div., Dr.PH.
It is truly right to bless you, O God-bearing One! You gave birth to God the Word. O true Mother of God, we magnify you

St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Parish is located in downtown Detroit. In 1970 when I entered the Church, on the left hand side of the door was written: John 3:16 “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. On the right hand side was a sheet of paper with this question printed on it: “When last did you speak to your mother?” The inspiration that lay behind these two statements being placed side by side becomes evident when you exit the Church following Mass.
St. Aloysius is located in a rundown inner city neighborhood wedged in the middle of a row of office buildings gutted by fire as a result of the race riots in 1968. It’s blighted by drug-dealing, crime, the elderly and the poor seeking food and shelter. During the day the parish provided refuge for the borderline people who had little or no contact with family. The pastor prayed that the impoverished, the addicted, the mentally ill and those with limited mental ability who read the words of John 3:16 might have the opportunity to find their way to salvation. He believed this opportunity would be strengthened if they gave a moment’s thought to the faith of their mother.
The lives of many people in the Bible are largely shaped and fashioned by the loving, hands of mothers. In Isaiah (51), the prophet takes his people back to remembrance of their ancestors. “Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father. And to Sarah who bore you.”
Jewish history is largely a story of memorable women, wives and mothers. Take for example the story of Sarah, the mother of Isaac. She prayed her whole life for a child. When she was an old woman the Lord took note of Sarah as He had promised and she conceived and bore a son named Isaac who become heir to the divine blessing given to his father Abraham (Gen:15-19). “I will make of you a great nation. “ An ancient commentary on part of the Hebrew Scriptures, attached to the biblical text praises Sarah as ranking “higher than her husband in prophecy”. On that account she was sometimes called Isaiah “the seer”.
Rebecca, the wife of Isaac was childless for 24 years but with the grace of God she gave birth to twins Esau and Jacob. Rebecca favored Jacob and conspired with him to trick his father into giving him the blessing and heritage that should have gone to the 1st born son, Esau.
Jacob had 12 sons who were the ancestors of the 12 tribes of Israel. Rachel his wife was also childless for many years but at last gave birth to Joseph who takes center stage in the government of Egypt and became the most important counselor to Pharaoh.
Hannah’s son Samuel became the great prophet and Judge overall Israel. He secretly anointed David as the 2nd King of the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah. Ruth became the great-grandmother of David from whose family, Christ our Savior descended.
The story is the same in the New Testament. Luke recalls that Mary had strong faith in the angel’s proclamation that she was blest among all women. With faith she consented to become the Mother of God. And by doing so Mary set in motion the highest point of biblical revelation, “the Word was made flesh” (Luke 1:31-38).
God lives among us in all his humanity and divinity because of consenting mothers. The Gospels record that women were among Jesus’ earliest followers. Jewish women disciples, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, had accompanied Jesus during His ministry and supported him out of their private means (Luke 8:1-3). It was to a woman named Anna that God revealed that the unborn Jesus was the Messiah. It was to a Samaritan woman, that Jesus revealed his messianic identity. It was to a woman, that the Lord called the attention of the apostles and said, “This poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44). It was for a woman that our Lord stopped the funeral procession and gave back to her, her only son. It was for a woman that Christ raised her brother Lazarus from the dead. There were women disciples at the foot of the cross. It was for a woman that Jesus at the time of his death said to the apostle John: “John, look at Mary, she is your mother; from now on take care of her; and mother this is your son.” (Mark 19:26-27). On Easter Sunday it was women who were the first witnesses to the resurrection.
From the beginning of the Early Christianity women were important members of the Church and have largely shaped our Christian faith. This is especially true of those wealthy women and widows who were attracted to Paul’s Christian movement. In fact, the evangelization  of the ancient world began in Philippi where at women’s prayer meeting Lydia, a wealthy dealer in purple cloth, became the first convert in Europe (Acts 16:11-15). It was in her home that Paul and his companions lived as they preached the gospel of the risen Christ.

Who cannot be moved by the words of Paul to Timothy, a recent convert to Christianity? In his 2nd letter to Timothy he writes “my beloved child. I remember you constantly in my prayers. As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you.” (2nd Timothy 1:5)
I don’t know the last time you had contact with your mother? I do know that there is special day set aside for remembering them. But they desire much more. We should pause and thank God every day for the “motherly” who nourished us, and those who have gone before us, into glory before the awesome judgement seat of Christ. We should in their defense profess that as loving mothers, they were here on earth to enrich all they could to life. Not to take all they could from life. For the mothers, grandmothers, mothers-in-law and the “motherly” that live among us, let us celebrate their life with a heartfelt song of longevity. MANY MORE HAPPY YEARS!