CANADA DAY - JULY 1, 2012

In his homily last June 28, 2012, Father Dan Donovan talked about the celebration of Canada Day on July 1. Canadians will celebrate its achievements and challenges as a nation, its beauty and nature, its freedom from terror, violence and war. Due to the large immigrants, we enjoy multiculturalism, multi-religion, and multiethnic society. Canada has been a model of love. It reminds us to be grateful and invites us to make Canadian society better.

June 27, 2012 – Matthew 7:15-20 – A Tree and its Fruit

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will know them by their fruits."

Fr. Michael Coutts mentioned that today is the feast of the three prophets – St. Cyril of Alexandria, Blessed Nykita Budka, and Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky. Saint Cyril was a great bishop of Alexandria and has great devotion to Jesus. Blessed Nykita was born in Europe and became a bishop in Ukrainian who settled in Winnipeg, Canada. He gave stability to his parish and school. He was persecuted and died martyr. Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky was also a bishop of Winnipeg of Canada who fought for the poor, persecuted, and died a martyr due to ill health. These three bishops are great men with great works as prophets who continued to spread the kingdom of God. They inspire us to imitate their works.

  

June 26, 2012 – Mathew 7:6, 12-14 – Profaning the Holy/ The Golden Rule/ The Narrow Gate

"Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Enter through the narrow gate; for other gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that lead to life, and there are few who find it."

How do we cultivate openness to God in order to be in union with Him? Father Glenn Mcdonald mentioned that the gospel reading speaks to us about going through the narrow gate. Memory plays a difficult role in our lives. We are invited to let go of our memory of the past. By holding in the past, we are prevented from going to the narrow gate. We live so much in the past from being in the present like the parents who create mental images of their children’s past. Parents should realize to try their best to move forward and forget their children’s memories. Let us seek openness of the future with the final goal that one day we can become in union with Him.

June 25, 2012 – Matthew 7:1-5 – Judging Others

"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, “Let me take the speck out of your eye, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye."

Why do we see the speck in the eyes of others and ignore our own faults? Father Michael Busch advised that we should first deal with our own blind spots, i.e., to deal with what is wrong in ourselves. It is a difficult task in religion to accept our own imperfections, admit our faults, and deal honestly. We are trapped in our bad habits and mislead by condemning others. Father Michael reiterated for us not to be anxious, stop fretting and we must be full of confidence and power. We should be free from fears, give courage, and work very hard. If we have faith in Jesus, we are free and every speck has been removed. We cannot hide or diminish our faults by pointing our faults to others. Christ has mercy and forgiveness for all of us.

June 24, 2012 – Luke 1:57-60,63-66 - The Birth of John the Baptist (Solemnity)

St. Johh the Baptist (Pinterest)

 

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth and she bore a son…..On the eight day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after this father. But his mother said, “No, He is to be called John”…..He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue free and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become? For indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

As Father John Newton mentioned today we celebrate the nativity of St. John the Baptist who is not a Messiah but a Prophet. His message is REPENT and PREPARE THE WAY.

June 23, 2012 – Matthew 6:24-34 – Serving Two Masters and Do not Worry

"No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?.....And can any of you by worrying add single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing?....Therefore do not worry, saying “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or What will we wear? For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

Bishop William McGratton said that people are filled with emotions of anxious thoughts and worries. We are burden by the past and preoccupied with the future. We should understand that we need Jesus’ presence in our lives. Everything we have is a gift from the hands of the Lord thru the gifts of prayers and the Eucharist.   Let us trust that he will provide our needs and open our hearts to Him filled with the service of gratitude.

June 22, 2012 – Matthew 6:19-23 – Concerning Treasures and the Sound Eye

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for you treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!"

Fr. Joe Gorman mentioned that clean eyes are a prerequisite to a life well lived. The truth will reveal it and unlock your personal treasures. The key to unlock treasures is happiness, peace, and security. We should look for the light that is  God. Seek things that are heavenly on earth. Let us search light with our eyes and look for personal treasures that lasts forever – faith, hope, and charity.

June 21, 2012 – Matthew 6:14 – Concerning Prayers

"When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows where you need before you ask him. Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…..For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father will forgive your trespasses."

Fr. Dan Donovan said that the main  point in the gospel focuses on what Jesus said about prayers that it should come from the heart and avoid hypocrisy. The purpose of prayer is not to inform God but to become aware of God’s presence. Another purpose is to ask forgiveness from God and pray for the ability to forgive so that if we can forgive others when we are hurt; we will also be forgiven for our wrongdoings.