Author: AnishinabeSC

by Paul Robson sj
(Spoiler alert: if you haven’t seen the superhero movie Aquaman, and are planning to see it, and don’t want to know how it ends, then you might not want to read the next paragraph!)

In the movie, Aquaman is half-human and half-Atlantean (where an Atlantean is someone from the underwater kingdom of Atlantis). Orm is an Atlantean, a half-brother of Aquaman, and the ruler of Atlantis. Toward the end of the movie, Aquaman defeats Orm in battle and has the opportunity to kill him. In fact, Orm encourages his half-brother to kill him, and says that showing mercy is not the Atlantean way. Aquaman replies that, well, he isn’t one of them, he isn’t Atlantean.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus gives his disciples, and gives us, some good but challenging advice. He says: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

No doubt Orm would have gladly killed Aquaman, had he had the opportunity. Aquaman does not do what would have been done to him. We might say that it would have been fair, that it would have been just, for Aquaman to kill his half-brother. The hero of the story goes beyond that kind of justice, though, and shows mercy instead.

When Jesus asks us to love our enemies, perhaps he is asking us to do something along the lines of what Aquaman did. If people don’t like us or even wish us harm, or even do us harm, we are asked to respond with love. Such a response might seem odd, might seem surprising – and it might be beyond the usual human way of proceeding. (According to the movie, being merciful is more of a human than an Atlantean thing to do; but maybe it isn’t too common among humans, either!) If mercy is beyond our usual human way of doing things, well, perhaps it is something that is more a part of God’s way of doing things. And if we find ourselves loving and being merciful and forgiving, it might be because God has enabled us to do so.

By Jim Kelly, s.j.

As February begins we already notice the sun changing. Not only are the days noticeably longer (I guess about five minutes longer each day), but the sun seems to carry a lot more heat. We are obviously moving to the long sunny warm days of spring.

At the same time this is the coldest time of year. Even after looking at the weather report we are surprised at how cold it feels when we go outside, and shiver when we hear the house or trees cracking in the night.

I wonder what the deer or the little squirrels feel like. They must also notice the longer days and warmer sun, and yet their own lives are most in danger now. Some may starve and some will freeze to death.

In today’s Gospel from Luke, Jesus arrives back in his hometown of Nazareth and receives a very warm reception: “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.”

Within a few minutes, though, the same crowd of people wanted to throw him off a cliff.

Jesus knows and proclaims that the Kingdom is near at hand, and the people have a sense of joyful anticipation. Something new is here, with real authority. But it is also the most dangerous of times and there will be division and confusion and even death.

How do we look forward to the good things that are coming, even in the midst of challenges? How do anticipate the heat and light even in moments of cold and darkness?

Paul Robson sj

A verse from Psalm 104 states: “O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” Another translation puts it this way: “How varied are your works, LORD!” This verse suggests that it is not only the beauty of creation which reveals God’s love and goodness, but also the variety of creation. Or, to put it another way, part of the beauty of God’s creation is its variety.

Among these creatures of God, let us focus for a moment on people. We human beings are not all alike – and that is a good thing! Different people have different gifts, different personalities, and also different challenges and limitations. People who are different from each other can help each other and complement each other.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul writes: “If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?” Obviously, the body needs ears and not just eyes. (Having said that, there are people who lack eyesight or lack hearing, and they too form part of the beautiful variety of a community.) Likewise, our communities need a variety of people, for a good life together.

A challenge that perhaps all of us face is the temptation to compare ourselves with others. Am I somehow better than someone else, or worse? Now, it is true that we can learn from others, and can try to adopt good qualities that we see in others. At the same time, let us consider and thank God for the unique and wonderful creation that each of us is – where none of us is perfect, where all are loved by God, and where each of us is blessed in our own unique way.

December 12 is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patron of the Americas, and the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. On this date, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle is delighted to announce the launch of its inaugural website;

http://ourladyofguadalupecircle.ca/

Founded in 2016, the Circle is a Catholic coalition of Indigenous people,  Bishops, other clergy, representatives of lay movements and members of institutes of consecrated life, engaged in renewing and fostering relationships between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. The website contains numerous resources, including a timeline of actions by Catholic
groups in Canada promoting reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. It also provides information on Indian residential schools, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the 94 Calls to Action. Readers wishing to receive information on the actions for reconciliation are invited to add their email address to the Circle’s online directory.

by Paul Robson sj

Being from Winnipeg, I’m used to flat lands and I like that type of setting. I might argue, jokingly, that the prairies are better than hills and mountains, according to the Bible. After all, today’s readings speak about a time when, according to God’s plan, “every mountain and hill shall be made low.”

Of course, plains and hills and mountains are all wonderful and beautiful parts of God’s creation. What were the biblical writers trying to say, then, when they spoke of mountains being made low?

 Some of the Old Testament prophets, including Isaiah and Baruch, can be understood as writing about the return from exile of the people of Israel, to their homeland. Imagine, if you will, two paths for the people through the desert. One has many bends in the road and is hilly, and the road is rough. The other road is straight and smooth and flat. It is the second road which makes for an easier walk. The image of that second road can signify that, if the LORD God is leading the way, then the way will be easy. Or, perhaps, the rough road will still be rough, but the journey is somehow made easier through the presence and guidance of the LORD.

The same might be said for us, on our journeys through life. There might be something in our lives that is an imposing obstacle, like a mountain. Prayer and trust in God can make that mountain low, or at least manageable.

These days we wait for Christmas, for the celebration of the coming of Jesus into the world. This birth of Jesus was a major event, part of God’s great plan for making ways smooth and paths straight. Let us wait for that special day with hope and anticipation!

19-20 October, 2018

Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle held its biannual meeting in Ottawa on 19 and 20 October 2018. The meeting included a guided retreat session, whereby members discussed, reflected and prayed on the mission, identity and purpose of the Circle. The members reiterated and reconfirmed the Mission Statement and the core purposes of the Circle, agreeing to give priority to creating spaces of dialogue between Catholic and Indigenous spiritualties, educating and providing formation for its own members on Indigenous cultural and spiritual practices in Canada, and serving as a catalyst for encounter and dialogue within the Catholic Church and in Canadian society at large on Indigenous questions.

Formalized in December 2016 and initially made up of four organizations including the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Canadian Religious Conference, the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council, (now called the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council) and the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle was
created to engage in renewing and fostering relationships with the Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The four founding members collectively responded to Calls to Actions #48 and #49 with respect to support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and responding to questions around the legal concepts known as “the Doctrine of Discovery” and terra nullius. The Circle continues to give special attention to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and the members’ own Eight Commitments made in March of
2016.

The Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle now comprises seven national Catholic organizations which, in addition to the four founding members mentioned above, include the Catholic Women’s League of Canada, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, and the Knights of Columbus. Likewise, the Circle has representation from four Catholic religious orders: the Jesuits of Canada, Sisters of Charity of Halifax, Sisters of Providence of Western Canada, and Lacombe Province, Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Member at large positions have also been constituted specifically to provide for additional Catholic Indigenous representation. The Circle is making a significant effort to ensure a balance of Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices, united by their
common baptism and faith as Catholics.

The Circle will meet again in March 2019.

19 et 20 octobre 2018
Le Cercle Notre-Dame-de-Guadalupe a tenu sa réunion semestrielle à Ottawa les 19 et 20 octobre 2018. La rencontre comprenait une séance de retraite guidée pendant laquelle les membres ont discuté, réfléchi et prié sur la mission, l’identité et la raison d’être du Cercle. Les membres ont réitéré et confirmé encore une fois l’énoncé de mission et les objectifs essentiels du
Cercle en convenant d’accorder la priorité à la création de lieux de dialogue entre les spiritualités catholiques et autochtones, à l’éducation et à la formation de ses propres membres sur les pratiques culturelles et spirituelles des Autochtones au Canada, et au rôle de catalyseur pour les rencontres et les dialogues dans l’Église catholique et la société canadienne en général au sujet
des questions autochtones.

Fondé officiellement en décembre 2016 et composé à l’origine de quatre organismes, la Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada, la Conférence religieuse canadienne, le Conseil autochtone catholique du Canada et l’Organisation catholique canadienne pour le développement et la paix, le Cercle Notre-Dame-de-Guadalupe a été créé pour travailler au renouvellement et à la promotion des relations avec les peuples autochtones du Canada.

Les quatre membres fondateurs ont répondu collectivement aux Appels à l’action nos 48 et 49 au sujet de l’appui à la Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones et de la réponse aux questions entourant les concepts juridiques appelés « doctrine de la découverte » et terra nullius. Le Cercle continue de porter une attention spéciale aux Appels à l’action de la Commission de Vérité et Réconciliation et aux huit engagements pris par les membres eux-mêmes en mars 2016.

Le Cercle Notre-Dame-de-Guadalupe comprend maintenant sept organismes catholiques nationaux qui, en plus des quatre membres fondateurs susmentionnés, incluent la Catholic Women’s League of Canada, la Société de Saint-Vincent de Paul et les Chevaliers de Colomb. Le Cercle inclut également des représentants de quatre ordres religieux catholiques : les Jésuites
du Canada, les Sœurs de la Charité de Halifax, les Sœurs de la Providence de l’Ouest canadien et les Missionnaires Oblats de Marie Immaculée, province de Lacombe. Des postes de membres à titre individuel ont également été établis dans le but exprès de permettre une représentation catholique autochtone supplémentaire. Le Cercle déploie des efforts importants pour assurer un
équilibre entre les voix autochtones et non autochtones unies par leur baptême commun et leur foi catholique.

Le Cercle se réunira de nouveau en mars 2019.

Fr. Paul, James Rainville (newly baptized and confirmed) and Steven George (James’ godfather), Easter Vigil, March 31, 2018, Wikwemikong