Author: AnishinabeSC

Alleluia! “The Lord has risen as He said.” The Easter season is the peak of our Christian Catholic faith. It is the resurrection of Jesus that we celebrate. In his resurrection lies our hope for our own resurrection, and it is what we as Catholic Christians live for, as members of the church, who are the body of Jesus the Christ. It is also our hope as Anishnabek with our belief in the cycle of life.

We have just finished the 40 days of Lent, a time when we give things up that are not healthy for us, or things that have gained control over us, such as junk foods, cell phones, alcohol and drugs, etc.  Some may have worked on developing and practicing healthy habits such as praying the rosary daily, or walking more to stay healthy. These practices help us overcome our selfishness and self-centeredness so we can focus on loving God and our neighbour. Jesus practiced his letting go of things that bind, for 40 days when he fasted. That might have been his first death, death of the ego, and his first resurrection, rising above his ego, death to selfishness and self-centeredness. He got past his own needs, fears, and desires. He was then free to help, teach, and focus on the needs of those around him. His final test of letting go was his agonizing death, which we ritualize in our Good Friday service to re-member (it is like integrating) it in our own lives. It is our sharing in the suffering. That is the Jesus Christ story we re-member.

What is your suffering, death and resurrection story? Each of us have our own stories of life struggles, with ourselves and with life around us. Often when we overcome a difficult hurdle, we breathe a sigh of relief and realize we have new-found strength. One Lent, years ago, I gave up sugar in my tea and coffee, a small thing to help me identify with the suffering of Jesus. It was hard, but sugar is not healthy and serves no nutritional purpose. That Easter, I was filled with a greater joy because I had a tiny part to play in my redemption, by being healthier and loosening the grip sugar had on me. This is our journey, and we can say with Jesus, ‘not my will but yours be done’. Our practices of letting go can become a daily practice and will bring new life to oneself and those around us. We will then be an ‘alleluia’ people, a resurrected people who will also change the lives of those around us. The Lord Jesus will have risen in us. Alleluia!

– Sr. Terry (Kateri) Beadry, CSJ

The Spirit, through the prophet Isaiah, is today speaking to us about how we need to let the former things go and rather hold fast to the Lord, who is trying to do a new work in, for and through us; who alone can bring us to the safe harbour we desire through this desert pilgrimage called life.

The following Psalm, and the passage from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians, seem to be appropriate responses to the Lord’s invitation. The more we come to know the Lord, to develop and deepen our personal relationship with him, to know his love and mercy towards us, the more should we be filled with that joy which the world cannot give, but which can only come through him. This should increasingly make us grow detached from the things of this world (the former things) in terms of our affections and desires. These are not the end-all and be-all of our being, of our stories.

These worldly affections and desires, I believe, are also often (along with our ill use of our own will in relation to these) the source of many of our deepest troubles and wounds in this life. And not only of our own troubles and wounds, as today’s Gospel startlingly shows; but they tend to hurt and involve others, whether directly or indirectly – the impact always being viscerally real.

Yet the good Lord, in his infinite compassion and condescension towards us, still extends to us his personal pardon, healing, and renewed freedom. But not freedom as an unlimited licence for all things, and certainly not to return to said former things. “Go and sin no more,” Jesus says to us, and in another place Scripture says, “do good works”.

The other lesson that I think is important for us to take away today is: just as we have been extended this hand from the Lord, so too should we (within reason) extend the same benefit to others, as opposed to hands filled with stones to enact a strict and stringent justice – under which we would also stand condemned, if we are truly honest with ourselves.

 – Aaron Neiva

This is also called “Laetare” Sunday, a Latin word meaning “rejoice”, as in the Entrance Antiphon, a joyous celebration. Let us look over the readings and ponder what it is that is being celebrated.

The First Reading, from Joshua, is about the Israelites celebrating their first Passover in the Promised Land, as promised by God. They were eating the produce of the land, no longer Manna, which was the food God had provided to them while they were in the desert. This was a new beginning, the disgrace of being slaves in Egypt was removed.

In the Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5:17-21), Paul teaches that anyone in Christ is a new creation. The old has passed away, all things are made new, we are becoming new creations, in a continuous process of becoming aware and conversion. A word I have heard for this awareness, or coming to your senses, is “mikowe”; and continuing to conversion is “andjibimadisiwin” – both to be joyously celebrated. God reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, to be ambassadors for Christ.

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 34) is a psalm of joyously praising the goodness of the Lord always. “Taste and see that the Lord is good” for he hears and saves those in need. Seek him and be filled with joy and never be ashamed.

In the Gospel of Luke (15:1-3, 11-32), Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and scribes, who were complaining that he welcomed sinners and ate with them. They were unaware of their own dark side. Jesus wanted to teach them and to call them to self-knowledge and conversion by telling the parable of the prodigal son. The younger son is an obvious sinner who came to his senses, returned home to say that he was “not worthy to be called your son”. But he was greeted with open arms, a kiss, great joy and celebration.

The older son was hardworking and righteous. His behaviour of feeling superior was just like the Pharisees and scribes. When his father came out to him to invite him in, he refused to celebrate. He resisted in anger and hurt, had no love for his brother, called him “this son yours” to his father. He had the freedom to accept or reject.

This parable highlights God’s abundant and endless mercy and forgiveness and unconditional love for everyone, even the Pharisees and scribes. He eagerly waits for us to return to Him, to reconcile with Him and each other. What great joy there is in forgiveness.

Let us renew ourselves, come to our senses and be humble, smaller, less defensive, and accept the loving invitation of God.

Rosella Kinoshameg DOS

3^rd Sunday of Lent – March 23, 2025

The Holy Spirit gave me a jolt, a sudden reminder, that I said yes to writing the reflection for this Sunday. I am sure you have all felt this nudge. We are so loved by God. So here I am Lord, “I have come to do your will”.

The title of my reflection comes from the 1^st Reading for today, from Exodus. Moses leads the people out of Egypt to a land of milk and honey. The journey took many days and involved many hardships – like Jesus being in the wilderness. Moses takes time to be alone, as he isn’t sure what he is doing. He came upon a mountain called Horeb. An angel appears to him, a reassurance that he is where he is supposed to be at this time. Moses saw the angel in a blaze of fire, stunned with the sight as the burning bush wasn’t consumed. I am sure he was star struck, then a voice said “Moses, Moses”; the voice of God saying “Come no closer!  Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” I am reminded of the prayer of gratitude, to walk on the grass barefoot to ground ourselves, to take moments of awe as we walk on Holy Ground. Still others lay their body on the ground and feel the love of creation. Moses needed to do this, to be able to continue with leading the people. To take the time to ground himself, as at times we feel unsure of where we are going. So listen to the quiet and maybe you will hear God.

The Gospel today speaks about sinners, comparing sinners, some being worse than others. None the less we are all sinners and that awful feeling of remorse and guilt is felt and weighs heavy on us. Jesus tells us that unless you repent, you will all perish. Boongideh ndaadis is what we need to do. Talk to the Lord and repent, he will lighten our load. We are close to Jesus in the wilderness during our time of feeling unworthy, when we look at our dryness. What we need is to ask for forgiveness and repent, sweat like Jesus. Maybe take a step further and go to confession.

The Responsorial Psalm is like a warm hug. The Lord is merciful and gracious. Our God is an awesome God. He is slow to anger (I should work on this) and he is abounding in steadfast love.

Margaret Tish Manitowabi

by Eddie MacDonald

There are several themes this week in the readings.  Moses shares how his ancestors made their way and established in Egypt, only to be made slaves.  Through God’s powerful intercession they became free, following the Holy Spirit by a pillar of fire during the day and a pillar of smoke at night.  God protected them and, when they finally arrived in the land of milk and honey, they were to show their gratitude by offering the first fruit – not the second after they ate, but the first.  This was to prepare them for sacrifice, giving the best for God first.  When we give the best piece of pie or the first bite of your warm biscuit that is dripping with butter and jam to your loved one, you are giving it to God, as God is love.

God takes care of us, as we hear in Psalm 91.  This was a Psalm which the Jewish people would recite at night – addressing their fears of the dark.  Taking comfort that the angels surrounded their tents so they could rest and knowing that if they just called on His name, He would take care of them.  As a child I remember reciting the prayer “Now I lay me down to sleep” and as I grew, I became “friends” with my Guardian Angel.  We are encouraged to ask God for his protection and to lean into our Guardian Angel, created just for us.  God responds with love and joy because we call on His name.

In the second reading we are reminded about keeping the Word close to our hearts and pronouncing it through our mouths.  This is Jesus, the Word!  “For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.” How simple, how beautiful!  In our faith we wrap our hearts around Jesus, the one who died and was raised from the dead.  In our speaking we share Him with others, using the Word – the stories we know of Jesus, and because we do so, we gain eternal life. Whoa!!

Finally, in the Gospel the devil tempts Jesus three times using what we humans would find appealing – comfort (a full belly), power (being the boss of everyone) and prestige (put God to the test).  Yet Jesus uses the Word – Scripture to put that temptation to rest.  Knowing the Angels would be present to save Jesus, the devil quoted Scripture to try to convince Jesus to go ahead, just try and see for sure… Jesus threw Scripture back at him, “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”

So we see, on this first Sunday of Lent, our own beginnings.  We too will sacrifice to show our God that we honour him first above all.  We will be tempted to return to the old ways, to fail, to give up.  But if we can see that it is through these very temptations that we grow spiritually closer to God, then we will prevail.  Call on the Word, call on your Guadian Angel to assist you and have hope.  Hold fast! It is always darkest before the light.

As the Church across the world prepares for the Feast of Easter, a Lenten time is ‘scheduled’. While we envision stacks of pancakes dripping with butter and syrup, we remember that Ash Wednesday follows, leading us into the Lenten practice of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

It really is a sorting out time: the good fruit from the bad fruit of our lives. What burdens our spirit, mind and heart is what we are asked to attend to…in the wilderness with Jesus. Is it grief, insults, back-handed conversation, loss of a loved one, lies, your job or your health, abuse of any kind? Are these the specks that have become the ‘logs in your own eye’ to which Jesus refers? (Luke 6:39-45)

I wonder if, over the 6 weeks of Lent, decluttering rooms of the house, or the shed or garage, might help to sort out the interior disposition of our hearts and minds – dispositions that guide our life toward producing good fruit, or away from it. Allowing ourselves the time to be in that wilderness with Jesus might be helpful. We might head to the pantry to cull what is not being used appropriately and share it, or to the clothes closets, or get some order to the bill payments. What about ‘eating clean?’ Efforts to declutter our diet from fats and sugar overload?

Jesus asks, “Can the blind lead the blind?” I really need to ask myself who I am following when it comes to behaviours. Are they good examples, with a history of desiring to produce good fruit? If they are not, it is likely time for a change, to see and experience what is on the other side of the mountain…coming out of the wilderness with Jesus.

It is the Creator’s desire for His children to live fruitful lives with joy – fruit found not in the thorns or bramble bushes, but on the trees grown in well cultivated land, where “a person’s speech discloses the cultivation of the mind” (Sirach).

A Pilgrim with you in a Jubilee Year

Mary Balfe

Paul Robson SJ

This Sunday’s Gospel reading strikes me as being a tough one. Tough to follow, to live out. Also perhaps tough to understand.

Jesus is quoted as saying: “If anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again”; and “from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt”; and “lend, expecting nothing in return”. Are we supposed to take these expressions literally? If someone owes us money, or if someone steals from us, are we supposed to forget about it and let it go, or give them even more? Wouldn’t fairness and justice require that the money be paid back, or the goods returned?

I would suggest that the main point, the important teaching here, is the one at the beginning, where Jesus says: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” I think we’re supposed to take these phrases literally, and so actually to love and pray for our enemies (or those who might want to be our enemies).

If we go back to the instruction about giving even your shirt to the one who takes your coat, I would see that as an example of how someone might “love their enemy”. The example suggests that we could surprise someone with kindness, surprise them with goodness, when they might be expecting “an eye for an eye”.

Also, if we have love in our lives, by God’s grace, then we’ll know what to do. “Love, and do what you will”, as St. Augustine said. Love, have love, and then decide whether to do this or that – and maybe love requires one thing in a certain situation, and something else at another time. Maybe the loving thing to do, at one time, is to “lend, expecting nothing in return”. On the other hand, at another time, the just and fair and loving thing might be to expect, or even to demand, that someone pays back what they owe!

One of my favourite verses of Scripture is this one: “Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing . . .” (Mark 10:21). May we look at others, think of others, with love. Or at least try to love them, pray to be able to love them. May we want what’s best for them and do whatever is the loving thing to do. Amen.

    This Sunday’s responsorial psalm states: “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord”. This phrase captures the message of the readings.

     The poor, and those who are afflicted in a variety of ways, very often have neither the ability nor opportunities to improve their status by their own efforts. If they do not fall into the trap of utter despair, they will turn to God for assistance and loving care.

     There is a clear warning for the rich and powerful in today’s Gospel. They can easily believe that the whole world is at their feet and that God is not needed in their lives. However, the facts of life prove that their fortune can be lost overnight.

    Whether poor or rich, everyone should have the basic necessities for a dignified life. The four blessings and the four woes, from today’s Gospel reading, implicitly appeal for a generous sharing among us, and promise God’s blessing for those who do it.

    The second reading exhorts us to expand our trust in the Lord beyond the present life. This is based on Christ’s resurrection, and on the fact that His followers will share the same destiny of eternal unity with the triune God.

Fr. Toni Baranowski SJ

Very often new mothers and fathers report that having a child is a turning point in their life. Similarly, falling in love, or becoming a grandparent, gives many people a reason to reorder their life. Learning of God’s mercy and healing love was a turning point for several of the characters we hear about in the First Reading and the Gospel today.

Take Peter, for example. He was an experienced fisherman. It was how he made a living. Luke tells us that he was a partner in business with his brother Andrew as well as with the brothers, James and John. Between them they owned at least two boats. They were not amateurs on the water!

Nevertheless, one morning, after fishing all night, and in spite of their skill and experience, it was not until Jesus found them that they pulled in a worthy load of fish. On this occasion they recognized the divine power at work in Jesus. In his presence Peter was moved with fear, and he felt humbled. “Leave me, Lord,” he begged. He felt unworthy and uncomfortable.

Jesus also was moved, but for Jesus the movement was toward mercy: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” It was then that all of them turned. At that point they left everything and became followers of Jesus.

Finding and knowing God’s mercy and love was a turning point for Peter and his companions. Luke tells us that falling at the knees of Jesus Peter found healing and comfort. The prophet Isaiah in our first reading had a similar experience. All of these characters were moved and turned to follow and embrace a new way of life. May each of us also be made new.

Kind and merciful God, please give to each of us the grace to know your mercy, and turn all of us toward new life today.

– Fr. Mark Hoelsken, SJ

Today is the feast of the Presentation, celebrating the time when Jesus was brought to the temple to be presented to the Lord.  The readings challenge us to become like Simeon and Anna and to recognize the Christ who is presented in the temple. What is our temple? Is it the church, our community, or the temple of our hearts?

In the first reading, Malachi prophesied about the Lord coming, or rather the Lord’s arrival to the people. His message is a challenging one, talking about the Lord coming to refine or purify his people, just as gold and silver are refined. The second reading, the letter to the Hebrews, reminds us that Jesus underwent his suffering, his testing, to be like us in every way, so he can help those who are being tested, people like us.

The Gospel gives us the story of Jesus being brought to the temple, as prophesied in the book of Malachi. My interest was sparked by Simeon and Anna, and Luke’s focus on them. They are both elderly and, in our culture, they would have been considered elders. Simeon was filled with the Holy Spirit, and it had been revealed to him that he would not see death before he saw Christ. Anna, we hear, practically lived in the temple, praying and fasting day and night, a very faithful and holy woman. I am reminded of our own culture and the role of elders. We become an elder when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizing Jesus when we see or meet him.

Like Simeon, we can accept the situation of our world because our Savior is here. We know that, even though we have a Savior, like Mary a sword can also pierce our hearts; and that if we live the life of a good Christ follower, we will become a contradiction to worldly values. Simeon is ready to let go of all because he has seen the Savior and is ready to die. Anna also recognized the Savior because she had emptied herself to God through prayer and fasting, totally focusing her life on God, day and night. Anna spread the news of Christ’s arrival to all who would listen, operating from the depths of her being.

Like Anna, let us reinforce our faith with prayer and fasting, which can transform our lives and remove the blinders from our eyes so we can see Christ; and let us wait patiently to see our Savior, like Simeon.

Sr. Terry Beaudry