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No doubt, in last Sunday’s Gospel, we noticed the apostles’ request: “Increase our faith”.

It seems that the astonishing trust of the ten lepers in Jesus’ ability to cure them was based only on  some reports of the miracles which they must have heard from others. Although their wellness was not restored instantly, their faith in Him was so strong that they obediently followed Jesus’ command to report to a priest.

St. Luke wants us to focus on the lepers’ response to the fundamental change of their life’s status,

after Jesus’ intervention on their behalf. Unfortunately, only the Samaritan thanked him for the miracle.

The earlier cry of the others, “Have mercy on us”, was unfortunately not followed by “Make us grateful for the goodness shown to us”.

It is easy to repeat the mistake of the majority of the ten lepers. God is Love and it might appear to us that it is His duty to shower us constantly with a variety of blessings. The humanity of Jesus yearns for a frequent “thank you” statement. Knowing Him also to be fully God, we express our greatest possible gratitude for opening the gate of the heavenly Jerusalem for us.

While still on our earthly pilgrimage, we should often cry to Jesus: “Increase our gratitude”.

– Fr. Toni Baranowki, SJ

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Exaltation: the action of elevating someone in rank, power and character.

Jesus was exalted, and he is the character of a loving being whom we try to emulate. How do we emulate the Supreme Being? We love him to our core, we breathe his unconditional love, the same love a child has for their parents and people around them. Many scriptures remind us to be childlike. We lost that unconditional love we had when we were children; society changes us. We can become competitive or we can give up or we lose ourselves and become what society wants us to be. We then lose ourselves and we ask: who am I?

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The unconditional love we had as children is the foundation to our faith. We can go back to being childlike and believe in everyone, we don’t question their truth.

God’s love is shown by the sacrificial life of Jesus. As we come together in the church we see the cross before us, we gaze, we pray and we praise Jesus for the life he gave each and every one of us. He came not to condemn us but for our salvation. His love fills us and we walk on the pathway to salvation, we are forgiven. We return his love by showing his love and mercy to all people. We learn to pray for one another.

In today’s responsorial psalm, our response is: “Do not forget the works of the Lord”. We seek him earnestly in our everyday life. Where was Jesus today? Did I meet Jesus today? Take time to reflect on your day; when was my heart touched by someone, something from creation, a sign? God’s love is around us, we just have to be open to his promptings.  

In the gospel of John (3:13-17), we hear: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” For the Glory of God our actions should resound in our earthly walk, our pilgrimage.

Margaret Tish Manitowabi

Paul Robson, SJ

On September 1^st each year, in the Orthodox Church, the church year starts with a commemoration of God’s creation of the world; and in 1989 the Orthodox Church declared that that date would be a day of prayer for the environment. Christian groups like the World Council of Churches later proposed a “Time for Creation”. In 2015, Pope Francis designated September 1^st as a World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation for the Catholic Church. Nowadays many Christian groups observe a Season of Creation from September 1 until October 4, with the latter date being the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.

In our Gospel reading for this Sunday, we hear: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down to estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:28) This question suggests that we should take the long view, that we should look ahead and plan ahead. I’m reminded of the Indigenous teaching which states that we should consider how our actions will impact those who will live seven generations from now. How do our actions today affect other people and all of creation today; but also, what about the people and the world and all the creatures of the future?

The theme of humility is prominent in today’s readings and spelled out in the book of Sirach. The gospel of Luke tells us how we are to behave and act in a humble way. The second reading speaks of the city of the living God, a place for the humble of heart and the wise. Our Anishnabe ancestral teaching includes ‘humility’ and ‘wisdom’, very much in line with our Christian Catholic teachings.

What is humility? Google says the word itself comes from the word ‘humus’ meaning ‘of the earth’, meaning being grounded. Another explanation I’ve heard of what humility is, is that ‘humility is truth’. Truth is reality and the earth is real. The reality is, we are people of the earth and we often forget who we are, so far removed from the mother earth. This results in us being abusive of her, our mother, by our lifestyle. We get caught up by the materialistic society we live in and become a garbage-creating, throw away people.  Humility encourages us to recognize the truth and acknowledge who we really are as individuals and as people. With humility we realize our lowliness, so as to be more temperate and modest, knowing our need and dependence on God. In Sirach, God is glorified by the humble.  When we don’t acknowledge who we are, we get lost, forgetting our need for God, thinking we can do everything on our own, trying to become our own little gods to have life revolve around ourselves.

Being humble is knowing the truth, knowing who we are (self knowledge and self acceptance), including our brokenness, and not pretending or trying to be someone we are not.

In the gospel, Jesus tells us not to promote ourselves to the highest place when invited to a dinner but to take a lower place. This is the practice of humility, taking the spotlight away from ourselves so that it shines on those around us. Our traditional ancestral teachings talk about respect, courage, truth and honesty, which are actions to be practiced, and the fruit or byproduct of these is humility, wisdom and love. We have rich cultural and traditional teachings that support our other rich Christian Catholic teachings, both of which, if practiced, will bring us a wholistic health spiritually, mentally/emotionally, and physically.

Jesus is our Way, the Truth and the Life.

– Sr. Terry Beaudry

Jesus has said, “many are called but few are chosen.” I believe the Scriptures selected for this Sunday work as a further exposition on this.

God chose the ancient people of Israel in order to prepare not only them, but as a means of preparing and reaching out to the whole world in a finite and definitive way through them. This is something that is evident even before the advent of Christ, such as what’s described by the prophet Isiah. He says that it is by our inclusion and coming into the fold of the People of God, that the lost, scattered and dispersed peoples of Israel will be brought back to him. Further, God will appoint some of us to be among the holy ministers of God himself, and by extension his Temple and his people. This is striking, given that these roles used to be restricted to only those with the proper genealogy.

Christ in the Gospel further makes this explicit. He tells the people that there will be people from everywhere under heaven welcomed into the Kingdom. However, not all, even of Israel, or of those who have seen, listened to, and even ate and drank with him will make it in. That will be dependant on how we respond to the invitation, as Christ tells us in another parable.

Now the passage from Hebrews fits in. It is about how we respond. Particularly, how we respond when the call doesn’t always seem pleasant or inviting to us. When it is asking us to change our lives and to cease from things that are pleasing to us or to accept things that are not. Though discipline may be seen or felt as unpleasant, we have assurance that when it comes from God at least, that it comes from a place of true love and care for us, even if we do not always recognize it as such. Since we can see its worth in ordinary life, how much more so for that Life to which we are being called. May we respond well to the invitation. Peace.

– Aaron Neiva

By Eddie MacDonald

Today’s Gospel, speaking of houses and loved ones divided, is deeply unsettling. I’ve experienced division in faith—being the only practicing Catholic in my family—but I cannot imagine such division with my children. It’s hard enough being teased by my siblings for my beliefs. What is the Lord telling us? If division is part of the journey, what is the path to unity?

This week at the Anishinabe Spiritual Centre, I witnessed something that speaks to today’s Gospel. We welcomed a beautiful group—50 refugees from across the globe—brought by Romero House, which has sent its clients to ASC for a week of “camp” for 28 years.

They came from Afghanistan, Iran, Uganda, Peru, and more—different faiths, cultures, and languages. Fleeing their homelands in hope of safety, they began the week guarded, sitting only with those who spoke their language. In our first sharing circle, conversation slowed for Spanish and Farsi interpretation. Trust was scarce.

But the week brought small acts of community—washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, taking out garbage, cooking and sharing meals from their cultures. Slowly, they began to talk, laugh, and connect.

One activity stood out. A long table was covered with white paper, and participants were asked to draw what weighed on their hearts. Then they walked around, viewing each other’s drawings. One showed eight stick figures with the words: “My family and friends all died.” Another depicted flags of the countries passed through before reaching Canada. In those images, they saw humanity in one another: shared love, shared loss, shared need.

By the end of the week, strangers had become friends. Final reflections were filled with hope: “I now know I am not alone.” “We are together with this migrant heart; we feel stronger with all the love that has been shared.”

I believe that is the remedy the Gospel points toward: to love despite differences, to risk connection even when division feels easier, to seek the image of God in every face. Unity is not built by ignoring differences but by entering into them with open hearts.

In the love they shared, I saw what the Lord calls us to—communion stronger than fear, compassion deeper than division.

   The Gospel reading for this Sunday reminds us that we do not know when our earthly pilgrimage will finish. That blessed ignorance spares us from unnecessary anxiety. Instead of letting stress dominate us, we focus our attention on our preparation for meeting God face to face, yearning to join the communion of saints after death.

   With the upcoming Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15^th), we consider both the reward granted to the Mother of Jesus (The Queen of the Saints) for her full cooperation with her Son’s redemptive work, and her reaching the destiny of being reunited with Him in eternal glory.

   She gives us great inspiration because of Her submission to the will of God (especially when it was difficult and hard to understand it). Mary knows the joys and sorrows of daily life firsthand. Praying the rosary contemplatively confirms that insight. Let us ask for her intercession, that we may know and love Jesus more and more as we approach steadily the finish line here on earth. She wants wholeheartedly to see us in the house of the Heavenly Father.

– Fr. Toni Baranowski, SJ  

Praying with our readings of this Sunday, I was at first glance struck by the moralistic tone, even a warning, which can be sensed in God’s word: the brevity of our human lives; the ultimate futility of our efforts; the folly of selfishness. They are good passages to hear in those times when I am, perhaps, working too diligently toward a goal, or I am overly consumed with the completion of a project, or I am unjustifiably confident that I have everything together, not overlooking a thing. Certainly, in situations such as these, it is good to hear a word of God that shakes things up a bit, wakes me from the slumber of self-centredness.

Yet, upon some reflection, it is not those moral teachings which stay with me, but rather, a greater awareness of the work of God, borne from love, in every corner of creation. God’s loving eyes are certainly focused on each and every one of us, at all times and all places. However, God’s gaze is much wider than we can even imagine, looking upon every creature, every plant, every rock, with a plan and intent for everything, such that all things God creates may come to be what they have been made to become.

In shortsightedness, I may see a grain of wheat as having been created to belong in a silo. Or, perhaps, I may assume that I was created to fulfill my own, self-organized destiny. But what is God’s plan? It will always be a bit of a mystery, yet pursuing that never-ending story will always bring freedom and joy.

The readings of today invite us to pause and take a moment of reflection, to look all around at the awesomeness of God’s creation before us: the beauty of earth, the water, and the sky; the intricate wonders of plant and animal life; the mysterious depths of human beings (even one’s own self); the amazing complexity of community. Then, a further reflection: what is God’s invitation today, this moment, of willing surrender to God’s loving work, for my own freedom, and for the freedom of another? These scriptures invite us to gratitude, of God who is working diligently, not overlooking a single thing, certainly never overlooking any of us, furthering the completion, the fulfillment, the reconciliation of all things in Godself.

– Fr. Gerry McDougall, SJ

“Are you a Martha or a Mary”

Fr. Paul asked me to do a reflection last week, but I have been busy with Nokomis time, being with grandchildren in their activities. I was enjoying being their cheerleader with sports, in particular hockey and softball. I replied I can do it next week, and I was so surprised with the scripture readings for today. As I have been known to say, I am a Martha. I feel I am the one who says yes to things that need to be done, when no one else jumps up to volunteer. This behavior creates the feeling of resentfulness toward the others for not saying yes.

Martha in today’s gospel is so busy with the details of looking after a household and its chores. Jesus appears at their home and Mary decides to sit at the Lord’s feet and listen to what he is saying, while Martha slaves over other tasks.

 Are we prepared to drop everything for God? Do we take the time to attend mass, and enjoy the fellowship of being together for prayer as Mary did? Or are we anxious about the day’s events or activities and wanting to make sure everything is taken care of. 

The first reading has Abraham being a host and doing it with a loving heart, and guests appreciating his generous gift of food and his serving and his company.  As the guests were leaving, one of the guests turns around to ask “Where is your wife, Sarah?” Abraham said “There in the tent”. This couple was given a blessing by that guest when he said “I will surely return to you in due season and your wife Sarah shall have a son”. There are times when people bless us with good fortune for the kindness we have demonstrated. The individuals feel loved and go away happy. Goodness is returned tenfold when we least expect it.   

We can be a Martha or a Mary, we have a choice.

– Margaret (Tish) Manitowabi

      Jesus answered a lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbour?”, not by giving an elaborate definition, but by telling a self-explanatory, famous parable about a good Samaritan.

      The lesson and the implications of that story are always relevant. Encountering, suddenly, a person in dire need is both a challenge and an opportunity. In order to pass the test of compassion and mercy, it is necessary to set aside any biases, to not exaggerate the importance of my own plans and schedules, and to avoid a moral judgment. However, in real life situations, a certain dose of discernment has to be applied, to make sure that the presented case is not a fake one. The guiding principle should be that it is better to be on the over-generous side (as the good Samaritan was) than to regret a stinginess afterwards. Let us pray to God for the grace to remain joyful while providing comfort and mercy to our anonymous neighbours.

     The satisfaction of reaching out to others in need deepens our self-esteem (love of ourselves), and also deepens the understanding that we are all children of God, whom we have been trying to love with all our hearts, soul, and strength.

– Fr. Toni Baranowski, SJ