~~~SisterSea~~~

Shared Homily Starter   First Reading: Isaiah 56: 1,6-7 Second Reading: Romans 11.13-32 Gospel Reading: Matthew 15.21-28 The theme of all today's readings is that God's plan for humanity is inclusive, “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples”. I'm going to focus on the second reading and the Gospel. The second reading from Roman's amplifies the inclusive plan of God, especially the 13 verses omitted from the lectionary. It's focus is on the Gentile followers of Christ and the Jewish communities, who follow Christ and those who don't. These readings are of significance today for the whole Christianity Community. If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.    But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoo...

Shared Homily Starter Please keep the Dominican Sisters in Iraq and Jordan and women religious in conflict areas around the globe in your prayers. I'm sure St. Clare is also holding them close to her heart. The Leadership Conference of Women Religious or LCWR is starting their annual assembly tomorrow (August 12, 2014) and I think the feast of St. Clare is an appropriate occasion to honour women religious. And so, today's homily explores the Gospel themes, “If the salt loses its saltiness... It is no longer good for anything” and, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.” In other words, we are meant to flavour faith and practice, that is, to keep it meaningful and relevant. We are not to hide the divine light that God has placed within us. But In order to be salt and to be light to others, we need knowledge and understanding-- and the willingness to grow in both. Now, a little story. Long, long ago, a great holy man became the leader of ...

Downtown East Village Pride Week Shared Homily Starter The Lectionary Readings were not used this week.  Instead readings that emphasized the unconditional love of God were chosen.  First Reading: Isaiah 49.1-7 Second Reading: Romans 8:28-31 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139 Gospel Reading: John 14.1-28 Today we heard messages that should make us all confident in God's love for us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made! If God is for us, who can be against? I will not leave you orphaned. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let t hem be afraid. This should reassure us of God's constancy and love for each one of us. Deep within us we know these things about God's love for us are true. Yet, we have let other soul-killing messages dominate our opinions of ourselves and often of others. For some of us these messages led us to self-hatred and by extension a loathi...

Shared Homily Starter First Reading: Isaiah 55.1-3 Second Reading: Romans 8.35, 37-39 Gospel Reading: Matthew 14.13-21 Our last Sunday service took place during Downtown East Village Pride Week and this week the Vancouver Pride Parade is taking place as I speak. The focus of the readings last time was God's unconditional love for us. Today's readings expand on that. They speak of God's concern for our sustenance and nourishment. God wants us to be fed not just spiritually but physically and emotionally. God accomplishes this through us. Now, some religious people try to convince us that God's love is conditional. They say it depends on belonging to the right church and obeying the rules, even when the rules are devoid of love and compassion. They say it depends on loving the right people instead of just loving people. This week's readings reiterate that God...