30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 24 (Year B) Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52

Without hope people and nations wither and die. With a hope-filled vision, all things are possible.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 17 (Year B) Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 33; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45

“It was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.” These words should leave us a bit — maybe even a lot — uneasy and puzzled.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 10 (Year B) Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalm 90; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30

Daily financial reports are the lifeblood of the economy. We receive constant reports of the current market value of stocks, natural resources and precious metals. Fortunes rise and fall on fluctuations in their value. One quotation we will never find, however, is the value of wisdom.

Having seen many performances of Shakespeare’s play, I have heard many actors’ interpretations of Hamlet’s response to the seemingly-innocent question: “What do you read, my lord?” With dry irony, or with bitterness, weariness, humour or biting sarcasm, Hamlet replies: “Words, words, words.” Like his author, Hamlet had reason to be fed up with words, and reason to be entranced with them.  So have we all.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 3 (Year B) Genesis 2:7ab, 15, 18-24; Psalm 128; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16

When the ancients wanted to teach about life, they told stories. These stories were well-seasoned with symbols and layers of meaning. And they were not at all bothered by inconsistencies, repetitions and apparent contradictions.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 26 (Year B) Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 19; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Leading the Israelites through the wilderness was too great a burden to rest solely on the shoulders of one man.

Which parish activity have you missed most during this COVID-19 pandemic?

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 19 (Year B) Wisdom 1:12, 17-20; Psalm 54; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37

Goodness and holiness do not always evoke admiration and praise from everyone. Jealousy and fear are sometimes the surprising reaction.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 12 (Year B) Isaiah 50:5-9; Psalm 116; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35

Insults, invective and torrents of verbal and psychological abuse have become frequent forms of communication in our time.

It can be difficult, these days, not to become crabby, bitter and divisive. Every day, we receive so much that frightens or angers us, and seems to threaten our very being.