The Gospel for the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe calls us to enter the kingdom of truth. As his death drew near, Jesus said to Pilate, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18.37)

Last week, our American brothers and sisters went to the polls to choose the next president of the United States. Within the coming year, Canadian Catholics will also be called to cast ballots for their party of choice in the next federal election. But which candidate should they choose?

During this month when Roman Catholics mark the month of the Holy Souls death is perhaps more top of mind for many of us as we remember our family members and friends who have died. What is our attitude to death in the 21st century Church? Does it remain faithful to a view of death that is illumined by the light of Christ’s suffering and death on the Cross and His resurrection on the third day? Or, have we come to understand death in a distorted way, shorn of its salvific character? I recently explored these questions in my latest missive to a network of pastors I regularly write to through my work at the Christian think tank Cardus. The following is drawn from that text:

Pope Francis has always shown deep sensitivity to the plight of persecuted Christians worldwide. Since the beginning of his pontificate, he has regularly spoken out in defence of these vulnerable communities, highlighting the injustices and suffering they endure. Whether in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, or other regions marked by conflict and violence, the Holy Father has expressed his unconditional support, urging the international community to intervene to protect the faithful. 

We often think of faith as belief or trust, which it is, but have you ever thought of faith as endurance? I’m beginning to think endurance and perseverance are a big part of the faith picture. Let’s begin with this bracing statement: “When you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials.” Yikes! Why is that? It’s the mystery of the Cross. 

Those of us who have experienced the death of a loved one, even if we believe that she or he has gone to a better place, still find ourselves struggling with the parting.

Yea though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.  This line from the Book of Job was the response of Rabbi Abraham Heschel to the question, “How can you possibly believe in God after six million of your people were slaughtered in the holocaust?!”  The tears streaming down Rabbi Heschel’s face spoke of his anguish over this evil, and perhaps his anguish in not understanding why God allowed it.  His tears spoke of an answer wrenched from the deepest possible act of trust and faith, not an answer solely from the intellect or will.  It’s the only answer that can bring peace to the heart.

Two excerpts from the Grey Nuns Codex Historicus of life at St. Paul Mission

Farley Magee was the musical leader for years at the Sunday services of Inner City Pastoral Ministry (ICPM), the ecumenical group that serves the beautiful and broken people who populate downtown Edmonton.

Farley died Oct. 11, and his memorial service 17 days later packed the basement of Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, the church visited by Pope Francis last year on his journey of reconciliation. Farley was a gentle, beloved soul whose difficult life can bring some understanding of those without homes.

Is it okay to call God “Mother”? Well, what does God want to be addressed as, and how do we know what God wants? It’s all in the Bible. God has various titles in the Old Testament, but God’s “final word” was revealed to us by Jesus in the Gospels.