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The appointment of Bishop Luc Bouchard as bishop of Trois Rivieres, Quebec, came as a bolt out of the blue. Bishop of St. Paul for 10 years, Bouchard seemed likely to minister here until his retirement in 13 years.
Nevertheless, we wish Bishop Bouchard well in his new ministry. We will not forget his contributions to his diocese and to the Church in Alberta. The bishop stirred controversy in our province with his pastoral letters on gambling in 2007 and the Athabasca tarsands in 2009.
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The promise of the meek inheriting the earth sounds ridiculous to us. How can a conglomeration of wispy, frightened, passive nobodies become rulers of any land? Jesus must be engaging in irony, telling a subtle joke.
However, later on, Jesus identifies himself with the meek. "Come to me all who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest," he says. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. For my yoke is easy and my burden light."
John Steinbeck's literary classic, The Grapes of Wrath depicts a family's struggle for survival after being displaced from their Oklahoma farm in the wake of the Dust Bowl and economic collapse of the 1930's. Gathering what's left of their possessions on a rickety truck, the Joad family head west along Route 66 to California, hoping to start anew with the lure of fertile agricultural lands and plenty of work.
They are not alone. The massive exodus of other desperate families pouring into settlement camps along the California border creates a surplus of labour. Those lucky to get any work at all for meager wages and under poor working conditions are further exploited by the landowners driving up food prices. Desperation leads to unrest, violence and a collective despair. The migrant families cry out in hunger, not only for bread, but for their very dignity.
I grew up with strong, conservative, Roman Catholic roots: the Baltimore Catechism, the Latin Mass, daily rosary, daily Mass if possible, and a rich stream of devotional practices. That's a gift for which I'm deeply grateful.
But that wonderful grounding also brought with it a distrust of all religious things not Roman Catholic. I was taught that the Roman Catholic Church was the only true Church and the only road to heaven; so much so that we were strongly discouraged and tacitly forbidden to participate in Protestant church services.
We hear the word "witness" or "witnessing" used often.
What does it really mean to be Christian witnesses?
I do not know what it's like to lose a child and I hope I never do. All my children, and now grandchildren, are healthy and strong. My family is truly blessed and I try not to forget that fact.
However, there are expectant parents who face the terrible reality that their babies will be born with terminal conditions. They are usually told after a prenatal test.
Imagine if Jesus suddenly came to you right now. In person. The risen Christ standing before you and looking you right in the eye. What would you think? What would you feel? How would you respond?
This is worth thinking about. Because every time we pray and receive the sacraments Jesus is coming to meet us. We may not see him with our eyes but he is truly and substantially present. In his own words, "I am with you always" (Matthew 28.20).
As we approach the season of Lent, I am reminded of my childhood Lenten experiences. I remember the family discussions that resulted in us either deciding or being told what we were going to give up for Lent.
It was usually a blanket ban on all sweets, and I remember being conscious, day after day, of having to wait, of the empty little space that the small pleasure normally occupied. I remember sneaking spoonfuls from the sugar bowl and then feeling guilty because I actually did want to be a saint and to love God with my whole heart.