Over the last few days thousands of people in central and Eastern Canada have been suffering from the effects of a major ice storm. As the ice accumulates it creates a burden of tremendous weight on roofs, tree limbs and power lines. When the weight is too heavy to bear, there is collapse, often bringing with it terrible damage and power outages. Relief comes with the removal of the burden by the warmth of the sun.
Burden is a stranger to none of us. Many things weigh heavily upon our minds, hearts, emotions, indeed our whole lives. These can be the pressures of everyday life: illness, loneliness, family strife, financial strain. They leave us feeling ready to collapse, devoid of energy. Of particular gravity is the burden of guilt for sins we have committed, together with the fear and anxiety that arise before the mystery of death. The accumulated weight bows us down and robs us of joy.
Long ago, as he spoke to his people weighed down by their particular burdens, the prophet Isaiah looked forward to a day when these heavy loads would be lifted by an intervention of God: “For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.” The divine action that would bring this release would be the birth of a child: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us…” (cf. Isaiah 9: 2-4, 6-7)
Christmas celebrates the fulfillment of this promise. In the child Jesus born of Mary, God has entered our history as one of us. His presence lifts our burdens and releases joy! The Scripture readings for Christmas Mass resound with joy. When, for example, the angels appear to the shepherds they announce “good news of great joy”! The source of that joy is the birth from Mary of the Saviour, the nativity of the One who would, at last, break the terrible, onerous yoke of sin and death. As the weight of ice is removed by the warm sun, the burden of sin is lifted by the tender compassion of the Son of God made flesh.
As we enter this most holy season, perhaps we could ask ourselves what burdens are robbing us of joy. Whether they be worry, frustration, powerlessness, hurt, resentment, or circumstances beyond our control, let us bring them before the child born of Mary, Jesus Christ. In faith, let us place them before Him and ask that He lift them from us, or at least give us the strength to bear them and thus lead us through the burdens to a deeper knowledge of His love and our dependence upon His mercy. Above all, let us turn to Him with any guilt we may still bear over unrepented sin, and ask His forgiveness. As we allow Jesus to “break the yoke” that weighs us down, we shall taste the joy for which he was born among us.
By Most Rev. Richard W. Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
A New Bishop for Canada
I guess I just can't get enough of the cold. I left relatively balmy Edmonton (-18) on Saturday to fly north to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, where a windchill temperature of minus 46 degrees awaited. Mad dashes all around to warm interiors. The reason for the trip, though, would warm any heart in spite of the temperature. The northern diocese of Mackenzie - Fort Smith was about to receive a new Bishop.
Sunday afternoon was the time for the ordination. In the course of a beautiful ceremony lasting nearly three hours, Bishop Mark Hagemoen, a priest of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, was ordained and installed as Bishop. It was wonderful to see the joy on the faces of the people, and to witness the very heartfelt welcome extended to their new Bishop and all present by the local Dene people.
I was struck by the coincidence of this event and the central question in the Gospel reading of the Mass, which was that assigned for the Third Sunday of Advent. The answer to the question defines the heart of the episcopal ministry. It is the question asked by John the Baptist from prison and posed to Jesus by his disciples: "Are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another?" When Jesus indicated that his deeds were the fulfillment of the signs given by Isaiah of the arrival of the Christ, he was saying, in effect, "You need wait no longer; I am he." What joy and consolation this answer must have given to John, even as he lay captive in prison!
And what joy and consolation this answer should give to us. This answer is the essence of every Bishop's preaching. Today it is announced to many whose hearts are held captive to fear, despair, doubt, loneliness and lack of meaning. Such hearts are waiting for the release that is given in the knowledge of God's love, proximity, tenderness and salvation. They will continue to wait as long as they look for anyone other than Jesus Christ. Are we to wait for another? Absolutely not! There is only one who can truly set us free. He has come to us, and remains close to his people. That One is Jesus Christ; He and no other.
May The Lord bless Canada's newest Bishop with deep joy and strength as he now undertakes his episcopal ministry, at the heart of which is the call to rejoice, because Jesus is near and we need wait for no other.
Sunday afternoon was the time for the ordination. In the course of a beautiful ceremony lasting nearly three hours, Bishop Mark Hagemoen, a priest of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, was ordained and installed as Bishop. It was wonderful to see the joy on the faces of the people, and to witness the very heartfelt welcome extended to their new Bishop and all present by the local Dene people.
I was struck by the coincidence of this event and the central question in the Gospel reading of the Mass, which was that assigned for the Third Sunday of Advent. The answer to the question defines the heart of the episcopal ministry. It is the question asked by John the Baptist from prison and posed to Jesus by his disciples: "Are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another?" When Jesus indicated that his deeds were the fulfillment of the signs given by Isaiah of the arrival of the Christ, he was saying, in effect, "You need wait no longer; I am he." What joy and consolation this answer must have given to John, even as he lay captive in prison!
And what joy and consolation this answer should give to us. This answer is the essence of every Bishop's preaching. Today it is announced to many whose hearts are held captive to fear, despair, doubt, loneliness and lack of meaning. Such hearts are waiting for the release that is given in the knowledge of God's love, proximity, tenderness and salvation. They will continue to wait as long as they look for anyone other than Jesus Christ. Are we to wait for another? Absolutely not! There is only one who can truly set us free. He has come to us, and remains close to his people. That One is Jesus Christ; He and no other.
May The Lord bless Canada's newest Bishop with deep joy and strength as he now undertakes his episcopal ministry, at the heart of which is the call to rejoice, because Jesus is near and we need wait for no other.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Our Last Day
Pilgrim discovers you do indeed float in the Dead Sea. |
In Bethany, beneath the home of Mary, Martha & Lazarus. |
Fresco in the church at Bethany. |
Soon we arrived at the Jordan River, near the place where Jesus was baptized by John. Our Lord underwent this baptism of repentance not because he was in need of it but in order to express his solidarity with the humanity he had come to save. This was to "fulfill all righteousness", that is, to manifest obedience to the saving plan of his Father.
Pilgrims renew baptismal promises at the Jordan River. |
Church of the Good Shepherd, Jericho. |
Mount of Temptation. |
Qumran, site of discovery of Dead Sea Scrolls. |
A final blessing – rainbow over the Dead Sea, looking toward Jordan. |
Pilgrims take advantage of Dead Sea mud and minerals. |
Pilgrim tempts a camel on Mount of Temptation. |
Gift presentation by Gabriel, president of Guiding StarjTours, in Jericho. |
Saturday, December 7, 2013
An Emptiness that Heralds Joy
A section of the Via Doloroso. |
Mass at the Tomb. |
Both the hill of Calvary and the tomb are enclosed within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Immediately following the Mass each of the pilgrims was able to go inside the tomb and reverence this holy site, and then to go up to the place where the Lord was crucified and touch the very rock surface on which his Cross had been raised. At such a place, reflecting upon the infinite love of Jesus for the Father and for us that took him to the Cross, and the power of that love over all evil as manifest in the resurrection, we knew that, because of that same love, we need have no fear. What joy! As the Holy Father Pope Francis has said more than once, no Christian can be a "sourpuss" when we know the love of the Risen Lord and the hope it gives.
An icon in the cave where Mary was born. |
Archbishop Smith reads a scripture passage. |
Tomorrow we head out to the desert and the Jordan River, where we look forward to the renewal of our baptismal promises.
Janelle sings Ave Maria in St Anne Church |
Friday, December 6, 2013
So That the World May Know
A message among the ancient olive trees of Gethsemane |
80 Languages are represented at the Pater Noster church, including Cree |
Walking down the Palm Sunday Road |
Inside the Church of All Nations (Basilica of the Agony) |
Pilgrims reflect in the Upper Room, the site of the Last Supper |
Fresco at Church of the Dormition depicts the Assumption of Mary |
Inside the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu |
This wondrous pathway of love continues tomorrow when we walk the Via Crucis.
The Garden of Gethsemane |
A message for modern pilgrims at the Church of All Nations |
A view of the old city from Dominus Flevit |
The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu |
Pilgrims pray at the rock where Jesus prayed before his Passion |
Singing 'Immaculate Mary' in Benedictine Church of the Dormition |
A joyful ride for this pilgrim |
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Joy and Hope Grounded in Mercy
Franciscan custodian prepares for Mass at Church of the Visitation |
The story of the Visitation is presented beautifully on the chasuble |
Embracing figures of Mary and Elizabeth in courtyard of Church of the Visitation |
This church marks the birthplace of John the Baptist |
Church of St. John the Baptist at Ein Karem |
Pilgrims head down the mountain after Mass at Church of the Visitation |
Deacon Pat Hessel proclaims the Gospel account of the Visitation |
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Prayers for the Healing of Division
Mass at St, Catherine's Church, Bethlehem |
Graffitti inside the security wall around Bethlehem |
St. Catherine's Church |
Praying at the site where Jesus was born |
The Shepherds' Fields |
Graffitti inside the security wall around Bethlehem |
Manger Square |
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem |
Visiting sites beneath Church of the Nativity |
Time for reflection in a cave at Shepherds' Fields |
Nativity fresco at Shepherds' Fields church |
Altar at the Canadian-built church at Shepherds' Fields |
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