Let Goodness Prevail

On the sixth day of creation, God, the Creator, ”looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good!” Gen. 1:31 (from The Message)

Such a message of hope for us in these days of fake news, the violence of wars, natural disasters, racism, verbal abuse at so many levels and even genocide: goodness is inherent in all of creation. It is in our DNA, and it is now that we as a species are called to live that reality of being a force for goodness in this world.

In my personal experience of facilitating and co-ordinating Kairos Blanket Exercises, I, with the facilitators and participants have the privilege of seeing how truth, when revealed and received by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, is freeing. For the Indigenous peoples, their story is told: of the impact of residential schools, of being given Hudson Bay blankets as “gifts” that were full of the small pox virus, of the seizure of lands that were sources  of food, of the murdered and missing indigenous women and children…boys and girls, of the Indian Act that reduced whole nations to being put on small isolated reserves and forbidden to practice their spirituality or cultural practices, and who were “assimilated” into the white society to be made “civilized”, as the settlers defined the meaning of the term of being “civilized”.   The non-Indigenous participants hear this same story as told by an Indigenous and a non-Indigenous facilitator. If the participants come with an open mind, heart and will, they are INformed, TRANSformed, and empowered to work together to seek ways of “Returning to Harmony” (see Richard Wagamese’s article: https://teacherlauragroome.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/returning-to-harmony.pdf

For ALL participants, the telling and hearing of this story together is the beginning education of the truth of Canadian history: painful to tell and to hear but nonetheless a vehicle for further dialogue, leading to sowing initial seeds for reconciliation, or restoring a relation of collaboration that once existed. See Murray Sinclair speak about reconciliation in this 4-minute video https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/video/ssontr-eng.aspx

Senator Murray Sinclair, the head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that was issued in 2015, quotes:"It is education that got into this and it is education that will get us out of it.”

Being a retired teacher and educator, I am convinced that education is a beginning to living in right relationship, if we work together toward this. We are ALL inherently GOOD: we can choose to live out of that belief in all our interactions.

Submitted by Kathleen Lichti, CSJ

MARY AND JOSEPH - THE DISPLACED

Throughout this year’s Advent journey, a journey Pope Francis calls a ‘Journey of Hope’, lived in the joy of the Gospel message, I pondered what the journey to Bethlehem must have been like for Mary and Joseph. Perhaps, unintentionally, I have always held on to the naive image of the ‘tranquil’ scene of Jesus in the manger, where Mary and Joseph, some shepherds and a few animals, lovingly welcomed Him.  In light of Pope Francis’s invitation, followed up by the invitation to participate in this Advent blog series, I was struck by how noisy it must have been, and how so many people nowadays still are forced to flee, facing separation from family and friends.

In excerpts from Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato ‘Si [Praise be to You] these past weeks, we have seen that he challenges us, women and men of faith, to respond to his urgent plea to care for our world, our common home, to take swift and united action to eradicate the wrongs of the past. According to Pope Francis, the heart of the problem is that we humans no longer see God as the Creator, often seeing other living creatures as mere objects subjected to arbitrary human domination merely for our selfish purposes. Pope Francis encourages us to view humanity not as having ‘dominion’ over the earth, but to recognize that everything is interconnected and that all creation is a kind of universal family meant to live in harmony.

So, I turn to the image that struck me this Advent - Mary and Joseph walking into the unknown.  Joseph, eyes focused on the endless barren desert road, leading the donkey carrying the woman he loves.  Their plans were not changed by their desire, but by the demands of another, who wielded power over them. The journey they were on was not a quiet, solitary one. Undoubtedly, it was a noisy, confusing caravan of people forced to leave familiar places, occupations and customs, heading to an unknown destination. I may have been aware of this in the past, but admit that I have never before taken the time to reflect on this aspect of their journey.  

I am reminded of my experience as a seminarian at St. Joseph’s Chapel at the Canadian Forces Base in Borden in 1988, where we ‘welcomed’ 4000 refugees displaced from their homes in Kosovo. How well I remember all the preparation made by groups like the CWL and Knights of Columbus, to provide as much support as possible. Naturally, we had no idea who these people were, nor what they had been through until they shared their many stories of sadness, of loss and longing for some peace and quiet.  Amidst all of this unsettledness we also heard stories of faith in God, of hope, of joy, and of gratitude for being able to come here. In Canada, they found a haven where they could start a new life, akin to what my own parents had looked for when they came to Canada. These Kosovo refugees were the ones who, Pope Francis says, had become victims of poverty at the hands of rich nations relying on us to respond to their cries for help.  Their spiritual poverty, of course, was an even darker place, where we tried to bring light and hope by sharing our resources. To this day, as in the time of Jesus, the displacement of people is not because they want to leave their homeland. Like my parents, parents continue to search and take risks for better futures for their children and grandchildren. 

Mary and Joseph took refuge in a simple stable, the shelter for animals. In this makeshift home their ‘bedding’ was straw, the fruit of the earth. Amidst the noise and smell, in the uncertainty, there was love, there was faith. And this is where Jesus was born, frail and depending on his parents for everything.  May we remember that Jesus chose to be born in a humble manger.  In His unassuming way, we are saved from individual sin and those communal sins evident in our cities, our countries, our world. God never stops loving us, but is always there offering us the grace which will free us to respond to the cry of the poor, the lost, the homeless, the addict, the refugee, the stranger in our midst. 

Encouraged by Pope Francis’s desire and prayer for a change of heart in all peoples, let us respond as one to the needs of our suffering sisters and brothers. Let us pay attention to their cries and pleas echoing the cries of the entire earth, our common home. Dear sisters and brothers, while you celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Peace with your family and friends, listen with your heart to His invitation to see every woman, man and child as sister or brother, gifts from God with whom to share all the God-given gifts of our beautiful earth.

- Father Ian Riswick, Chaplain of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood in Toronto

THE MENORAH OF HANUKKAH

At the post office recently, I asked to purchase a book of religious stamps for my Christmas mailing. The clerk offered me a book of stamps with a picture of the Menorah.  With this Jewish symbol in my hand I began to recall the Jewish family who visited our home each Christmas.  The children, in particular, wanted to visit our home to see our Christmas tree.  This was my first introduction to the Jewish faith and only years later learned that the Jewish feast celebrated in December was called Hanukkah. 

This year our Christmas story overlaps with the eight-day Hanukkah celebration (December 22 to December 30^th) where the Menorah plays a key role.  (The word “Hanukkah” means “dedication”). The Temple, the holiest of worship places and the center of Jewish communal celebratory life was destroyed by the army of the dominating ruler, King Antiochus, who was intent on abolishing the faith of the Jewish people and their religious traditions. Divisiveness resulted among the Jewish people.  Fearing the power of the King, many Jews felt compelled to obey and abandon their faith.  However, another small group, the Maccabees, continued their Jewish prayerful customs and way of life.  They were also determined to return to their temple and to restore their religious freedom.  As history informs us, the Maccabees were victorious and while restoring the Temple discovered amid the rubble their precious menorah (lamp).  Oil was necessary for the lamp to burn and the oil flask contained only enough for one day of light, however, miraculously, the menorah remained lit for eight days.  Each year that miracle and the rededication of the Temple is recalled during the eight-day celebration.

And we conclude with words from Dan Rather “Tonight, families will gather to light candles in celebration of hope and perseverance, a determination to not be deterred in the face of challenge. It's choosing Light over Darkness. And we all could afford to welcome some of that light into our homes and hearts. Happy Hanukkah!”

SOME TRADITIONS DURING HANUKKAH:

The Menorah: has nine candle holders.  Each night another candle is lit. One candle sits higher in the middle and is referred to as the helper candle.  It is lit first each night and each candle is lit from the light of the helper candle starting from left to right as a blessing is spoken.   

The Dreidel: a four-sided top played by children during the Hanukkah celebration days.  Four words written one each side in Hebrew read “A great miracle happened here”.

Foods:  fried in oil to continue the connection to the miraculous oil.  Latkes (potato pancakes) served with sour cream are common, as well as jelly doughnuts (Sufganiyot) and cheese-filled cookies.

Source:  A Hanukkah Treasury   Edited by Eric A. Kimmel, Illustrated by Emily Lisker

- Sister Mabel St. Louis

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent is rich with meaning for Christians.  It helps us consider where we find Christ in our midst.  Are we prepared to open our eyes to see Christ in the poor and the least powerful in our society? It also asks us to reflect on how we discover Christ being birthed within each of us.  Are we attentive to nurturing that spark within us that is from God; that seed of life that is meant to be born by us individually; that is a gift from God for the world; something unique, that we each have to offer in our own way?  It is necessary that each of us take time to reflect on this call. This precious gift that may manifest itself differently as we find ourselves at different stages in our lives, is nonetheless ours to give, through God’s grace working in us.

However, what caught my imagination in this Sunday’s Gospel was Joseph; dear Joseph, who must have been completely bewildered and disappointed upon discovering his future bride was already pregnant.  And yet (with some persuasion from an angel) was willing to support and love Mary, and Jesus, as his family – contradicting the norms of society and his own reason. Joseph offered Mary a home, a community, in which she could give birth to Emmanuel, thereby fulfilling God’s plan.

This calls me to reflect on the importance of community in our lives.  Who do we spend our time with?  Who challenges us and encourages us to discover Christ within us?  Who supports us as we birth Christ in our daily lives?  And, of equal importance – how do we support and nurture others so that they can discover Christ within themselves individually and as a community of faith?  How do we react when people share with us what they believe to be true. Are we dismissive?  Do we challenge them immediately?  Or do we walk with them, and help them to unpack that truth more fully.

In a world that has become increasingly private, I have been profoundly moved and inspired in my ministry by a pretty incredible group of young adults who have come together this year.  They are at different points in their lives—some are students, some are just starting careers—but they share a bond through their faith.  I’m inspired as I observe the care, concern and gentle love that they have for one another.  They share ideas, and wonderings about their individual journeys. They call one another to authenticity, and they support one another as they discover their unique gifts. They listen to one another and God speaking through the other.

This type of community of faith is important for each of us as we discern, and birth Jesus in our hearts. Perhaps we can spend some time this advent season reflecting on not only on where Christ is in our own hearts, but on how we support and foster relationship with those we encounter – recognizing that Christ is also present there. How do we listen to God’s word together?

- Annette Donovan Panchaud, Associate, The Sisters of St. Joseph

Write for Rights #W4R19

Every year the Sisters gather together, take pen to paper, and participate in the Write for Rights.  Next Tuesday the Sisters of St Joseph will gather once again. We feel great action happens when people gather together. This is such an important and wonderful way to talk about serious issues - and take ACTION! 

Every year around   International Human Rights Day on December 10th, hundreds of thousands of people around the world send a letter or an e-mail on behalf of someone they’ve never met. 

Join Amnesty International for Write for Rights.

This year, all 10 global cases will focus on young people under the age of 25 who are a leading force for change. 

Justice for Grassy Narrows

This year, Amnesty International is highlighting a case right here in Canada, of youth from Asubpeeschoseewagong (“Grassy Narrows First Nation”) who are fighting for justice in the face of 50 years of mercury poisoning in their community.

Because of government inaction, generations of young Indigenous people have grown up with devastating health problems and the loss of their cultural traditions. It’s time for the government to keep its promise to deal with the mercury crisis “once and for all” so that young people can grow up in a healthy and thriving community.

Get to know some of the youth from Grassy Narrows and hear what makes their community special to them. 

Learn more at www.writeathon.ca/grassynarrows.

Taken from the Amnesty International website    https://writeathon.ca/