Fr. Bob's Corner

This week’s Gospel is directed at men who believe themselves to be ‘God’s Best’ – ‘God’s Favorites’ – ‘God’s Important Leaders and Teachers’. The ‘chief priest’s and elder’s of the people’ who challenge Jesus’ authority in this week’s Gospel have inflated egos, and perceive Jesus to be nothing but a fraud because he associates with (sinners) prostitutes and tax collectors. We might say that their own sense of self-importance and worthiness blinds them to God’s ways and Jesus’ message, They judge only by appearances and their own inflated sense of self-worth and holiness.These are not humble holy people, but self-important querulous men, who consider others to be well beneath themselves in holiness and goodness.

Jesus has little time or respect for their self’ important critical ways, and tells them a little story about two sons:

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Did you know that most of the world religions have a primary belief and teaching in common. If only we could all learn to put into practice the golden rule of all these religions.

The Golden Rule Across the World’s Religions
Thirteen Sacred Texts – English Version

Baha’i Faith

Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.

Baha’u'llah, Gleanings

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Chief Fontaine insisted a number of times on the need for rebuilding the relationship between the Catholic Church in Canada with Native Peoples. He was addressing Canada’s Bishops.

“I don’t want to look at the hurts of the past,” he said. “I want to recommit ourselves and to talk about the future. So much in the past was also good and healthy, and we can build on this and learn.” At the same time, he acknowledged, “this will be a difficult journey, because too many Canadians do not believe in us, the Aboriginal Peoples.”

Full Story:

Ottawa-CCCB)… Relations between the Catholic Church and Canadian Aboriginal communities were the focus for the opening day of the annual meeting of Catholic Bishops from across Canada. Their meeting will continue until this Friday at the Nav Canada Centre in Cornwall, Ontario, with about 90 Bishops in attendance.

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Here is a little poem that I would like to share. I don’t know what it will mean to you, but I think it should be heard by all of us who live in this modern world. It is a good reminder that culture doesn’t always value that which is real and important in our lives.

IN PRAISE OF OLD WOMEN
by Marya Fiamengo

Yes, Tadeusz Rozewicz, I too
prefer old women.
they bend over graves
with flowers,
they wash the limbs of the dead,
they count the beads of their rosaries,
the commit no murders,
they give advice
or tell fortunes,
they endure.

In Poland, in Russia,
in Asia, in the Balkans,
I see them shawled, kerchiefed,
bent-backed, work-wrinkled.

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St. Paul tells all of us about the ‘make or break’ nature of love in our lives. He says:” If I do not have love, I am nothing.” (1Cor.13:2) We can have all kinds of wonderful gifts, but if we don’t receive and give love, life becomes meaningless, and we become meaningless and lost.

Here is a little story told by Fr. John Jay Hughes that helps us appreciate the significance of Paul’s words.

Marie is eighty-seven years old and a widow. She has lived for several years in a nursing home. It is hard to grow old, to have to give up your own place and to be dependent on others. Marie has never been able to adjust. She is crabby and disagreeable much of the time. She complains over trifles. She criticizes those who look after her, often for little or no reason. Her loved ones have reproached her for her bitterness, and tried to talk her out of it. They’ve failed.

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Education seems only to be only for those 30 or under. The older we get the likelihood of our taking University courses dwindles. What a shame that only the young have this luxury. However, there is a change in the wind these days all because of the internet or web.

The opportunity to take University Courses from the comfort of home at any age is now available from major Universities for a fee. There is also movement toward free offerings of a non-credit nature. As I discover free courses on the web, I will begin making links to them available on the Education tab or page of frbobscorner.com

Here is one free offering now available:

Fr. Thomas Dowd, a priest from the Archdiocese of Montreal and a Theology professor at Concordia University, is now providing his course lectures and required texts free of charge over the web. The material (links) can be located on the tab labeled Education on the frbobscorner home page.

Stephen Harper, Conservative Government, Canada, Election, October 2008, Sunday,

I have no idea why the election was called early this Sunday Morning. It was announced just as I was arriving at St. William’s Parish for the first Sunday Mass. So much for the ‘Lord’s Day’. I just wish the government would give more thought to protecting this special day, but I guess they see Sunday as just another day. If they had waited till after lunch, it wouldn’t have been such a flagrant and jarring reminder of how much this special day is ignored in Canada these days. I wonder, if others will notice or mention it. I, for one, am saddened by this behavior.