I thought you might be interested in an update on Bishop Gary Gordon. Last June I posted a video, a few pictures, and an article on him: Bishop Gary Gordon: A Call to Mission. Neil MacCarthy, who looks after the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Blog, just posted a story on him: A Bishop, a Chainsaw, and a Bear!
I just came across this fascinating and entertaining video – a rich combination of seriousness and humor. It is a talk given at the University of California by Douglas Adams just before his death. Adams didn’t believe in God, but he certainly had a profound appreciation for our beautiful planet, and how we are unwittingly destroying ourselves. Maybe, if Douglas Adams had lived a little longer, he would have come to appreciate that human beings were not only created from the earth*, but in God’s own image. And, I believe, it is this most extraordinary revelation that will help save us from our destructive selves. He once wrote: "I love to keep poking and prodding at it (religion). I’ve thought about it so much over the years that that fascination is bound to spill over into my writing.** Maybe, he was almost there, because he was obviously trying to awaken us. View the video, and you’ll see what I mean. (This is a longer YouTube video than usual, but it is well worth watching.)
Note: Just because we are behaving like a puddle doesn’t mean we are one. (my comment-you have to watch the video to know what I mean- Fr.Bob)
*Ratzinger, Joseph. In The Beginning….
**Silverman, David. Life, the Universe, and Everything: An Interview with Douglas Adams, The American Atheist Volume 37, No. 1, 1998–1999. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
The recent tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico was a real reminder of all the beauty God has given to us to appreciate, benefit from, and look after. Here is a little video that a parishioner sent to me. It is indeed gorgeous and inspiring. The author, I believe, created It as a call to faith, and a reminder of our awesome responsibilities. LINK Make sure you have your speakers on to appreciate this inspiring video.
This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. Pius XII declared this feast a dogma of the church in 1950. This was a very difficult time for millions and millions of people around the world. World War II was over, but the devastation and tragedy it left behind burdened peoples hearts. Mary symbolized the hope of the Resurrection which is God’s gift to all of us. Pius XII was doing his best to remind us that the lamb of God had conquered all hopelessness, even though sin and death ominously threatened the light of faith. He said at the time, "Finally, it is our hope that belief in Mary’s bodily Assumption into heaven will make our belief in our own resurrection stronger and render it more effective."
Today, as in all past centuries, human hearts are burdened by the darkness of suffering, human greed, waywardness, war, and despair. Nothing ever changes, it seems. Yet, in the midst of darkness our faith can make all the difference in the world.
In today’s Gospel we hear these comforting words of hope and joy from Mary: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God…..and has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.”
And to those disheartened by greed, war, poverty, etc., Mary proclaims: “He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
And lest we think only Mary can rejoice in God’s victory, Luke reminds us that these words are the promises God made to Abraham and his descendents forever – this means us, the body of Christ, who hear the call to hope in action.
As we approach Oct. 17th, the day on which Brother André will be canonized, I have been updating myself on his life and work. CBC, God bless it, has preserved and made available historic film footage, TV Broadcasts, and Radio Broadcasts from over the years. Here is the link: CBC- Brother André.
