Fr. Bob's Corner

This past little while hasn’t been very uplifting. Problems abound in politics, economics, religion, and everywhere one looks. Pretty upsetting, confusing, and even depressing, if one keeps focusing and listening to the gloom and doom.

This week’s gospel was the anecdote and reminder I needed to put things into perspective. Jesus is beginning his ministry with all kinds of cures, even the mother-in-law of Peter is healed. But this isn’t why he has come into our midst, and he tell them this. (These are only signs of the truth and veracity of his message.)

Jesus insists that he go from town to town with a message – God’s message to us. Of course, we know what the message is as Christians – it is the message of God’s unconditional love and care for each and everyone of us. It is a message of hope that surpasses all human imagination. We are loved and cared for unconditionally. We are all children of God – we are God’s beloved family.  All God expects of us is that we accept this love and pass it on to one another. (Love one another, as God loves us.)

Some how or other, I could sense Jesus wrapping his arm around my shoulder and saying that it will be OK – I understand, and am with you.

Not one of us is perfect and God knows it. This is why he died for us, and as he died, he prayed: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

Yes, God loves us and promises us a new tomorrow beyond this valley of tears. Today, in the midst of all the problems I face and the world faces, I cling to this hope and love, and I invite you to do the same. You won’t be disappointed!

Most of you know that I visit my family’s property in Quebec fairly often. I arrived at my cabin in the woods late this Advent Sunday afternoon feeling pretty rotten. I’d been on antibiotics for a couple of weeks and seemed to be coming down with a new bug – aching and feverish. After a restless night’s sleep, I looked out the window on Monday to discover over two feet of fresh snow, and no signs of the snow plow. Next day, feeling a bit better, I had to get busy. This is a series of photos I posted on facebook (sort of like one long Christmas Card)Â for family and friends. My sister, who now lives in Switzerland, suggested I join this summer, so that I could keep in touch. Here it is.

Most of the leaves have fallen, halloween is over, and once again many Canadians begin dreading the long cold days and nights of the frozen north, and I am definitely one of them. As I took this picture a week ago, I just couldn’t keep my mind focused on the glorious fall display, but kept drifting imaginatively into the numbing days ahead of snow, freezing rain, ice, and howling winds. How hard it is to keep focused on one’s blessings and enjoy the present moment.

I spent a wonderful month at the cottage this July. It was a time for reading, walking, swimming, gardening, and family. My Dad celebrated his 90th Birthday during July, so my 2 brothers and sister and some of their family members celebrated at my Parent’s home in Monreal. (see photo). Most of the time, however, we spent at the cottage. The only real downside to the month was all the frightening thunder storms, and the loss of power, water, and telephone for two days.

(Parents in the middle, my borther, Jack and his wife Lily at my left-front lower left, my sister, Louise [husband Bert was in China on business] and behind her my brother, Hugh and his wife Jane).