Palm Sunday Is the Roll-out Of the New Covenant

·         Chose Palm Sunday Readings for my Ordination as a priest in 1992

·         ‘set His face like flint’ gave me the courage – hard to be different, face ridicule

·         Roll-out: new word for introducing a new program / computer system
·         Readings reveal who Jesus is, how to respond & how to celebrate
Pause at Eucharist Prayer words “New Covenant” to let them sink in

Healing Miracle in Mexico – Thank You For Praying For Marguerite!

I just got off the phone from my favourite Sister-in-Law. It was an overwhelming experience as a month ago I had been about to pay $ 500.00 to get an emergency passport so I could fly to Mexico and help in a very stressful and confusing situation. Marguerite had been admitted to hospital there and diagnosed with severe dehydration, pneumonia and a blood clot on her lung. She was moved by ambulance a hundred miles first to one hospital for emergency life-saving surgery then to another for assessment and critical care nursing. Her heart stopped three times and she was revived three times and put on life support. She was in a coma for three weeks while we arranged for three churches and the Diocese of Calgary Cursillo community to pray urgently. I said masses at St. Cuthbert’s, Sundre; St. Edmunds, Calgary and with the Intercessors Group meeting in our home.

Life Through Death - the Paradox of Christianity (Lent 5 Readings)

A paradox is when a statement that seems to contradict itself is in fact a profound truth. To understand the profound truth of Jesus teaching we need to examine it in the context of both Biblical Prophecy and the dramatic events preceding the teaching. Daniel and the Book of Enoch had prophesied a “Son of Man” would be sent by God to intervene in history and restore the world domination of Israel. The Gospel Reading follows the stories of the Raising of Lazarus, the Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem and the Cleansing of the Temple. This is the last week of Jesus ministry and things are moving to a dramatic conclusion.

God’s Love Frees Us From the Spiritual Prison of Our Desires (Lent 4 Readings)

Lent is a time of self-examination and spiritual cleansing as we prepare for the great celebration of Easter. Self-examination is not designed to make us feel guilty or bad. Self-examination is meant to free us from feelings of guilt and shame that prevent us from living a life of joy. The Good News is that “…God so loved the world that he gave His only son so that all that believed in Him might have eternal life.” It is hard for us to grasp how great the love of God is. It includes all people of all races and religions. It is like a father who loves his children enough to do whatever it takes to rescue his children from their mistakes and restore them to a right relationship.

·         The Readings teach us how this works – how God has provided a way through Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sins and restore us to right relationship.
·         Sin – any rebellion against God’s law of love is very serious and can lead to the death of our personal spirit and soul
·         God is holy and pure and nothing unholy can survive in His presence
·         Spiritual dimension specific & legalistic – sin must be paid for by death
·         Good news is God allows Jesus to pay the price for our specific sins

1. The Hebrew People wanted more than manna