Archbishop Smith: The Necessary Perspective
Archbishop Smith writes it is helpful now and again to take a break simply to ponder the beauty of God and His works. Certainly, the immediate horizon is looking a little brighter lately than it has been, due to announcements of vaccine approvals and the imminent start of distribution. The needed horizontal breadth, however, is given when we consider not our own human accomplishments but the mighty deeds of God, who is with us in the power of His love. It is good — very good — to step back from what is immediately pressing upon us and ponder the love of God and what He is able to achieve. For our loving God, nothing is impossible. Read the story |
Archbishop Smith: Icy Underfoot
Archbishop Smith writes that walking conditions, even along the path of faith, can often be hazardous for reasons not of our own making. God’s Word enlightens our path, alerts us to dangerous conditions, and enables us to move in safety, if we but listen attentively and follow faithfully where it leads. Let’s be sure to read at least a few verses of God’s Holy Word each day, and allow ourselves to be upheld by its wisdom and truth. Read the story |
Archbishop Smith: Mary, our Mother, is Here. Be at Peace.
Archbishop Smith writes that he had the great privilege and blessing of celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with representatives of the First Nations Peoples of the Archdiocese. Her appearance in 1531 to St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin demonstrated with the utmost clarity the Blessed Mother’s special love for the original peoples of the Western Hemisphere. Mary, the mother of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, is the mother of the Church and, therefore, our mother. She is saying to us now what she said nearly 500 years ago to St. Juan Diego: “Am I not here, who am your mother?” Let’s not forget to turn to her, and take comfort from her loving presence and the unfailing power of her prayers. We are safe in the shadow of her protection. Read the story |
Archbishop Smith: No Keyless Entry
The Gospel passage from last Sunday (Matthew 16:13-20) makes clear that there is no “keyless entry” to the kingdom of heaven. I fear that sometimes we think there is, in the sense that the only thing necessary to enter heaven is to be nice to people. I once heard a priest put it this way: “That might qualify you for membership in the humane society, but not the kingdom of God.” There is a necessary key, and it is Jesus Christ. Read more |
Archbishop Smith:
The Path of Return The “path of return” to full public celebrations of the mass will be gradual, Archbishop Smith writes this week. So too will be our journey on another path ̶ "the path of return to God, from Whom sin separates humanity. We follow this path by faith in the One who is the path." Read more |
Archbishop Smith: Aghast!
This week the Archbishop reflects on the sickening video imagery of police killing an African-American man – while others watched and did nothing to intervene. “Implicit within the scenes unfolding in the lives of our neighbours in the United States is a call to everyone everywhere to a serious examination of conscience – individually and collectively. How do I look upon another person who is in any respect different than me? Why?" Read more |
Archbishop Smith: the Path of Return
This week, the Archbishop writes that it is good, after two months of inability to gather in our churches, at least to take some small baby steps along the path toward the day when they will be full again. But he also speaks of “another path of return, of which we cannot lose sight in the midst of immediate preoccupations.” We follow this path by faith in the One who is the path. Read more |
Archbishop Smith: Walk for Life
We cannot march, so why not walk? With no physical March for Life events this year, Archbishop Smith offers an alternative. When we’re walking outdoors these days, instead of chatting about politics, how about praying for life as we walk? “Restrictions on physical movement can in no way constrain our determination to serve the cause of life.” Read more |
Contact Tracing
The idea of “contact tracing” is something we could apply to our lives as disciples of the Lord, the Archbishop writes this week. When we come into contact with evil influences, we run the risk of catching that dangerous virus we call infidelity. To stay faithful to the Lord, then, it would be very helpful to trace these contacts and then isolate ourselves immediately from their influence. Read more |
Masked
This week the Archbishop reflects on masks, which are usually used to conceal identity, resulting in a different way of looking at one another. “In the Easter season, the Gospel accounts tell us of a different type of masking. A few times we hear of the identity of Jesus being ‘masked,’ if you will, such that those who had been very familiar with him prior to his death now are unable to recognize him.” Read more |