Salt + Light Blog

For the past ten months Archbishop Thomas Collins’ Lectio Divina has been meditating on the parables of Jesus.

In the final episode of the season, and appropriate to this Sunday’s Father’s Day, Archbishop Collins meditates on the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).

Hearing this parable year after year I had always focused more on the son who had traveled “to a far country” and “squandered his property in loose living.”  This time though, I found myself drawn to the father figure.  I was of course aware of the parallel to the mercy of our Father in heaven, but I had never thought of the joy the father experienced when his son returned:

But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Archbishop Collins offered this little insight into that scene:  although the son was far from his father, the father was not far from his son.

It’s something to think about.  No matter how much we distance ourselves from God, He longs not only to welcome us back, but to lavish us with love — to embrace us, to kiss us, to celebrate our return!

The parable teaches about the love and mercy of God, and offers an example for all fathers — it’s definitely something worth meditating on this weekend!

Tune in this Sunday, June 20th at 8:30pm ET for the broadcast edition of Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins: The Parables of Jesus.  You can also catch an encore presentation Wednesday, June 23rd at 8pm ET.

Have a happy Father’s Day!

Share

Matthew Harrison

“Love people and use possessions, don’t use people and love possessions.”

Those words from Archbishop Thomas Collins at May’s Lectio Divina.  You can catch that episode this Sunday, May 23rd at 8:30pm ET, or the encore presentation Wednesday, May 26th at 8:00pm ET.  This month the Archbishop focuses on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, from Luke chapter 10, but it was what he said above that provided a keen reminder of what I had been contemplating over the past month.  To some of us the Archbishop’s comment may seem hard to believe—how someone could love an object more than a fellow human being—but on the contrary, in a society like ours, this seemingly outlandish concept hits many of us close to home.

A weekend to remember

One month ago four friends and I went to Algonquin Park for the weekend.  All was well, a few nice hikes, praying together by the lake shore, and climbing trees—boys will be boys—until we decided to go canoeing…

“Great, I love canoeing.  Hey Josh, are you bringing your camera gear?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Okay, so will I, but we have to be in the same canoe so that neither one of us will goof off.”

“Plus someone died from hypothermia last week when they fell into a lake in this same park.”

“Yeah, so don’t do anything stupid Lawrence!”

“Dude, I’m from B.C., I practically went to school in a canoe.”

Murphy’s Law 101: what can go wrong, will go wrong

Canoeing was great; Josh and I really gelled as partners.  In fact, I felt so confident that I decided to give a canoeing lesson on proper technique to two of the other guys.  It’s moments like these, when you look back, that you see how humility might have averted disaster, nevertheless no more than 10 seconds after my teaching debut Josh and I were floating in the waters of our own humiliation—along with 5000 dollars worth of camera gear.

Read more…

Share

Lawrence Floucault

Archbishop Collins continues his reflections on the parables of Jesus in Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins.  In April, Toronto’s chief shepherd meditates on two parables: the rich fool and the faithful and wise steward found in Luke (Luke 12:13-21, 35-48).

The story of the rich fool details the account of the young man who proclaims “I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.”

This had me thinking of real estate.  In a large city like Toronto, this is something we see all the time — perhaps not the barns, but the tearing down of old buildings or houses to make way for new condo developments, or larger homes.   It’s rare to see a part of the city that isn’t undergoing some kind of construction, or a neighbourhood where there isn’t a house being renovated (Archbishop Collins also makes this point too).  What do we do with our bigger houses?  Well, I suppose we gather stuff, we enjoy our material things, we get in a comfortable place.  Maybe we’re like the rich man in the parable: “And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.” Certainly not the best attitude to have — particularly when God responds to him “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”, and the parable concludes: “So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Are we like this rich young man, building up our houses, amassing material things, while not being generous with God?  As I looked at the houses and buildings going up around me, do I see myself doing updating or renovations to my soul, to ensure that I am rich with God?

It’s something to reflect upon with Archbishop Collins in this month’s encounter.

Pray our Lord’s parables, and join us for the broadcast edition of Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins: The Parables of Jesus, this Sunday, April 18th at 8:30pm ET with an encore presentation Wednesday, April 21st at 8:00pm ET.

Share

Matthew Harrison

In this month’s edition of Lectio Divina, Toronto’s Archbishop suggests that “we don’t have lots of time.”  Instead of making us panic though, Archbishop Thomas Collins says that the shortness of this life should be a source of joy, not fear. “The return of the master is not long off for many of us,” he said,but added “we should not be afraid. If I am loving God and my neighbor, I will anticipate His coming.”

In focusing on Matthew’s parable of the three servants and the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the Archbishop emphasized that this parable is primarily about stewardship. The word ‘talent’ in the context of this parable refers to an enormous sum of money. From there, the word evolved into the more modern interpretation of talents as being something non-material but perhaps just as valuable.

For the readers of the age, talents would have been worth an inconceivable amount and, as Archbishop Collins reflected, burying the treasure (as did the third slave) would have been a realistic option for fear of its being lost or stolen.

As you can see, even with the shifting of literal meaning, the metaphor is preserved. How many of us are so fearful of letting God’s gifts made known that we would rather bury what has been entrusted than invest it in even the smallest, most effortless way?

The sin of the third servant, however, was not in his paralysis alone but in his detachment from reality. The third servant, Archbishop Collins says, was “tragically caught in illusion”. He did not know the Master. His distorted perception of the Master as a “harsh man, reaping where [he] did not sow and gathering where [he] did not scatter seed” kept him in darkness and led to his eventual demise. He was unable to see the goodness of the Master.

This is why, the Archbishop concluded, we must pray from our hearts when we beseech the Lord at Mass: “In your Mercy Lord, keep us free from sin” and “may we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ”. May we be found ready and in the light of His Truth when He comes to settle accounts with us.

Join us for March’s edition of Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins: The Parables of Jesus, Sunday, March 21st at 8:30pm ET with an encore presentation Wednesday, March 24th at 8pm ET.

Share

Jenna Murphy

The old Milk campaign slogan from years ago came to mind at this month’s Lectio Divina.

Archbishop Thomas Collins reflects on the parable of the ten maidens (Matthew 25:1-13).  This of course is the parable in which oil is a hot commodity — and five of the lasses are without!  When they leave to get some oil, the bridegroom arrives.  Upon their return, the door is closed.  They plead: “Lord, lord, open to us.” And the bridegroom replies: “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.” The reflection ends “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

It’s an appropriate text for this month as we begin the penitential season of Lent.  It’s time to take stock of our lives, and see how much oil we have in our lamps.

Archbishop Collins leads into this parable with a recap of the end of Matthew chapter 24 (45-51), which carries a similar message to the ten maidens parable noting that the master will come on a day that is unexpected.  And as always, Lectio Divina is preceded by Vespers.

Pray our Lord’s parables, and join us for the broadcast edition of Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins: The Parables of Jesus, Sunday, February 21st at 8:30pm ET with an encore presentation Wednesday, February 24th at 8pm ET, only on Salt + Light Television!

Share

Matthew Harrison

This month on Lectio Divina, Archbishop Thomas Collins reflects on the servants and the wedding feast as found in Matthew 22:1-14.

This is the dramatic parable where the king prepares a marriage feast, and invites his servants, but they refuse to come.  The Archbishop also includes the portion from Matthew 24:45-5: the passage that speaks of the wicked servant who, when his master is gone, beats his fellow servants and hangs out with drunkards… but his master comes at a time when he does not expect it!

The January edition also marks a return to Vespers.  For the first four episodes this season, to help set a prayerful tone for the evening’s Lectio Divina, the Archbishop presided over Compline — the Church’s night prayer.  This month, Archbishop Collins invited the seminarians at St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto, to assist at Vespers before the actual Lectio Divina meditation.  The seminarians will continue to be part of Vespers for the rest of the year.  St. Augustine’s has seminarians from a number of different dioceses, so it’s nice to see our future priests!

Pray our Lord’s parables, and join us for the broadcast edition of Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins: The Parables of Jesus, Sunday, January 24th at 8:30pm ET with an encore presentation Wednesday, January 27th at 8pm ET, only on Salt + Light Television!

Share

Matthew Harrison

A parable sandwich?

That’s the case, Archbishop Collins explains, with the parable that is featured at this month’s Lectio Divina.

The parable of the laborers in the vineyard, from Matthew 19:29-20:16, is sandwiched between the phrase “the last will be first, and the first last.” And so Archbishop Collins reflects upon what our Lord is saying to us in the parable and how this ominous line ties into it.

Are we grumblers, complaining about every little injustice, like the laborers who received the same wage as those who did not work a full day? Or are we focused on living God’s will for us? It’s a good thing to consider as we work through Advent and prepare the way for the Lord in our lives at Christmas.

Pray our Lord’s parables, and join us for this month’s broadcast edition of Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins: The Parables of Jesus, Sunday, December 20th at 8:30pm ET with an encore presentation Wednesday, December 23rd at 8pm ET, only on Salt + Light Television!

Share

Matthew Harrison

This month at Lectio Divina, Archbishop Collins does a little gardening.

Figuratively, of course!

The Archbishop meditates on the parable of the weeds among the wheat.

Toronto’s chief shepherd suggests it’s always a good practice for us to “check our garden” for weeds. Big fat, juicy weeds like greed, envy, pride, gluttony, lust, sloth, and wrath: commonly known as the seven deadly sins… or as His Grace put it on this particular occasion the “basket of seven weeds” (he also noted there are many other “weedlets” that go along with the bigger guys!). The Archbishop goes on to say that each of us struggle with different weeds in our life, and we should work to recognize the areas of our life that need work, and ask for God’s mercy that He may purify us.

The weeds among the wheat, as well as the parables of the mustard seed and yeast, are the focus of the November edition of Lectio Divina, as Archbishop Collins meditates on Matthew 13:24-43. Join us on Sunday, November 15th at 8:30pm ET or on Wednesday, November 18th at 8pm, ET for this month’s broadcast edition of Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins: The Parables of Jesus.

Share

Matthew Harrison

Even in a Church full of atheists, the Eucharist would still be the body and blood of Christ… the effectiveness of the Sacrament on those gathered though, depends on how you receive our Lord.

I’m paraphrasing, but this is one of Archbishop Collins’ comments in this month’s Lectio Divina as he continues his reflections on the parables of Jesus.

He of course is discussing this in the context of the parable of the Sower and the seed that falls on the path, on rocky ground, amongst thorns, and on good soil. (Matthew 13:1-23)

What kind of soil are we? How do we receive the Word of God? How do we open ourselves to the Sacraments? How do we receive our neighbour?

Take some time to consider this in October’s broadcast edition of Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins: The Parables of Jesus. Tune in to Salt + Light and pray the parables, Sunday, October 18th at 9pm ET with an encore presentation Wednesday, October 21st at 8pm ET, only on Salt + Light Television!

As we continue our third season of Lectio Divina, for those who would like to revisit our first season, Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins: Sermon on the Mount, the nine-part series is now available on DVD at our S+L store.

Share

Matthew Harrison

In the past two seasons of Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins, Toronto’s chief shepherd has meditated on the Sermon on the Mount and the writings of St. Paul. The third season premiers this weekend, with the Archbishop reflecting on the Parables of Jesus.

The Sower, the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan are among the parables that Archbishop Collins will explore over the next ten months.

The season premiere focuses on the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven being like a Hidden Treasure, fine pearls, and a net let down into the sea, as found at the end of Matthew Chapter 13.

Visit our Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins page for full details on upcoming episodes.

Also, this year the Archbishop will begin each Lectio Divina with Compline, rather than Vespers. In this episode he provides a brief explanation of the Liturgy of the Hours and of Compline.

Unearth the treasure of wisdom that is found in our Lord’s parables, and join us for the broadcast edition of Lectio Divina with Archbishop Thomas Collins: The Parables of Jesus, Sunday, September 20th at 9pm ET with an encore presentation Wednesday, September 23rd at 8pm ET, only on Salt + Light Television!

Share

Matthew Harrison