BLOG: Deacon-structing,Faith Education,
In regards to the March for Life in Ottawa today (March 10), here are some of Salt+Light's Top 5 Favorite Pope Francis Quotes on Pro-Life from throughout the years. ...read more
By now I’m sure you’ve heard about Alfie Evans – the 23-month-old British boy who was removed from life support last week. Let me begin by saying that most of us were not in that Liverpool hospital for the year or so that Alfie was on a ventilator and receiving care. Most of us do ...read more
Last week we looked at the significance of Jesus being the bread of life. I think most of us get the nourishment part. There is so much spiritual hunger in the world. But the Eucharist is feeding a lot more than what we think. How many of us really recognize all the fruits of receiving ...read more
Last time we saw why Jesus used bread and why He referred to himself as the “bread of life.” In John chapter 6, in what is known as the “Bread of Life Discourse”, Jesus pretty much lays it all out. It was a hard teaching, because at the end of the chapter, John tells us ...read more
Last time we saw how the Eucharist is rooted in the Jewish celebration of Passover. Christ is the new Passover Lamb that was sacrificed in atonement for our sins. We also looked at how the Eucharist is not just a Sacrament in that it makes Christ present, but in the Eucharist, Christ is truly present. ...read more
Today, Pope Francis released a new papal document - Gaudete et Exsultate: On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World. The Latin title, Rejoice and Be Glad, comes from Matthew 5:12, part of the Sermon on the Mount - Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. The Sermon on the Mount figures heavily into the document, providing a sort of 'roadmap' to holiness. Here are a few points to keep in mind as you read through the document: ...read more
We have begun the Easter Season and what a better time to explore the meaning of the source and summit of our Christian life: The Eucharist. We’ve just come out of a time of repentance and conversion and have gone through Holy Week and the Easter Triduum and that’s a good lead into speaking about ...read more
This whole week, beginning today, we will be listening to post-resurrection narratives from the Gospels (and from the Book of Acts). We'll hear about Mary Magdalene and the other women running to tell the disciples. We'll hear about a gardener who turns out to be Jesus. We'll also hear about two disciples whose hearts were burning within them as they walked along the road with a stranger. We are going to hear about how the disciples were scared, troubled and confused. ...read more
Read Deacon Pedro's reflection on the meaning of Martyrdom. ...read more
A reflection for the 4th Sunday, Lent, Year B. The readings are 2 Chronicles 36:14-17a, 19-23; Psalm: 137, Ephesians 2:4-10 and John 3:14-21. Picture it: Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a religious leader; perhaps a member of the Jewish Council, the Sanhedrin. It’s the Feast of Passover and Jesus is in Jerusalem. All eyes are on Him. Nicodemus is ...read more