The Jewish people were obviously startled to hear Jesus predict [Luke: 21: 5-6] that the Temple would be destroyed, “not a single stone to be left upon another”. No doubt they thought that one of the benefits of having the Messiah among them was that He would protect the Temple. Jesus however, as we now … More RECOGNIZING THE TEMPLE WITHIN

  That we live in a time of spiritual darkness, there can be little doubt. The challenge, if we are a Christian, is to take on the mantle of Christ and embrace the truth. That leads to the question: What is truth? That is an ancient question and one posed to Jesus himself by Pilate … More THEY RISE IN THE DARKNESS

As a Christian we know that we have a duty to help proclaim the Gospel to all nations. Reflecting on this duty might conjure up notions of missionary activity in far away locations where the Gospel has never been preached. Think again. Our modern North American culture with its emphasis on “self” gives each of … More ARE YOU A SIGN OF CONTRADICTION?

I’m settled back at Riverside after having attended Mass in Keremeos this morning. We were treated to a visiting Priest, Fr. Jack, and to a homily that really resonated with me. I’d like to share the essence of that Homily with you. The Gospel reading today was from Luke 18: 9-14, and is the parable … More HANGING ON TO THE RAINBOW

I found the reflection on the scripture readings for October 22nd, 2016 contained in the WORD AMONG US particularly instructive. The Gospel passage [Luke 13: 1-9] contained the parable of the fig tree. The authors of the WORD AMONG US focused on Luke 13: 8, “I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it”. … More GRAFTING THE FRUIT TREE

I like Dorothy Day’s comment “Common sense in religion is rare, and we are too often trying to be heroic instead of just ordinarily good and kind”. There is no doubt that many of us are wired to take charge and to make things happen. This is true in matters of spirituality as it is … More LEAVE THE HEROISM TO JESUS

This morning I have an opportunity in the stillness of our 5th wheel at Riverside near Keremeos to reflect on how fortunate I am to be in relationship with Jesus and to thank my mother whose 94th birthday it is today although cancer claimed her at age 78. My mother was my spiritual mentor from my … More CELEBRATING THE STILLNESS

Nicky Gumbo of Alpha fame uses an amusing analogy to demonstrate how Christians can miss the mark. He tells the story of a fellow who purchased a brand new BMW which he secured carefully in his garage. Retrieving the manual for the vehicle, he decided he would study it. For the next couple of months … More MISSING THE MARK

It’s become fashionable in recent years for people to announce that they have directed their minds to things that they hope to acquire or events they wish to participate in or places they wish to visit during their lifetime. This is often referred to as the “bucket list”. This activity is not new. It’s likely … More WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

If you feel assaulted and assailed by our modern culture the fact that you do is a good thing. The tide of modern culture seems determined to wash away the essential underpinnings of our Christian values. If you haven’t been violently buffeted about, you need to carefully analyze your relationship with your God for you … More HOLDING FAST ON A TURNING TIDE