Introduction to the Liturgy – Cross-Bearing – In the Zechariah text, as difficult to translate as it is the interpret, the Davidic house and Jerusalem look upon an unknown sufferer as they grieve over the one they have pierced.  Suffering is a central motif of the gospel as well, as...

Introduction to the Liturgy – Spirit as God’s Wisdom – A major theme of these readings for Trinity Sunday is that of the Spirit as God’s wisdom.  Proverbs’ personification of wisdom finds her present with God in the entire process of creation.  In John’s gospel today, Jesus speaks of the...

Introduction to the Liturgy – Birth from Above – There are a number of options for the vigil’s first reading, The Genesis Babel narrative is selected here because of its connection with the Pentecost account in Acts.  The reading from Romans looks at our future destiny in the light of...

Introduction to the Liturgy – Come, Lord Jesus – In today’s first reading, Stephen, shortly before his death, sees Jesus as the eschatological Son of Man who is to return on the clouds of heaven.  The sense of expectation of that return runs high in the reading from Revelation today. ...

Introduction to the Liturgy – The Gift of Peace – In today’s gospel, the Johannine Jesus promises his disciples the Spirit as well as his farewell gift of peace.  The latter signified the restoration of harmonious relations between God and humankind but also a bond of accord among the believers...

Introduction to the Liturgy – Fishing and Shepherding – The liturgy today moves between earth and heaven. The gospel finds the apostles engaged in their now highly symbolic occupation as fishermen and Peter is given his mandate to provide for Christ’s flock. The first reading from Acts has the apostles...

Introduction to the Liturgy – Growth in Faith – The Sunday readings during the Easter cycle take a different tack. They are not woven together in the way to which we are accustomed. All three readings deal with the effects of the resurrection both on the individual believer and on...

From the Rector’s Desk – On behalf of the Most Reverend Bishop Guy Desrochers, the Reverend Deacon Adrien Chaput, the Reverend Seminarian Lukas Časta and myself, I wish all of an abundance of the joys and grace of the Resurrection. May the peace, joy and love of the Risen Lord...

Introduction to the Liturgy – The Passion – The liturgy of the word for Palm Sunday, with the reading of the passion, is considerably longer than on the ordinary Sunday. The accounts of Jesus’ final two days are the longest continuous narratives to be found in the gospels. Luke’s use...

Introduction to the Liturgy – Power of the Resurrection – Second Isaiah sees the impressive events of the original exodus as but a prelude to the Jews’ repatriation after the exile. It is God’s creative power that is at work in both events. Paul summarizes the meaning of his life...