Reflections

Don’t worry, there are no spoilers here! Below is a column I wrote for Grandin Media reflecting on both the latest ‘Avengers’ movie and the victory won by Jesus at Easter:

If you don’t follow superhero movies, you might not know why Avengers: Endgame is such a big deal right now, earning more than $1.2 billion on its opening weekend.

Endgame is the sequel to last spring’s blockbuster Avengers: Infinity War, and the culmination of 22 movies released by Marvel studios since 2008.

The most important thing you need to know is that the ending to Infinity War was tragic. The Avengers – Earth’s mightiest heroes – failed in their attempt to stop the villain, Thanos, from ending half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers.

This event was known the “decimation,” and included the loss of several beloved Avengersheroes. Many of us left theatres last spring saddened and frustrated with the dark note on which Infinity War had ended.

But I was certain of one thing: in some way, at some point, Thanos would be defeated, and the suffering and death he wrought would be reversed.

This is, after all, a series of superhero movies – no matter how bad things look, the good guys always win. And, without spoiling the new movie, this is precisely what happens – although it all unfolds in a rather unexpected way.

There are many parallels to be made between the Avengers story and the story of our salvation…

(To read the rest, please click the link below to go to the Grandin Media website:)

Mercifully for us, there is hope of an ‘Endgame’

The following is a column I wrote that was published during Holy Week at Grandin Media:

I was 17 years old the first time I chose to really enter into the story Jesus lived during Holy Week.

That was the year I was given the opportunity to perform in a production entitled Love According to John: a longstanding Edmonton production which told the story of Jesus’ life, from the perspective of the beloved Apostle.

Often, as I imagine the big moments we celebrate this week – from Palm Sunday through the events of the Triduum – I am reminded of what it was like to be in those crowds and, in a way to witness what it might have been like to live it firsthand.

Given the limited actors available for this production, I found myself in the crowd cheering Jesus’ arrival on Palm Sunday, and later I was also in the mob calling for his death on Good Friday.

It’s quite likely that many citizens of Jerusalem in the first century had also found themselves in both crowds, leaving us to wonder how it is that those who shouted “Hosanna!” at the sight of Jesus were a few days later screaming “Crucify Him!”

That’s not the only striking change of heart we encounter this week.  On the day known as “Spy Wednesday,” we hear how Judas Iscariot conspired with the chief priests to betray Jesus.  Whatever was going on inside of Judas – the Gospels suggest that it may have been Satan’s influence (Luke 22:3-6) – I think it’s unlikely that his act of betrayal was the sudden and dramatic shift we see from the crowds.

I have to be honest with you: Judas’ story bothers me.  It bothers me because he was called – audibly – by name to follow Jesus and to be one of the 12 Apostles. He saw Jesus’ most incredible miracles, and he heard the most memorable sermons.

To read the rest of the article, follow the link below:

Hope for a lot of Peter, amid a little bit of Judas

The following is a column I wrote for Grandin Media as a reflection on the negative cloud that has hovered over this year’s Alberta provincial election, and the lesson it offers Christians regarding integrity:

I have a love/hate relationship with politics.

On the one hand, I recognize that it is a gift to live in a country like Canada, where many of us take our right to vote and to publicly complain about our elected officials – a privilege not available in significant parts of the world – for granted.

On the other hand, I find that election years can bring out some of the worst of our political process. It seems like all too often, election campaigns focus less on actual policies and more about the character (either real or assumed) of the individuals who let their names stand for public office.

While attack campaigns are nothing new, the age of the Internet and social media seems to bring a whole new shine on the ugliness of these tactics.  What we’ve seen happen in some campaigns is a “deep dive” into the public history of one’s opponent. This dive scours the things they have said, written, or posted online or otherwise, seeking something controversial (or downright offensive) that could be used against them.

In some cases, what’s found comes from decades ago and can be as short as a single spoken or written line. It’s a good reminder that today, very little is private, as these inquiries can include any social media post, comment, or meme can become ammunition for one’s opposition.

During the last provincial election, a colleague of mine commented that he was grateful social media didn’t exist when he was in high school or university: he couldn’t imagine what a scouring of his past comments would reveal. I think his sentiments would be echoed by many among us but mercifully, most of us are not held to the same standard as our political representatives.

We are held to a higher standard. Jesus couldn’t be clearer on that point.

(To read the rest of the column, follow the link below…

Amid political mudslinging, an invitation to examine our consciences

The following is a column I wrote for Grandin Media on the battle of prayer (and some of the weapons God has given us to do battle with):

Whenever Lent approaches, many Catholics begin conversing about the penances they will undertake – what we’re giving up for Lent this year.

There are many online lists like this one that go through different ways to make the most of your Lenten sacrifices.  Since we’re approaching the halfway point of Lent, you’ve probably already done that.  But when you give something up, the question becomes “What am I going to do with that time or space?”

Well, if you’re giving up something like screen time, a particular show, or even listening to music while you drive or get to school, the answer to that question is simple: you should fill that space with prayer. While the answer is simple, the realization can be much more difficult. This is why the Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks about the “Battle of Prayer”:

(Read the rest of the column by following the link below):

How to suit up for the Battle of Prayer