Stories matter. Every day, we hear stories and we tell stories about the world, and these stories in turn shape how we experience the world. These stories include anything from the stories of our religious traditions and our national myths to fairy tales, to our stories about how we were wronged in the check-out line … Continue reading A Storied World
Jesus' parables — analogies that explain the Kingdom of God — are one of the hallmarks of his teaching. A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say, and the pictures Jesus uses do much to open our minds to the nature of life with God. (Of course, as Jesus pointed out, if we … Continue reading Parables of the Kingdom
Today's Gospel reading is the Parable of the Sower: God's Kingdom is described as a farmer who spreads seed over his lands. He does this abundantly, even wastefully, casting it onto the rocks and roadside as much as on his fields. It's a fascinating story because it presents a unique and perhaps surprising perspective on … Continue reading Working the Land (A Reflection on the Parable of the Sower)
I love how after forty years of being in the Church, the Scriptures can still take me by surprise sometimes. I was excited this week to see that the Gospel for today included Jesus' beautiful words offering rest and comfort for weary people: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy … Continue reading Work. And Rest.
One day, a young man came up to Jesus and struck up a conversation about what it is that God wants from us. They agreed that it can be summarized as "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all … Continue reading Who is my Neighbour?
Matthew Root 