Catholic Latte

Fr. Eric reflects on how we might find hope in the midst of challenging circumstances based on our sense of clarity as to who Christ is; but also because of the foundational mystery of the Incarnation, which teaches us that God’s presence and His grace come to us in abundance both in the midst of the beauty and tragedy of this life.

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Reflecting on Walt Disney’s animated classic, “The Lion King” (1994), Fr. Eric discusses various effects of the Sacrament of Baptism, including the reality of sanctifying grace; and the summons to share in the mission of the Church. Other topics include defining the specific mission of the Church based on the Great Commission (Mt 28:16-20), and the need to give oneself over to the missionary imperative as a prerequisite to real integrity and peace.

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One of the best passages in the Bible to regain a sense of rest and repose in the midst of our personal storms is Matthew 11:28-30 in which the Lord says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Reflecting on this passage, Fr. Eric speaks about the various keys articulated in this passage to enter into the Lord’s peace, including the significance of taking on the Lord’s yoke, as opposed to any other competing yoke; and the true meaning of meekness and humility.

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At Super Bowl XV, legendary singer Whitney Houston gave a stirring rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” which is held generally to be one of the best performances of the American national anthem in recent memory.  Reflecting on this iconic moment, particularly as it’s portrayed in the documentary “Whitney” (2018), Fr. Eric touches on the classical notion of beauty, the capacity of real beauty to change us and send us forth on mission, and the transformative power of the beauty embodied in true holiness.

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One of the most popular Netflix series these days is “The Last Dance,” which documents the 1998 NBA championship run of the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, who is held generally to be the best basketball player of all time.  Fr. Eric reflects on Jordan’s legendary, competitive spirit; primarily in comparison with “The Parable of the Dishonest Steward” (Lk 16:1-13), as an example for how much effort and drive we are called to bring to the table when it comes to the spiritual life and the things of God. 

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As a Christian people, we know that we are called to trust in the Lord; but there is often a struggle when it comes to knowing what this looks like, practically speaking. Fr. Eric reflects on this issue while discussing the Lord’s statement at the Last Supper that “without [Him], we can do nothing” (Jn 15:5); the calling of St. Peter (Lk 5:1-11); the interplay between enthusiasm and fidelity on the path to true discipleship in Christ; the call to accept our weakness as a prerequisite to real maturity in the Christian life; the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (1:1-17); and the Lord’s preference to work in the midst of our insufficiencies to bring about the work of salvation.

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The romantic-comedy “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018) includes a surprisingly sophisticated treatment about how to resolve interpersonal conflict using non-violent means.  Focusing on the central conflict in the movie between the film’s central character and her prospective mother-in-law, Fr. Eric reflects on the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7), especially the Lord’s exhortation to “love your enemies” (Mt 5:43-48); the call to be faithful, rather than successful, in imitation of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta; and the distinctively Biblical exhortation to remember our own personal salvation in Christ as a means to garner true empathy and compassion for the suffering other.

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Focusing this weekend’s account of the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:1-10), Fr. Eric reflects on how persons placed in positions of authority are called to imitate the Good Shepherd who gives life to the sheep (Jn 10:10) by exercising their duty and otherwise using their power to assist those entrusted in their care to become the persons that God is calling them to be.  Other topics covered include the story of the finding of the child Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:41-52), the distinction between “good” and “lousy” feedback; and the empowering effect of persons in authority giving specific, positive feedback.

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Focusing on how the Last Supper is described in the various Gospel accounts (Mt 26:17-30, Mk 14:12-26; Lk 22:7-39 and Jn 13:1-17:26), Fr. Eric reflects on how there is a notable omission in terms of a detailed listing as to what Jesus and the disciples had for dinner, apart from the obvious details of bread and wine; and particularly on how this detail emphasizes the primacy of the person of Christ for purposes of evangelization and salvation.

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On May 1st, the country of Canada was consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in light of the current pandemic, such that the Gospel for the Mass of the day was switched to John 19:25-27, which describes the final meeting involving Jesus, Mary and the Beloved Disciple before His death on the Cross.  Fr. Eric reflects on the significance of this passage in the context of the Old Testament, particularly the figure of Rachel; and what this means for our identity in Christ.

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