The Doctrine of Discovery had its roots in another conquest, before Christopher Columbus ever landed in the so-called "New World".

Jesus talked a lot about spiritual blindness. Another name for this is Colonialism, which taught us to see people of non-western European origin as inferior. How might we begin to open our eyes and see all people as God's precious creation?

Please take some time today -- Truth and Reconciliation Day -- for reflection and prayer!

Have you ever considered what it would be like to be a residential school survivor? What would it be like not to be able to access your family history? Or how would you feel if you could not tell your story in your own way? Euro-Canadians have denigrated, distorted and often erased Indigenous stories, often seeing them as inferior forms of knowledge or representing an inferior educational methodology, and this in spite of the fact that our Lord was himself a Master storyteller who often told stories to teach a lesson.

Did you know that we have way more words for "exclusion" in the English language than words for "inclusion"? Sadly, the very language many of us speak and write betrays a cultural bias toward excluding people!

One of the most courageous and fascinating women around Jesus is also one of the least known: Joanna. She has much to teach us about standing up for what is right and fighting systemic injustice. She also teaches us how to say that little word NO!

When our promises do not match our actions!

The New Testament scholar Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel writes that "The women are the real transmitters of the tradition of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.” We can learn much from their example.