Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Singing God’s song as exiles in your own country
May 30, 2019
How could we sing the God’s song in a foreign land? (Psalm 137:4) During the 6th century BCE, Jerusalem was plundered, and its leading citizens were dragged off to exile. By the rivers of Babylon, the voices of these…
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Spirited Reflection: Take up your load
May 21, 2019
Ascension Sunday – 6th Sunday of Easter; Acts 1: 1-11; Luke 24: 44-53 In the days following Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples experienced a range of emotions. At times, they were amazed. At other times they were terrified and convinced they…
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Equality and Social Justice– no better and no worse
May 14, 2019
Fortunately, I did not have to attend Residential School. Since I grew up with my parents in Toronto, I absorbed their attitudes and worldviews. In spite of a great deal of denial in my family, I have been constantly identified…
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Spirited Reflection: That you should enter under my roof
April 26, 2019
A man approaches. He gives me a Happy Easter greeting. I give him the same, and two dollars. A woman comes, desperate to get to the hospital. I give her cab fare; she thanks me and touches my arm. A…
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NEW VIDEO- On Earth Day, Canadian faith leaders issue urgent plea for climate action
April 18, 2019
Unceded Algonquin Territory [OTTAWA]/ Territory of the Huron-Wendat, Seneca, Petun, and Mississaugas of the Credit Indigenous Peoples [TORONTO] (April 18, 2019) — On Earth Day 2019, Christians leaders from across Canada have come together to issue an urgent call to…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections
Easter 2019 video: Where do you see new life?
April 16, 2019
Dear Friends, I invite you to watch KAIROS’ 2019 Easter video: Where do you see new life? Please share it with your family, friends, congregation and community. Post it on Facebook or tweet it. If you attend a church, consider…
Post filed in: Executive Director, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection on Palm Sunday: Shouting Stones–discerning when and how to speak out, facing the evidence
April 11, 2019
NRSV Luke – 19:37-40 As Jesus was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they…
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Spirited Reflection: And hatred is not a form of love
April 5, 2019
I marvel how some religious communities justify exclusion and hatred as an expression of the divine command to love. Love does not insist on its own way, but policies of exclusion and expressions of hatred are somehow based on insistence….
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Spirited Reflection: The outsider insider perspective- how a KBE changed me
March 29, 2019
I am a settler in Canada and having immigrated from India about a year ago, I felt a longing need not just to belong here, but also to be able to connect with the cultural and historical past of this…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Salmon lament
March 22, 2019
Lent is about taking time to look at what lies heavy on our hearts. To acknowledge these things and then reflect on the ways in which our lives could change to create space and opportunity for new perspective and renewed…
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Spirited Reflection: This World Water Day, leave no one behind
March 15, 2019
World Water Day March 22nd- helps inspire passion for sustainable management of this global resource, and promotes the UN Sustainable Development Goal #6: Ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all. Billions of people around the world (including in…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: This land’s not my land, This land’s not your land
March 7, 2019
The First Sunday in Lent “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor” …. (Deuteronomy 26:1-11) So begins a recitation of the history of the people who wandered, were enslaved in Egypt, and then, through the Exodus, eventually came to the promised…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Transfiguration Sunday—From the Mountain to the Streets
March 1, 2019
From Luke 9:28-36 When Jesus took Peter, John and James up onto the mountain to pray, Jesus’ face and clothes became dazzling and bright. Then Moses and Elijah also appeared with Jesus, also in glorious splendor. When these Disciples witnessed…
Post filed in: Migrant Justice, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Finding safety and justice for migrant workers
February 20, 2019
Epiphany continues February 24 with KAIROS reflections in Light of a Star (digital) (print), the Epiphany Resource. Heide and Richard’s Story Two workers at a McDonald’s in Fernie, B.C. ‒ Heide and her boyfriend, Richard ‒ alleged that the owner,…
Post filed in: Migrant Justice, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: From the Doctrine of Discovery to the killing of Colten Boushie
February 15, 2019
When an apparently all-white jury acquitted Saskatchewan farmer Gerald Stanley a year ago of any wrongdoing in the August 2016 killing of 22-year-old Cree man, Colten Boushie, their action pierced the hearts of Indigenous people and their allies across Turtle…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: When called to paths toward reconciliation
February 6, 2019
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany 5 – February 10, 2019 Luke 5:1-11 we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets. (Luke 5:5) For me, 2018 was a year…
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Spirited Reflection: Acting for our neighbours
January 31, 2019
Epiphany continues January 27 with KAIROS reflections based on Light of a Star (digital) (print), the KAIROS Epiphany Resource. Scripture Commentary – Jeremiah 1:4-10 Prophets have a difficult job. They must speak the words that God gives them to speak, even though…
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Spirited Reflection: It comes down to status
January 24, 2019
Epiphany continues January 27 with KAIROS reflections based on Light of a Star (digital) (print), the KAIROS Epiphany Resource. TERESA’S STORY: Teresa (not her real name) is a single mom from Baja California, Mexico. Since 2012, she has been supporting her parents…
Post filed in: Migrant Justice, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Employers as allies with their workers
January 18, 2019
Epiphany continues January 20 with KAIROS reflections based on Light of a Star (digital) (print), the Epiphany Resource. RYAN’S STORY: Ryan was desperate when he lost his job as a restaurant cleaner amid Alberta’s economic recession and faced possible removal to…
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Spirited Reflection: Named and claimed
January 16, 2019
Inspired by Luke 3:15-22, Psalm 29, Isaiah 43:1-7 & Acts 8:14-17 Periodically, over the years, I’ve asked myself this question, ‘What difference does being a Christian make for me?’ How am I living out my Christian Faith? I suppose that,…
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Spirited Reflection: Seeking justice and building a community
January 8, 2019
Epiphany continues January 13 with KAIROS reflections based on Light of a Star (digital) (print), the Epiphany Resource. ARLENE’S STORY: After Arlene came to Canada, she realized she was under a pilot program and couldn’t possibly meet the post-secondary education and…
Post filed in: Migrant Justice, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Why migration?
January 2, 2019
January 6 is the beginning of Epiphany and KAIROS reflections are focusing on the issues surrounding migration and migrant workers, based on the Epiphany Resource Light of a Star (digital) (print). Gabriel’s Story Gabriel lost his job because of a combination of…
Post filed in: Migrant Justice, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Where there is darkness, be light
December 23, 2018
Advent is a time to pause and reflect on the action of God in our lives. It is both an opportunity and a challenge to set aside the busyness of this time of the year and pay attention to the…
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KAIROS Christmas video for sharing
December 21, 2018
“This Christmas, let’s settle only for great joy—not for the few, the powerful, the privileged—but for all. Peace and goodwill for all peoples.” Dear Friends, With Christmas approaching, I would like to share with you a short video message and…
Post filed in: Executive Director, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: A story of women’s solidarity
December 18, 2018
From 1987 to 1989, I worked with wives of theology students at the United Church of Zambia Theological College in Kitwe, Zambia; their education ranged from Grades 5 to 12. While there, I led a weekly Bible Study session with…
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Spirited Reflection: The time to act for justice is now
December 10, 2018
Following on the Scripture readings: Jeremiah 23: 1-6; Luke 4: 16-21 Jeremiah was one of the Hebrew prophets who insisted that living in right relationship with God was not enough. They knew that because the root of spiritual life is…
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Spirited Reflection: Living Hope
November 30, 2018
Jeremiah: 33: 14-16 Luke 21: 25-36 As we begin this Season of Advent, the passage in Jeremiah is a message of hope and promise. The One who will come will bring justice and righteousness. God will not abandon the people….
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Spirited Reflection: Women of Courage – making visible the women who work for peace
November 21, 2018
I am not a theologian, but when I hear the passage from Luke 19 and Jesus’s words as he enters the city of Jerusalem: “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace….
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Spirited Reflections
