Catholic Latte

Even though Fr. Eric's favourite movie of all time is Walt Disney's "Frozen" (2010), his second favourite movie is "Lady in the Water" (2016) written, directed and produced by M. Night Shyamalan because of its treatment of various key Christian themes. 
Topics include the Mystical Body of Christ (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 12:12–27; Eph 3:6, 4:15–16 and 5:23; and Col 1:18, 24); the significance of determining one's own vocation; learning how to achieve deep spiritual change in the face of great suffering and tragedy; and finding salvation in the midst of a situation which is not of one's choosing.
This reflection contains major spoilers for "Lady in the Water."
Here's a link to Fr. Eric's original reflection on Disney's "Frozen": https://youtu.be/8alQnJlVuKM.
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Reflecting on the debut of Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching prospect Alek Manoah against the New York Yankees on May 27, 2021, Fr. Eric talks about motherhood, sacrificial love on the part of parents, and the reality of Christ and the saints in heaven willing us to victory.
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Reflecting on Jn 20:19-23 and the corresponding version of the story in Lk 24:13-49, Fr. Eric speaks about how we might find salvation in the wounded and risen Christ.
Topics include imaginative prayer, recognizing and finding consolation in the wounded and risen Christ, our intuitive and visceral reaction to the wounds of Christ. Fr. Eric speaks also about the capacity of beauty to bypass the mind and intellect, and the power of the wounded and risen Christ to stop us in our tracks and transform us to the core.
As a key illustration, Fr. Eric refers to S02 Ep. 17 of the Abiding Together Podcast ("You are So Beautiful to Me"), particularly an example from Sr. Miriam James Heidland regarding the Easter Vigil liturgy.  Here's a link to the episode: https://www.abidingtogetherpodcast.com/podcastarchive/s09e17-you-are-so-beautiful-to-me.
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Given the current political climate where there is often much tension with regards to issues related to unity and diversity, Fr. Eric reflects upon how the event of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) can inform our approach in terms of finding the truth in the midst of our unity and diversity.
Topics discussed include the Mystical Body of Christ (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 12:12-27; Eph 3:6 and 5:23; Col 1:18 and 1:24), the distinction between argument and being argumentative, learning to how to be in disagreement while still being in relationship, and diversity leading to creativity.
Fr. Eric speaks also about how the truth is meant to set us free (cf. Jn 8:2), the reality of sin being bad for us, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).
As a key example, Fr. Eric speaks about the episode "Discipleship is a Team Sport" from the "Poco a Poco" podcast hosted by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Here's a link to the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Hg26S_bDo.
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Fr. Eric identifies various Christian themes in this spoiler-filled reflection on Walt Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021), including intentional discipleship; intimacy, honesty and vulnerability in prayer; and approaching the end times with an aim towards bringing as many people as possible to the fullness of salvation in accordance with God the Father’s deepest dreams and aspirations.
Fr. Eric speaks at length about the movie’s treatment of the subject of trust, including how the topic applies to Original Sin, the reality that deep trust in God and oneself are both one and the same thing, the need to trust God’s call to holiness in other people, the prophetic power of showing trust in another person, and the inspirational value of reflecting on the fact that God the Father entrusted His Son to humanity through the Incarnation and the Crucifixion.  
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Fr. Eric speaks about how a recurring theme in the Gospel texts during the Easter season is this idea of God journeying with people in the midst of tragedy. 
Fr. Eric expounds upon this theme while citing the stories of Jesus appearing in the midst of St. Thomas and other disciples while dialoging with Thomas about the reality of pain and tragedy in his life (Jn 20:24-29); the encounter between Mary Magdalene and the Risen Lord (Jn 20:1-18); and the iconic story of the two disciples journeying with Christ on the Road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35).
As a concluding example, Fr. Eric cites S02 Ep. 19 of the Abiding Together Podcast entitled “Untying the Knots.”  Here is a link to the relevant episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0zNdDnH2YERd280XUEwQLe?si=Pv6cUaA2TtWJhI1foAaz4g.
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During this ongoing time of pandemic, Fr. Eric speaks about how to cultivate a spirit of surrendering to God in this time of pandemic, focusing on a Surrender Novena written by an Italian priest named Fr. Don Dolindo.
Topics discussed include situating everything in our lives in terms of God's particular call for our lives; learning not to be thrown off by our feeling sand emotions; resisting the temptation to insist on having absolute control over every aspect of our lives; and cultivating a spirit of holding life lightly in one's hands.
Fr. Eric cites the example of the miraculous staircase built in 1873 by St. Joseph for the Loretto Sisters in New Mexico, as well as the more contemporary example of a cross that is under construction currently in St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Oshawa, Ontario.
Here is a link to the novena by Fr. Dolindo: https://catholicexchange.com/the-surrender-novena-let-jesus-take-care-of-everything.
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Reflecting on the importance of safeguarding our faith through the Eucharist, Fr. Eric speaks about the need to receive the Holy Eucharist while properly disposed. Topics include the need to speak truthfully, honestly and with transparency in light of the reality of the crucified Christ; the Eucharistic fast; the importance of receiving the Eucharist with a sense of prayerful reverence; and the need to ensure that Communion is not received while a person is in a state of mortal sin.
Drawing upon the example of the rich young man (Mt 19:16-30), Fr. Eric reflects also about the need to address basic and foundational issues in the context of the spiritual life, as opposed to “skipping ahead” to concern oneself with issues like one’s specific vocation and other more specialized matters of discernment.
This homily was given originally on Good Friday.
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Reflecting on the exhortation to love God above all things and one’s neighbor as oneself (Mt 22:37-40; Mk 12:30-31; Lk 10:27), as well as the corresponding exhortation to love others as Christ has loved us (Jn 15:11), Fr. Eric talks about how authentic love of God must always be reflected in genuine love of one’s neighbor. 
Fr. Eric cites the example of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s reflection on Psalm 68, as articulated in “33 Days to Morning Glory” (Stockbridge: Marian Press, 2018) by Fr. Michael Gaitley, to expound upon the notion of consoling the Sacred Heart of Jesus and quenching Christ’s thirst for souls through our service of other people in our community, especially those who are most in need.
Other topics include how to console Christ through His Head and Body in the sense of the Mystical Body of Christ; and the need to recognize the thirst of other people to be noticed, understood and loved, which conduces ultimately to the universal thirst for God.
Fr. Eric concludes with a petition to give generously to ShareLife, which is the official charitable arm of the Archdiocese of Toronto.  Here is a link for those who wish to donate online: www.sharelife.org/donate.
#ShareLife #livingthegospel #archtoronto #ShareLifeSunday #catholicTO

Reflecting on Zack Snyder’s “Justice League” (2021), Fr. Eric speaks about how the film reminds us of key themes in the spiritual life from a Christian perspective.  Topics include the importance of resisting the culture of haste to focus on the “journey” as opposed to the “destination” in seeking to collaborate with God’s grace; the need for Christ as Saviour; and the impact of the Paschal Mystery on our past, present and future.
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