Church of the Holy Trinity, Guildwood
85 Livingston Road M1E 1K7 Toronto, ON, Canada

In this Sunday’s Gospel, the disciples are hunkered down in the Upper Room, confused, dispirited, and lost in grief, when suddenly Jesus appears bringing hope, peace and Easter Joy. This story of the Risen Christ liberating the disciples, breaking through their walls of fear, tombs of shame, walls of despair is particularly relevant for all of us as this week we entered our second province wide stay-at-home lockdown order in an effort to curb the spread of the COVID virus and its variants. While vaccination efforts continue, a word of encouragement, a sign of hope is sought and needed by many to give them the courage to persevere.

Easter speaks directly to the human heart of hope, life and joy. For if Jesus was able to conquer death, then through Him, we too can triumph over life's tragedies, and give thanks as the Good Fridays of our lives are transformed into Easter Sundays. Christians know that by deeply entering into the events of the last week of Jesus’ life and joining our journey with his, we will most fully share in his Easter joy, believing that if we have died with him, we shall live with him.

Tonight Jesus and his disciples gathered for the Passover Meal. It will be their last supper together. With bread and wine he asks them to remember him and gives them a new commandment to "Love one another, as I have loved you".

God is with us, especially when the going gets tough, leading us to new hope and life. Jesus knows suffering, his crown is one of thorns and his throne a cross, and Jesus knows Resurrection. It’s at the heart of the Good News of Easter, as the Introduction to the Palm Sunday of the Passion liturgy proclaims: We follow him this week from the glory of the palms to the glory of the resurrection by way of the dark road of suffering and death. United with him in his suffering on the cross, may we share in his resurrection and new life.

This Sunday’s Gospel For God so loved the world (John 3:16) highlights the Good News that each of us is loved by God, unconditionally, extravagantly. Indeed, God loves us even when we don’t love ourselves, and God longs to heal, what we believe can only be hidden. God seeks not to condemn us, but to set us free, free from fear, free to share in the abundant life and love of his Son.

This Sunday we hear the story of Jesus cleansing the temple. Sometimes, the temple, the church, the institution, may betray itself in such a way that people are hurt and themselves feel betrayed. At such times to follow Jesus we must become prophets ourselves. Where religion is used to uphold abuses of power or the privileges and wealth of the elite at the expense of the vulnerable and marginalized, we are called to be true to the Spirit of Christ and protest. We have been entrusted with this treasure of the church to encourage its vocation as temple of God, to ensure that our religious practices empower justice rather than excuse us from it. This passage is a reminder that as Christians we are called to strive with Jesus for a just and equitable world that respects the dignity of every human being.

One month until Christmas Day #ChristmasCountdown

Bi-Weekly Bible Study Monday, November 23 at 1:30 pm Men and women are invited to thoughtful and lively discussions of the Scripture based on the weekly Sunday Bible readings. The Bible Study group meets every other Monday at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome. Looking forward to sharing with you. Join Zoom Meeting... https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86840489342 1 647 374 4685 Canada Meeting ID: 868 4048 9342 Passcode: 484139

What are you doing on Sunday? Come join us at our YouTube livestream at 10:30am tomorrow https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcMsTKlb2hr_klcAvhxlwCA

Our virtual bazaar continues at http://holytrinitybazaar2020.homestead.com Please regularly check back as new items are being added almost on a daily basis. ... The book and jewellery tables will be available this weekend. There is a Guest Book on the home page and you are welcome to give us feedback on any aspect of this inaugural virtual bazaar, we want to learn about what we can do better. Best wishes, and as always please keep well and stay safe.