4th Sunday in Lent

The Lenten Gospels in Year A are considered the standard for Lent in so many ways. Whenever there are Elect in a Parish, these readings are used - not only in Year A, but in the other years in the Lectionary Cycle. It just so happens that this year is Year A.
These passages from the Gospel of John are so Important because they show Jesus as the Living Water (Woman at Well) The Light of the World (Man born blind) and the Resurrection and the Life (Raising of Lazarus).

In today's gospel - the story runs like a drama, almost like a play with scenes: 
Between Jesus and the man born blind,
   Between that healed man, and those from the old neighbourhood
Between the man and the authorities, 
     The authorities and the healed man's parents,
and finally between the healed man and Jesus.

As the scenes unfold we become increasingly aware that it is those with sight who are blind (spiritually)  and the one who is born blind is the one who is in the light.  He is able to see physically & at the end is able to see spiritually.

Jesus saw the man.  Jesus doesn't walk by.   (Jesus can't walk by!)
The man does not cry out.  Never asks.  
Jesus sees him and goes after him. Like the good Shepherd.

The Physical Healing is described quickly – he went/ he washed/ he can see. The Spiritual seeing – that takes up the rest of the Gospel.
And for all those others – the Neighbours / the Parents / the Pharisees - the question remains - will they ever see?

Jesus says to wash in the pool of Siloam  -  which means sent.
Having encountered the healing love of God in Christ - that means that the man is sent.  He is to be a missionary. Just as the Samaritan Woman was sent as a missionary to her town!

For each of us who are Baptised - and for our elect, who will eventually be Baptised, sharing in the waters of Baptism is not a private thing!
It is deeply personal, but not individualistic! Never private. You are (or will be) sharing in the very mission of Christ - you are sent!
Sent to be a witness of Christ’s Love – Which is light for our world!

The Christ who has pursued each of us - and called each of us – wherever we are right now - to encounter the Father’s Mercy – 
To have the mind of Christ so that we are able – even in the midst of adversity – to rejoice and look forward to the day when we will once again be able to feast at this banquet.

Peace

Each of us is on a Pilgrimage

The Gospel today relates a parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee. The Pharisee's prayer is very self centered, grandiose, and prideful - whereas the Tax Collector's prayer is simple and humble. 
There is an element of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in each of us. Each of us is on a pilgrimage from Pride to Humility.
We ask the Lord, even in difficult times, to be our shield, our strength, and accompany us on this pilgrimage - as the Lord's own people.

Peace

Love God, Love Neighbour

Today's Gospel passage has Jesus and the young scribe discussing  what are considered the two greatest commandments: Love God and Love your neighbour. This is the Basics. Everything comes down to these two commandments.

When we are preparing children for first reconciliation, we talk about this passage of scripture with their parents.  At Baptism this passage is referred to as parents are questioned about their readiness to pass on the faith:

You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?

I added the emphasis. From our first days as a Christian, it has been the desire of the church to have our Parents and Godparents form us in these 2 great commandments of Jesus.

In times like these we are reminded of what are the Basics.  In our Faith this Passage calls us back to the simplicity of the Good News in which we have been formed from the beginning.

Peace

Solemnity of St. Joseph, Principle Patron of Canada

March the 19th is a solemnity in Canada - the Feast of St. Joseph, the Principal Patron of Canada and the Patron Saint of the Universal Church. As a friend of mine used to say: "It is a national day of celebration in my Country!" This would often be said while having a glass of wine!

"Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Christ. 

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife."                      Matt. 1:16-24 

When I listen to the Gospel passage for Mass today, I think of the Christmas Classic movie "Its a Wonderful Life". In that movie there is an angel (Clarence) who comes to the main character (George) and shows him how valuable he is. Clarence showed George what life would have been like without him. How much worse off their lives would have been without him.

I think that's the reality of today's Gospel. Imagine if the angel had not appeared to Joseph! Imagine how different things could have been if he had not taken Mary as his wife!

Joseph was willing to place himself in harms way, to be the guide and protector of the Holy Family, and today we celebrate his yes to the plan of God, and his fidelity as the husband of Mary.

May God protect all Husbands and Fathers on this feast day of St. Joseph, and may each man in our parish share in the upright integrity that St. Joseph modeled in his life.

St. Joseph - Pray for us!

Peace

Further Measures to Address Covid - 19

The Following are excerpts from a letter we received from Cardinal Collins on Tuesday March 17th:

Mass – In view of the requirements of the Government of Ontario, during this medical emergency, beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, I instruct that all public Masses be cancelled, both during the week and on the weekend. 
The faithful will be able to watch, via livestream, a Mass which will be celebrated every day at 7:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, which will be followed by the Angelus and the Rosary.

St. Mary's Church will be open for personal prayer:
Mondays: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesdays: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
(Confessions in the Sacristy at 6:00 p.m.)
Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fridays: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
(Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 4:30 – 6 p.m.)
Sundays: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament all day - 
Praise and Worship music 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m.)

First Holy Communion, First Reconciliation and Confirmation (including preparation meetings) will be postponed for the duration of the emergency. New Dates will be available after the state of emergency is over.

Sacrament of Reconciliation – Communal celebrations of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are not allowed at this time. 
All those who wish to receive the sacrament should contact the parish office to speak with a priest.
The sacrament is to be celebrated not in a confessional but rather in another location, where confidentiality may be ensured and where the distance required by the health officials can be maintained.
At St. Mary's Parish, the sacrament will be celebrated in the confessional - using the entrance by the Statue of Mary. 

Funerals – During this emergency, there will be no vigils or wake services. The Rite of Committal will take place with the immediate family at the cemetery. There will be no funeral Mass at this time, but we encourage the celebration of a funeral Mass at a later date when it is
possible.

Parish Meetings and Events are cancelled at this time.

While it is a painful moment in the life of the Church to take these extreme measures, we pray that they will aid in combating the pandemic that has affected so many in our own community and around the world.
Once again, we pray for those suffering and for those who are caring for the sick. We are facing many trials during our Lenten journey this year. We take these to prayer, and look for opportunities to be the face of Jesus to all those whom we encounter. 
May God continue to bless you.

Sunday Masses Cancelled

We have received word from Cardinal Collins:

"The Chief Medical Officer of the Province of Ontario is asking that all public gatherings greater than 250 people be cancelled at this time. For this reason, as many of our weekend Eucharistic celebrations will exceed this number, I ask that our Catholic parishes cancel public Mass for the faithful this weekend; we will assess this decision for next weekend and any other that is required after consulting health officials. For this weekend and any other which may be required, I grant the faithful dispensation from their Sunday obligation. Churches should remain open for private prayer and Eucharistic Adoration. Daily Mass will continue during the week."

 A daily televised Mass is available through Salt & Light Catholic Media Foundation (www.saltandlighttv.org) as well as through VisionTV and also online (www.DailyTVMass.com). This provides an additional opportunity to pray for those who are suffering as well as for our health care professionals tending the sick.

Do we need Lent Now?

Do we need Lent  -  Now?

It's so cold and wintery - and I'd rather snuggle up like a couch potato rather than embark out into the desert of lent. Do we need lent now?

There was a time when Christians thought they didn't need lent.
The first real Lenten people were not Christians at all, but those preparing to become Christians. They wore sackcloth and ashes & 
and lived the days before Easter as repentant sinners.
All of this changed when the old timers in the Christian Community noticed something remarkable after the Easter Baptism. They were struck by the Joy and the radiant faces of those just Baptised - and so they too longed to experience the thrill of new birth, new life. 

And so the next year some Christians began to join the Catechumens in their preparation for baptism at Easter.
They Realized that they had become too Ho-Hum in their faith
and decided to do something about it. They too took on sackcloth and ashes & lived as repentant sinners so that they could feel once again the joy of rebirth at Easter. That’s how Lent gradually came to be observed in the church - out of a Need.

Jesus is lead into the desert by the spirit in the Gospel from the first Sunday of Lent. He had just been baptized,  and was full of the Holy Spirit. In the desert Jesus found his first temptations.
Jesus realized who he was and what he was called to do.
He was not the first to be tempted – yet his overcoming temptation 
is a sign - we too can overcome our temptations - whatever they may be. 

Temptation is not necessarily something which draws us towards evil. To tempt also means to try out, to test. Out of the Testing,  Out of the Tempting,  Out of the desert - Jesus realized who he was and what he was called to do.

We cannot force lent upon ourselves, - each of us must find a need for it, a need in ourselves, a need to go out into the desert:
to face both our giftedness and our limitations,
a need to face ourselves, our demons, and our God.
To prepare for Baptism – To prepare to renew our Baptismal Promises.

Even though it is a winter wonderland,  and it all seems so uncomfortable, let’s go into the desert together!!! 
As Brothers and Sisters in Christ prepared to follow God’s Spirit,
Wherever it will lead us!