For the readings and prayers of today's mass, please go to
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The person who has a firm trust in the Supreme Being is powerful in his power, wise by his wisdom, and happy by his happiness". (Joseph Addison)
"We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God". (St. Francis de Sales)
We currently live in in a world in which we are bombarded with a huge amount of information on the status of the COVID-19 crisis. For example, many of us are receiving emails regarding all kinds of ways to protect oneself from the coronavirus, including what to drink and when to drink it; how to make your own facemasks; are facemasks even effective?; etc. Then we read and hear different analyses from a variety of experts regarding where we are in terms of the spread of the pandemic; when we might anticipate a peak in the number of cases; how many people will be infected; and when this pandemic might end and our lives can then return to some semblance of normal. And on and on it goes. So much information. So many conflicting points of view.
All this begs the question: Who can we really trust? Who is right? And who is misleading us, even if unintentionally?
Jeremiah in today's reading speaks of how he has been mocked and denounced by others for doing what God has asked of him - to be His prophet. Throughout this book we read of the multiple times in which Jeremiah is persecuted. But still he trusts that God is, has been, and will be, with him. For he realizes that "The Lord is with me life a dread warrior" and that it is God who will have the final say in his life and in the lives of his persecutors.
The writer of Psalm 18 also trusts. In this poignant psalm we read words of trust in God. For the writer speaks of how the cords and snares of death had confronted him, how the torrents of perdition had assailed him. In his distress he called upon the Lord. And he trusted, in fact he knows, that God heard his voice.
In your prayers, do you trust that God hears your voice? Do you trust that God will hear and answer your prayers? And most importantly, if your prayers are not answered in the way you wish, can you trust that God knows best and that God will continue to be with you in your suffering, in your fears, in your anxiety?
The two quotes of Joseph Addison and St. Francis de Sales that this reflection began with are so true. In God, we can trust.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Silvana Amantea, who serves as the Pastoral Associate at St. Patrick's Parish, Markham, yesterday brought to my attention a YouTube channel for Fr. Rob Galea.
Fr. Galea has developed quite a large outreach ministry to Catholics throughout the world. He is also quite the musician and a very good catechist of our faith. Even if you are not into his music, check out his videos in which explains various aspects of our faith. For more on Fr. Rob Galea: