for the readings and prayers for today's mass, go to
https://www.livingwithchrist.ca/images/article_images/pdf/April_3_Pages_from_LWC_April2020.pdf
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I begin with a confession. I must say I was feeling good about yesterday's reflection on the readings from the Book of Jeremiah and Psalm 18 - I even received a few messages thanking me for it. But that good feeling changed in the afternoon while I was celebrating mass with Fr. Anthony. I was presiding, and as he was concelebrating, one of his tasks was to proclaim all the readings. At the start of the first reading he said, "A reading from the Book of Genesis". I immediately blurted out, "That's not right - it's Jeremiah!" "It's says Genesis - look". So I looked - it said Genesis. I then turned the page and I then realized my mistake - my reflection was based on the 1st reading and Psalm for April 3rd, not April 2nd. Arrgh! How could I have been so silly! That good feeling I had had now turned into the sour feeling induced by eating a rather large slice of humble pie. The only excuse I could make was that I was subliminally excited by the readings for April 3rd as the 3rd is my mother's birthday. (Happy birthday, Mom!) Hence, to all I say, "Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa".
To continue my penance of humility, I am going to leave today's reflection to someone else who came up with a far better reflection on today's gospel than I may have been able - so I offer today's reflection from the FaithND website of the University of Notre Dame in the USA. This reflection on today's gospel is written by Phong Vu, a recent graduate of Notre Dame:
A few weeks ago my family was in Houston visiting and, while I was driving, I had to do an abrupt u-turn. My two year old son asked, "What was that?" I responded, "A u-turn." Confused, my son said, "A me turn?" After going back and forward a few times, I think he understood even though he had a limited perspective.
In today’s gospel, the people listening to Jesus had their world and understanding of the Messiah completely flipped upside down. They were expecting a king that would be powerful as the world defines power. They anticipated a king who would rule over physical land and control people within the kingdom. It was really challenging for them to understand that a son of a carpenter could be their long-awaited Messiah.
As a result, some dismissed Jesus, but the last line of the gospel reads, “And many believed in him there.” Those who chose to believe did not necessarily receive answers to all of their questions, but they found the faith to believe which opened their eyes to a new perspective.
During this time in Lent, let us open our minds and hearts to Jesus in order to allow for Jesus' inspired words from the Father to give us a new perspective and wisdom. This new perspective might require us to do a u-turn in some aspects of our lives. Or, as my son would call it, a “me-turn.”
My dear readers, your humble Pastor will resume his reflection duties tomorrow. God bless all of you!
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For today, if you haven't been able to do so, please take the time to read my Update #2 letter to the parish issued on April 2nd, which is posted on the homepage of this site. As well, by tomorrow morning Courtney Strom will have posted on the site the schedule for Nativity of Our Lord's "Virtual" Holy Week - please join us each day!
Also, if you are interested in signing up for the daily reflection from FaithND, go to
http://faith.nd.edu/s/1210/faith/start.aspx?gid=609&pgid=61 Then click the button "Subscribe to the daily gospel reflection" found on the right hand side of the homepage.