Gospel Reflections for March 22 2020
Open your eyes!
We see clearly right now that we are a church without the Mass.
That is a hard …but necessary event to accept for what we hope is only short term. The Mass is the main event where you see the unconditional love of Jesus poured out for you, and especially when you receive Him in communion.
In today’s Gospel Jesus meets a man who was tragically born blind. In those days, any handicap was considered a punishment from God for some sinful behavior. People even believed your handicap could come from your parent’s sin. How ridiculous is that!
Jesus quickly debunks all of those ideas. We can be grateful for that! Clearly, blindness from birth, or even the present coronavirus, is a natural handicap unrelated to any sinful behavior.
Jesus is glad to restore this man’s sight, but He also wants to restore the sight of those who might think they see clearly but tragically do not.
Clear vision, or accurately knowing what is actually going on around you is the very definition of good mental health. Getting things out of perspective, exaggerating issues, or holding superstitious ideas is not good vision! Getting the crowd to see accurately is Our Lord’s goal in this Gospel.
This could be His great lesson for facing coronavirus as well. Maybe researchers will discover its origin and a cure, but what we can see for sure is that it is not a punishment from God. That is good and accurate eyesight.
Because we are in a highly contentious political season, it is a challenge to see reliable information from social media, newspapers, or on TV. That is also just recognizing the very politically biased world we live in right now.
What we know for sure is that we now live without the Mass …but fortunately not without Our Lord, who is always with you in prayer. Never lose sight of that!
During these last few weeks of Lent that are without the Mass, make it a practice to read the New Testament every day. Spend time in personal conversation with Our Lord. Initiate conversations with your loved ones about the spiritual direction of your lives. There is no “six foot separation” from Our Lord!
You can also see my article “What if I get sick?” here on the website. I also have some videos you can see at my parish website at stbrunochurch.org.
This is the time to open your eyes to see the many ways that God speaks to you.
God Bless!
Fr Dave,
While God may not have sent the virus as a punishment, I’m wondering if he allowed it to happen to bring us back to Him & back to our senses (excluding the hoarders!🤪)..
I’m seeing people being concerned about others, families walking, biking, etc together. I’m even seeing the two political parties beginning to work together to solve the problem.
In other words, I’m seeing a return by some to old fashioned values..
Anyway, those are my thoughts on the subject. Thanks for the opportunity to express them.
I miss terribly communion, the Mass & the University Series.
Stay Well & God Bless,
Sherrie Foster
Society: What about my plans?!
💫 God: My plans for you are always better than your own. Don’t worry. I’m going to work this all out for your good.
🌎 Society: We’re not going to get anything done!
💫 God: That’s the point. You know how you keep spinning your wheels—always working, moving, doing—but never feeling satisfied? I’ve given you permission to stop. I’ve cleared your calendars for you! Your worth isn’t tied to business or accomplishment. All you have to do is take care of each other.
🌎 Society: What does this all mean?
💫 God: It means I’m in control. It means you are human and I am God. It means I’ve given you a wonderful opportunity to be the light in a dark world. It means you are going to learn to rely on me.
🌎 Society: What are we supposed to do when we can’t leave our homes?
💫 God: Rest. You are always so busy and overwhelmed, crying out to me weary and exhausted. Can’t you use a break from your fast-paced and over-scheduled lives? Go ahead and rest. Pray. Love your families. Be still and spend time with me.
🌎 Society: You mean we’re supposed to stay home with our kids all day, every day?
💫 God: Yes. And you’re going to be just fine. This time together is a rare gift. The rush of daily life has come to a halt. Play games. Bake cookies. Work on projects you’ve never had the time for. Teach them kindness and grace. Show them how to endure difficult circumstances and steer them toward me.
🌎 Society: We better start hoarding anything we can get our hands on!
💫 God: Prevention, yes. Precaution, yes. Preparedness, yes. But after that, it’s time to put the needs of others before your own. When you see someone in need, help them. Offer up what you have. Do not worry about tomorrow! Haven’t I always taken care of you? Now, go take care of someone else.
🌎 Society: Why is this happening?
💫 God: To remind you that I’m in control. To bring your attention back to me. I’m bringing you together as families and neighbors. I’m showing you patience and perseverance. I’m reminding you of your purpose and priorities. Now is the time to learn and teach your children what this life is really about.
🌎 Society: We don’t know who to believe.
💫 God: Believe in me. Trust me. Ask me for wisdom and I will surely give it.
🌎 Society: We’re scared!
💫 God: I’ve got this and I’m with you.
Thanks so much for posting this great dialogue!
I agree completely with your insights. I am glad there is much good happening in the midst of this crisis.
Last Sunday we had Mass In the parking lot with everyone sitting in their cars. Bulletins and Eucharist was brought to your car and the Mass conducted from Lourdes of the west Grotto.
It was well organized and conducted and had never been done before.
Some consider Sunday Mass an obligation but We consider it the Highlight of our week and miss the liturgy and friends in Gods Dear Family.
Hope it returns soon back in thevChurch.
In the meantime your weekly tips are welcome in maintaining a connection to our Maker.
Thanks for all you are and do. God Bless. Tom n Diane Joyce in Altadena,Ca.
We may be allowed the car in the parking lot masses sometime soon.
Thank you, Father Dave. With all the discord and tribulations in the world today, it is difficult to remain optimistic in the present times, especially with the protocols of social distancing in full force. However, we have to adapt to the situation and learn how to re-create some semblance of normalcy. Yesterday my family attended “virtual” mass that was streamed by St. Paschal Baylon Church. Rick and I also Facetimed my mom and sister for a “virtual” gathering. Rick and I also suffered the loss of our cat on Thursday evening after her long illness. Our suffering was magnified without the comfort of our loved ones, who wanted to visit us to console us. We were fortunate to find a vet willing to make a house call despite the protocols of social distancing so that we could give her a peaceful, dignified transition. We have to recognize the blessings around us to keep our faith and seek out alternatives to maintain a community of altruism. Jesus resisted his suffering and temptation in the desert for 40 days. He walks with us yet in time of tribulation.
I think you are facing all these challenges with the right attitude. Well done!
Fr. Dave,
Thank you for your encouragement at this time of unknowing. We are all grateful to have our faith.
I am also enjoying daily mass @ word on fire .org. Bishop Barron’s chapel at anytime you want. Recorded daily.
We can also pray to have continued success with the maleria Rx + Z-pack.
Thanks be to God that the truth of Trinity is portable in our hearts. We love you Jesus!!
God Bless
Jane
You are welcome!
Love your words are loving God is not six feet apart from us!! It made me laugh for I know we have to distance ourselves from others!! What is soooooooooooo beautiful is our loving God lives in us !! Dick and I sooooooooooooooooooo miss our precious Mass and I soooooooo miss receiving our Jesus of love and being a Eucharistic minister giving our precious Jesus to others!! Then I heard in beautiful words our Jesus saying” Once you have received me, I am always part of your heart and live in you!!! Loveee it!!! and the good coming out of all this scare of the Coronna virus is people as Sherri above said are coming together in beautiful ways!!! In Italy singers are singing from their balconies, people are making love sign,all over peole are praying for each other!!! A beautiful new day is emerging through love and prayers!!!! We do miss seeing you beautiful priests and know we love you and you toooooooooooooo are in our hearts!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Thank you, Fr. Dave, for your consoling words in this time of uncertainty!
It is good to see that people are responding and caring for one another
Our Lord never has a shutdown or runs out of time to listen to us.
Is He trying to tell us something…Maybe to have more conversation with Him?
It is wonderful that Bishop Barron is offering daily Mass for us online It helps us
to stay connected.
Yes, people are becoming very attentive to one another now.
Thank you Fr. Dave for your insightful message (is this a pun because of the Gospel!?).
Truly, not have daily Mass is almost a shock to our spiritual “routine”
and maybe because it was a routine and an easy way to stay on
track with the Lord, this void is a challenge to indeed stay connected
with the Lord. I think of the Catholics around the world who are persecuted
and who can’t have the Mass each day. We have been so blessed that even
this “blessed” “routine” can cause us to be complacent about this wonderful gift
we have. Your words are wisdom and life….Laus Deo, Patty
You are very welcome!
Hi, Father Dave, how I miss Mass at St. Bruno’s. It’s been so long since I’ve been isolated with the auto-immune problem and I was all so hoping spring would come and I could get back to real live Mass instead of on the computer or TV. Now we pray that the meds that have shown promise will be able to be used for all of the so very ill and even stop the spread. It is strange for me though that was a med given to me 30 years ago when my Rheumatoid Arthritis hit me. What’s good about it that it is available and already being manufactured and not having to be a new start-up medicine at least there are ways to move it quickly if approved.
I hope you are well and I’m sad that this terrible pandemic had to interfere with your University Series because I know how hard you work on it for the Lenten season. Let’s pray this is all better by Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday.
God bless and you stay well, too.
Yes, the entire world is working on a cure and effective medicine. It won’t be long now, I hope.
Hi Father Dave.
As in this gospel, it’s clear that God wants us to “see” what is really important in our lives. During this current crisis I realize more than ever how much we miss Mass, Communion, Communion ministry. This may be God opening our eyes. Even the Adoration Chapel is closed for the first time since you opened it so many years ago.. We really miss our “one hour with Him”.
What seems so difficult may really be a positive. We’ll see when this is all over how much of the feelings remain. Stay well!
Mary Ann & Ron Franz
I think that the faith of many people is being renewed as they face this crisis.