Faith in Adversity

March 22, 4th Sunday in Lent - Year A http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032220.cfm

Today, especially since we cannot gather together for mass in most places, please take the time to read the readings ahead of time.  Gather the family, do it together prayerfully.  Let's all keep holy the Sabbath as best we can!

If you wish you can watch a VLOG of this instead by clicking HERE!


Now onto the homily...

"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” - J.R.R Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring.

I’ve had this quote on my desk at work for many years.  Recently I’ve seen it crop up a lot on social media.  It’s very timely and an excellent quote to ponder now.

What will we do with this time that has been given to us?  Will we stress and argue over the minute things because of this crisis we are all facing or will we spend it with the ones we love and grow closer?  Will we compile a mass of food and paper products we couldn’t use in a normal lifetime or will we instead look for ways to assist our neighbors?

In the first reading, Samuel anointed young King David, the youngest of Jesse’s children who wasn’t even presented because Jesse assumed there was no way he would be the one chosen, he was too young.  I love this line from 1 Samuel:

“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”

King David faced many trials in his career as King and even failed miserably in some of those trials.  Just read 2 Samuel 11 to see one of his biggest failures!

All of us are facing adversity right now with what is going on worldwide because of the Coronavirus.  Some have this adversity added to others that they have already been dealing with. Some far more difficult than others.  We are all having one very interesting Lent indeed, that’s for sure.  All of our fasts have become so much more extreme than expected!  It’s hard but we must try to remember Matthew 6:16-18:

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

If you can live in such a way now, to still be filled with such joy, that's more of a proclamation of who Jesus Christ is than any homily given of who you have put your trust in!

Our psalm today says:

He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage.

I have seen this faith in our own incredible parish of Holy Family.  We have had “drive-in adoration” via a window at the rectory, live streams of adoration and benediction, the rosary as well as Stations of the Cross.  Our worship hasn’t ended, it’s just been modified for the time being until this current crisis has run its course.  Once it does run its course we will come out on the other side that much stronger!

If you are one of the baptized then you too have been anointed like King David.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

The anointing with sacred chrism, perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop, signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptized, who has become a Christian, that is, one "anointed" by the Holy Spirit, incorporated into Christ who is anointed priest, prophet, and king.

We have been incorporated into Christ with our anointing and baptism.  No amount of sheltering in place can take that away from us as we are all being forced to give up so much more this Lent than we ever could have imagined.  As the practice of “Social Distancing” should be growing let us please pray that our practice of “Spiritual Distancing” is shrinking.  May this be a time we all grow closer to Christ as we face this adversity together. Even if we cannot physically attend Mass or other church services, we are still grafted onto the vine that is Jesus Christ.

“Pain and suffering have come into your life, but remember pain, sorrow, suffering are but the kiss of Jesus — a sign that you have come so close to Him that He can kiss you.” St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta