03/24/20 BLOG # 9
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Dear Friends,
I hope you are holding up well and not letting the crisis get you down.
LENTEN REFLECTION
If you’re still reading this year’s The Little Black Book for Lent, you undoubtedly noticed Sunday’s reading, and how appropriate it was for this year, even though the book actually went to press long before the coronavirus. It read:
I was naked, and you clothed me
Imagine something terrible happens, a famine, a flood, a fire, and residents hardly have anything left.
When that happens, people around the world always try to help out. They collect money, clothes, food, medicine, and furniture which they send to those who need help. The shipment arrives, and it’s distributed to the people.
About six months later, donors come to visit, and they ask those who received the aid, “What did you do with the assistance we sent you?” Suppose the person who had been in need said: “Oh, it’s terrific. Look at my closet. It’s full of clothes. Look at the shelves where I have all this food. And the money? I was able to buy a couple of houses. I also have all the medicine stocked up for me and my family.”
The donors will reply: “That’s not why we gave it to you. We want you to have enough food, clothes and furniture, but we gave all this to you to do something with it for all the people who are in need.”
Someday Jesus is going to say the same thing to me: “What did you do with what 1 gave you? I gave you food and good things. Did you share them? I gave you a mind. Did you use it to make this world a better place?”
Jesus gave me these gifts so that I could help people.
A good thing to remember during Lent.
‘The service you cannot render me you must do for your neighbors.’ – St. Catherine of Siena recounting words God spoke to her
FROM SOME PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THIS BLOG
• One Deacon shared this article from “Our Sunday Visitor” – about parish collections when there’s no passing of the basket at church –
• “I have found Mass Of The Air to be a comfort these days,” said one senior citizen.
• One reader said you can watch wonderful old family films on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL67xPl3hk7a2E49D0oXY7kBH1AlOHS5G2.
• A friend told me that one parish now has “drive-thru” weekend Communion. Per the website for St. Edwards Parish in Louisville, “The necessity I wish to address is the need for Catholics to receive Communion. Therefore, beginning this weekend March 21st & 22nd, the following schedule will be observed for “Drive-Thru” Communion at St. Edward Church 9608 Sue Helen Drive, Louisville KY 40299.” – Fr. Troy Overton, Pastor. See all the details at https://www.stedwardchurch.com/.
• Per one reader, “Today I found toilet paper at Walmart and I also got a new volleyball so my kids could play outside together; they are in such a state of cabin fever. As I checked out, the lady in front of me had her card declined. She said that she knows she has $200 in there. I did not even think … I just paid for her items with mine. It was only $30 but it made me so happy to help and I know we can skip something in our family budget to make up for it. She said ‘God Bless You and your family.’ “
SPIRITUALITY AND DEALING WITH THE CRISIS
• Pope Francis has called on all Christian leaders and every Christian community around the world to recite the Our Father at noon on Wednesday (Mar 25), the Feast of the Annunciation, as “humanity trembles at the threat” of the coronavirus pandemic “in these days of trial.”
• Pope Francis will also preside over a moment of prayer at the sagrato in front of St. Peter’s basilica at 6pm on Friday March 27 (1 pm Louisville time) where “we will listen to the Word of God, we will raise our supplication, we will adore the Blessed Sacrament.” The Pope said that at the end he will give his Urbi et Orbi blessing (to the city and to the world) “to which will be attached the possibility of receiving a plenary indulgence.” The Holy Father, who usually only gives the Urbi et Orbi blessing at Christmas and Easter, said the prayer and blessing will be televised as the square will be empty owing to the current lockdown. (Rome is 5 hours ahead of Louisville. So, 6 pm their time is 1 pm Louisville time.) The presentation can probably be found on EWTN TV. You can find live EWTN radio at https://www.ewtn.com/radio/listen-live
• The cloistered life offers lessons for the world. See https://cnstopstories.com/2020/03/17/in-the-time-of-covid-19-the-cloistered-life-offers-lessons-for-the-world/#noredirect
• If you can’t go to confession, take your sorrow directly to God, the Pope says – https://www.osvnews.com/2020/03/20/if-you-cant-go-to-confession-take-your-sorrow-directly-to-god-pope-says/
• Staying connected while facing the coronavirus – https://cnstopstories.com/2020/03/19/advocacy-groups-offer-tips-to-stay-connected-while-facing-the-coronavirus/#noredirect
A GOOD SCRIPTURE VERSE
“Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” – Romans 12:11-12
Dear Lord, please help the world defeat this coronavirus!
Be calm! Stay well! God bless us all!
Chuck
ChuckLynch4782@gmail.com