April 8, 2020 Reflection – Return to the God of Mercy!
(c)Mary TV 2020 April 8, 2020 Wednesday of Holy Week Dear Family of Mary! “Dear children! I am with you all these years to lead you to the way of salvation. Return to my Son; return to prayer and fasting…” (March 25, 2020) In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is at table with His Apostles for the Passover, and He says, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me” (Mt 26: 21). Perhaps He was fishing. Hoping that Judas would be jolted out of his plan to hand Him over. Perhaps it was one last try at winning Judas back. We all feel the dramatic tension of this moment. Oh, if only Judas had realized what he was doing. But he didn’t. He had inured himself to ignoring what Jesus said, and instead he only thought of ways to use Jesus for his own ends. And so, he did so, one more time. He betrayed the Lord of Heaven and Earth to the Sanhedrin. This moment in Holy Week, is indeed a moment to take pause. How have we inured ourselves to certain behaviors that distance us from Our Lord? And when we realize they are bad, do we run to confession to beg for mercy from Him? Or do we let those behaviors fester and destroy us? Here is a psalm that celebrates the joy of returning to the Lord, of seeking His forgiveness and mercy which are always plentiful and freely given. May it be an encouragement for all who are becoming aware of their mistakes and long to return to the Lord. Ps.103 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor requite us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2020 PS. We will post the schedule for the Triduum Liturgies as soon as we can today!