Daily Reflection for Friday, March 20, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032020.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Hosea 14:2-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 81:6-11, 14, 17
Gospel: Mark 12:28-34
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
“Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ And to ‘love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.’” Mark 12:32-33
One of the greatest rewards of being a parent and a teacher is watching proudly when one child patiently explains to another the thing I am trying to teach. I know the lesson really stuck when I can see it being passed on.
I suspect it filled Jesus with pride and satisfaction when the scribe said to Him, “Well said, teacher! You are right …” Often in scripture, the folks listening to Jesus don’t seem to “get it.” This example of active listening is encouraging.
However, understanding the message and living the message are not the same. I can recite the greatest commandment. I understand what I’m meant to do, yet I fall short of the mark every single day.
We are in the midst of a global health crisis—full of uncertainty and fear, with no idea how bad it will get or how long it might last. For days, I’ve been stumbling around in a fog, aching to hold and touch loved ones, but forced to maintain “social distance” to protect us. I am blessed that my children are all still living at home. Many are not so fortunate.
Today I spent a lot of time feeling restless and sad. I was fed up because my kids are making endless messes and complaining that there is “nothing good to eat” in our house. I retreated to my bedroom and pulled the covers over my head.
Then I heard a commotion in the kitchen. I tuned in to what was happening and realized they’d divided themselves and were screaming from the basement freezer up to a “scribe” in the kitchen, who was inventorying the food we have available. Not long after, I received a message on our “Squad Fam” text thread with a list of meals we could have and things we’d need from the store.
This gesture (and the crazy way the kids cooperated to make it happen) made me smile. I stayed wrapped in my blanket for a bit, snuggled up, feeling loved and loving. I don’t know how to describe how to love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, but I recognized the feeling when I had it.
An alarm on my watch reminds me to get up and walk once an hour. During Lent, and for as long as the pandemic remains a threat, I will also use that alarm to remind me to stop and breathe in and let out God’s love.
Take a moment to connect your heart, mind, soul, and strength to loving God. How might you continue to remind yourself of this mutual love in the coming days?
May God’s Peace Be With You,
Trina Wurst