Message from Fr. Rensch (6 and 7 April, 2020):
 
Mass Intentions:
 
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered yesterday for All of the Parishioners and in memory of the deceased members of the Connelly and Galecki families (by Ginny and Ron Galecki). I offered Mass today for All of the Parishioners and for God’s healing upon Marion Casarico (by Bill Lynch).
 
Important Updates:

1. As you have probably read, I arrived here at the parishes yesterday. Thank you so much for all of your warm welcomes. I appreciate it very much.
2. As Fr. Gratton mentioned before, I’m available for Anointing of the Sick for anyone in critical condition, as well as Confession, for anyone. See below.
3. Confession. The Church knows that spiritual goods are more important the physical goods. So while we should be as careful as we can, we cannot neglect our souls. Accordingly, I’ve blocked out my schedule from 9:00 – 11:30 (at St. Anthony’s) and 1:00 – 3:30 (at OLA) on Friday to hear confessions. However, to assure safety and social distancing, please make a reservation. You can do this in one of three ways:
   1. Call the rectory (234-9916)
   2. email me ([email protected])
   3. fill out this online google document. You click this link, type in “reserved” (so you can remain anonymous) and that’s it! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-bKcQr7kx8KBN0Z3TtGYWeUG5dkX6amKRNV7BunBSrc/edit?usp=sharing

1. Confession info at St. Anthony’s: I’ll hear confessions on the porch. We’ll set up a hand sanitizing station outside the porch door, as well as some signs for directions. I’ll be inside the house: for a face to face, I’ll lift the blinds; for an anonymous confession, I’ll keep them closed.
2. Confession info at OLA: Please enter and exit by the main office door (not the Church door), where there will be a hand sanitizing station. I’ll hear confessions in the regular confession room. We have a few chairs well spread out in the hall, just in case you end up waiting a bit before your confession. The confessional itself has plenty of room, more than 6 feet apart.

 
Reflection on the daily Mass readings
(http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040720.cfm)
 
The first reading today contains a pair of images that end in an unexpected way:
 
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me.
 
The passage comes from the prophet Isaiah in what is known as a “Suffering Servant” psalm. In other words, it’s a passage written in prophecy about Jesus, the suffering servant. Isaiah writes as though Jesus himself is speaking. So we should picture Jesus himself speaking those words: he has been made a sharp-edged sword and a polished arrow. Then comes the unexpected turn: God conceals the sword in the shadow of his arm, and hides the arrow in his quiver.
 
When we hear of a sharp-edged sword and a polished arrow, we expect – at least I did – a prayer for deliverance, for victory, for God’s powerful right arm to sustain the warrior. We anticipate a prayer for help and strength in battle. Instead, the sword is concealed, it’s put away in the shadow of his arm, perhaps in its sheath. And the arrow, instead of being shot from the bow, is nestled into its quiver.
 
First of all, this is a fitting image for the incarnation of Jesus. Jesus is God himself, but he took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. Jesus is God, but his divinity is wrapped up in the cloak of a human nature. Jesus is God, but he emptied himself, and is clothed in flesh. The humanity hides his divinity. Jesus is God, but we see only a man. His divine power is hidden. Jesus is a sword, hidden in its sheath. He is an arrow, concealed in its quiver.
 
This week the human weakness of Jesus reaches its ultimate test. He is rejected, betrayed, and arrested. Yet throughout it all, Jesus continues to work out our salvation by steadfastly refusing to resort to power. When Peter turns to the sword, Jesus rebukes him. Though he could call on legions of angels, he does not. Despite the taunts of the Pharisees to save himself, he stays on the cross. Jesus never unveils his divine power to blast his persecutors. In the mystery of becoming man Jesus relinquishes his power, and now it costs him his life. His obedience has led him to death, even death on a cross.
 
There are always times when we wish God would show his power. Sometimes when I remember the passion, I wish that Jesus had jumped off the cross and given the Romans and Pharisees a real shocker! Sometimes, closer to home, we wish for a similar show of divine power. We pray that he would fix this up. We hope that he would intervene in a stupendous way. Sometimes he does. Yet at other times he reminds us of the cross. He reminds us that if he took away fear, we would not see his victory of courage. If he took away a disease, we would not see his victory in perseverance. If he preserved us from death, we would not see the resurrection.
 
My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness. God’s plan of salvation, first complete in Jesus, is the pattern for all of us. It begins in humbling ourselves. It begins in suffering. It begins in taking up our cross. It begins in weakness. It begins in the final weakness, death. For the full revelation of God’s victory, we must first enter the tomb. My power is made perfect in weakness. But let us not hesitate to follow where our Lord has gone – and conquered – before us.

God bless you all!
~Fr. Rensch