Catholic TV Mass Online March 14, 2021: Fourth Sunday of Lent
Presider: Fr. Mark Payne
Parish: Chaplain, Heart of the Nation
TEXT FROM THE HOMILY
This Sunday I want to really focus on a moment of self-reflection and also an examination of conscience. And examination of conscience. That's what Jesus is calling us to today. Why? He's pointing out the fact that a lot of us really prefer darkness. And you know what? I bet you your first explanation or experience would be "oh no father! On no, no, no" we don't want the darkness. Of course we don't want the darkness but you know what? We tend to prefer it, we like to hide, we like to hide from the moments that we gossip about one another. Oh I didn't say that for the times that we've really used the Lord's name in vain and believe me, if you're in the world, you hear it. And you know something? How many times do we find ourselves putting someone else down, making fun of somebody, talking about somebody? Oh if only this person weren't in our office. Or only if this person were gone. If we could get rid of this person. The reality of the matter is, we do tend to fall into the darkness. So this weekend, I’m inviting us to draw ourselves towards the light. To do an examination and say, you know something father? There are times that I do fall into that category and I’m ashamed of it. I’m ashamed as a priest sometimes that I find myself drawn to talk about somebody, use poor language, find myself in that darkness when I really should be drawn to the light. But that's why Jesus offers this Sunday to draw us to that light. To really examine our conscience and say, you know what? I can change my language. I can change the way I behave. Yes, I need to catch myself when I’m gossiping or when I’m talking about someone or putting someone down. I can be better. Yes, you can! Yes, you can. And this Sunday we focus on the crucified Christ. On the cross. As Jesus pointed out, just like Moses who lifted up the serpent in the desert Jesus is lifted up and it gives us a moment to really acknowledge, Lord, you were gracious and wonderful to die for my sins. Now I need to examine that and change my ways. To make a change. To examine and be honest. To come to the light and name the things that need to change in our lives. Whether we gossip or whether we put others down whether we want to get rid of somebody. And most especially maybe our language. To change that because when we gaze upon Jesus, we gaze upon the savior who didn't condemn the world, but died for the world for each and every one of us. So as we celebrate this Sunday take a moment whether you do it now or whether you do it sometime today, to thank Jesus for dying for us but also to say I need to make a change examining my conscience and knowing truthfully, I can live in the light and I want to prefer the light over darkness.
Entrance: Lord of All Hopefulness
Text: Jan Struther, 1901 – 1953, © Oxford University Press
Tune: SLANE, 10 11 11 12; Gaelic; harm. By Erik Routley, 1917 – 1982
Psalm 137: Let My Tongue Be Silenced
Response text: © 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Verses text © 1970, 1997, 1998, CCD. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Music © 2016 Rick Modlin. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.
Preparation: Instrumental
Communion: Open My Eyes
Text: Based on Mark 8:22-25; Jesse Manibusan, b. 1958
Tune: Jesse Manibusan, b. 1958; acc. By Ed Bolduc, b. 1969, choral arr.by Ken Canedo, b. 1953
© 1988, 1998, 1999, Jesse Manibusan. Published by OCP
Sending Forth: Christ in Me Arise
© 2008, 2010 Trevor Thomson. Published by spiritandsong.com, a division of OCP. All rights reserved.
Mass Setting: Mass of Renewal
Music: Mass of Renewal; Curtis Stephan, b. 1973; keyboard acc. By Curtis Stephan and Rick Modlin, b. 1966 © 2009 Curtis Stephan. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this liturgy obtained from ONE LICENSE, License No. A-718591.