Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom, OP

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. John Vianney, the Curé D'Ars, who, though he was not considered a stellar candidate for priesthood, turned out to be such a good confessor that he would spend up to 18 hours a day in the confessional to meet the demands of pilgrims who came to confess to him, telling God that it was worth the suffering to help the people. In our first reading today, Moses is so tired of listening to the people grumble in the desert about having to eat manna (again!) that he asks God to just kill him. In the Gospel, Jesus tries to get away on his own after the death of John the Baptist, but ends up feeding the multitude "because they were like sheep without a shepherd." All three of these are examples working overtime to answer God's call to care for the needs of the people in front of them. We need to trust our own vocation and call, and trust that God will give us the strength to fulfil it if we only ask.

In our Gospel today, John the Baptist's disciples ask Jesus why they have to fast while his disciples do not. Jesus answers them that it is because he is with them that they have to feast, but that their time to fast will come. In our own lives there will be times when we need to fast and times when we need to feast, not because of our own choice, but because of where God is leading us in this season of our life.

In this reflection, Fr. Wisdom explores the deep connection between Christian witness, martyrdom, listening, and unity in Christ, drawing from John 17—Jesus' high priestly prayer for communion among His followers.

St. Stephen, approaching his martyrdom, confronts the "stiff-necked people" who resist the Holy Spirit. Despite their hostility, Stephen, filled with the Spirit, sees Jesus in glory and prays with profound trust ("Lord Jesus, receive my spirit") and charity ("Lord, do not hold this sin against them"), even as Saul (St. Paul) looks on.

Join us for a comforting daily homily reflecting on God's unwavering love and fidelity, as seen in the readings of Wednesday in the fourth week of Lent. Fr. Andrew Carl shares a touching personal story of his mother's faith, illustrated by a Hummel figurine and the powerful words of Isaiah: 'Can a mother forget her infant...even should she forget, I will never forget you.'

On this Ash Wednesday we are reminded of the three pillars of Lent: prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. These help us to grow in our three important loves: of God, neighbor, and self. So let's get started.