Update/reflection from Fr. Gratton (4 April, 2020):

N.B. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered today for All of our Parishioners and for Evelyne A. Fields+ (by Mary Johnson)

Important Updates:
1) This morning I received a call from the State Chaplain informing me that I have been officially called to orders to go on State Active Duty, beginning Monday, April 6th. I will report to Camp Johnson on Monday, and will find out my duties at that point. All I know right now is that I will be serving the people around the state of Vermont (medical staff, Soldiers, the sick and dying). My orders came much quicker than I expected, but I am happy to serve people, especially during these difficult times.
2) Fr. Matthew Rensch will fill in for our parishes while I am working for the National Guard. He will arrive at the rectory in Bethel on Monday, and begin serving you in a similar way that I have over these past few weeks. He is better with technology than I am, however, so he might even have some videos for you!  The two of us are currently in communication to help make his transition to this area as smooth as possible. Please welcome him with your prayers and words of encouragement, and please thank him for taking on this new challenge!
3) Daily Mass Intentions: There are a LOT of openings over the next few weeks for Mass intentions. Please let me or Fr. Rensch know if you would like a Mass said for a particular intention, etc. If you choose to offer the suggested $10.00 you can either mail it to the rectory or donate through Online Giving on the website.

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Reflection on the daily Mass readings http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040420.cfm

I want to focus on the very last line of the Gospel, today: “They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, ‘What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?’” (John 11:56).

Things are finally coming to a head in Jerusalem. There is an atmosphere of anxiety, intensity, anger, jubilation. There are so many competing emotions among the people of Jesus’ day that it is palpable. You can see the plan unfolding rapidly in the Gospel with the high priest speaking of the imminence of Jesus’ death. You have the Jews in the Temple, preparing for Passover, wondering where Jesus is and if He will be too afraid to show His face in public, now that He has a target on His back. If you continue reading this passage (beyond what is given to us today) you even see the Apostles nervous and concerned if Jesus will attend the Passover feasts or not.

Everyone is anxious. Everyone can feel that something is different in the air. They are not sure how it will all end, but they can sense something big is about to happen.
That is precisely why the Church gives us this reading the day before Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is when Jesus triumphantly enters the city of Jerusalem like a conquering king. The people swoon over His mighty presence, and then it all changes. How quickly they turn on Him. Jesus’ Passion begins right after this spectacular entrance, and it becomes one of the darkest weeks in the history of the world. It is so dark that most people who are close to Jesus feel lost and without hope by the end of it—not even imagining that Easter and the Resurrection could be around the corner.

The Church is preparing us well to go through the roller coaster of emotions in Holy Week, which begins tomorrow. We are on the precipice of an adventure for our souls. We are now the ones anxiously waiting the unknown, and how all of these holy events will unfold. We are just like the Jewish faithful in the Gospel, sensing that something is in the air, someone is trying to kill the Son of God, and we, too, wonder in our hearts those same words from long ago, “What do you think? That He will not come to the feast?”

Indeed, we also wonder in our hearts, “How is this going to happen? We have never had a Holy Week like this before. How will it all unfold? Will He even come to the feast, this year? Will He still save us from ourselves?”

The answer is, “YES!”

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!

Though we, too, sense something is different in the air. Though we, too, will go through a Holy Week that is confusing and unknown. Though we, too, wonder how it all will turn out in the end. One answer remains true: JESUS CHRIST WILL BE AT THE FEAST!

He has given everything for our salvation, and no matter what chaos or confusion or fear might be surrounding us at the moment, it will not stop Him! He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the Good Shepherd, the Divine Healer. We will walk with Him on the path of His Passion this week, and He will overshadow us with His love on Eastern morn.

There may be something in the air, but it will not stop Him from saving us. It didn’t stop Him two thousand years ago, and it certainly will not stop Him now.

We are about to embark on a journey that will bring our hearts from the depths of despair to the heights of heaven. Enter this week with your whole heart.

Do not be distracted by the unknowns and the questions that all of our hearts are asking right now. Just stay close to the Heart of Christ. You will see Him in all His glory next Sunday morning, for He will most certainly be at the Feast.

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God bless you all, and know of my prayers for each and every one of you.

In His Most Sacred Heart,

Fr. Gratton