Nothing On My Own - I Will Never Forget You

Homily for Wednesday of the 4th Week in Lent

Every one of us has a special memory or two that is triggered by a particular Scripture reading. Today’s Gospel text recalls a memory for me each time I hear it. It was the Gospel reading for the day following my arrival at St. Francis Woods. I was not settled yet and was not supposed to start my work as chaplain until April 1 which was still three days off. So I attended the communion service with the sisters that morning. Sr. Joyce was to give a reflection on the reading, and she spoke of a boy she knew who imitated his father whenever he could. Jesus tells us specifically today that “the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing.” These words sounded like an apt way to begin my ministry at St. Francis Woods,

So, one possible mindfulness trigger that we could use is “nothing on my own.”

However, there is another possibility from the text from Isaiah. Perhaps those of you who are trying to anticipate what word or phrase I might single out will find “I will never forget you,” a helpful mindfulness trigger.

So, today you get to choose which one works for you. “Nothing on my own,” or “I will never forget you.”