I remember St. Patrick’s Day 2020. We had just gotten word that we were in a worldwide pandemic. Everything got shut down. We all went into isolation. Catholic mass obligation was dispensed. No restaurants, movie houses, in school classes, working from home (if you weren’t furloughed), empty highways . . . remember? Of course you do. We’d never seen anything like it.
Well here we are now, a year and three months later. Welcome back.
This Sunday (fittingly called The Body and Blood of The Lord), the church asks that all who are healthy (vaccinated, etc.) and emotionally able to attend mass in person, see that as a serious responsibility of Faith. “Come to mass”, the Church says.
I don’t know about you but it’s all a bit of a blur for me. It’s like starting to wake up from a bad dream. “What was that?!” And there’s a bit of a “hung over” feeling (not that I’ve ever been hung over – – heh heh!) Handshakes and hugging seem strange and new, planning get-togethers feels slightly daring.
Suddenly, like the Spring, life begins its normal rhythm. There are still serious concerns, of course. Much of the poorer nations have only begun to recover. Lack of vaccine is an issue we cannot turn our backs on. We must help them. But here at home we breathe easier.
So what was it like for you? Did you meet the virus personally? Someone you love infected? Did it test your Faith? Do you feel different? Maybe we’re still too close to it to find out what it did to us. In time we’ll look back and see it in perspective.
Even so, here are a few preliminary thoughts on what we’ve seen and been touched by.
- First of all, how could any of us not see the heroism of doctors, nurses, first responders risking their lives to save those infected by the virus? Some paid the greatest price and gave their lives – – as they fought for the lives of others. God has a special place for them in heaven. My own problems, I now see as tiny compared to what these champions have faced.
- Next to touch us was the terrible suffering; those 500,000 Americans who died, families left saying their tearful goodbye’s on the telephone, the disproportionate level of sickness in the poor and people of color (we have to do better for them). Did you let those stories touch you?
- Was there occasion for you to go to God about all this? What did you say to Him? Have you come to realize how fragile life can be? How fragile government and civilization can be? How the only way to solve our problems is in loving? And the only true love is one that is willing to suffer – – as Christ has shown us?
- Do you want to be kinder now? More patient with people different than you? Are you more willing to withhold harsh judgement, knowing we all face problems, and carry hurts, some too deep to put into words? I pray to God for that grace.
So once again, welcome back! Fr. John and I have prayed for you and talked about you and wondered how you have been. We can’t wait to see you. The children and grand-children (some have grown 6 inches!).
Lastly, thank you Lord for bringing us together again. Help us to be better people this time. Show us the work that love would have us do.
With love,
Fr. Tim
