So, I learned yesterday that Masses
and ministries will be closed, according to the advisement of many bishops
throughout the United States because of the worldwide spread of the Corona Virus. My own parish is given this same order by our
bishop. Naturally, many people in my
parish are crushed by this decision.
Yes, we don’t want this pandemic to spread, but there is this ongoing
thirst to experience Christ in the Eucharist.
But, just because we don’t have ministries or worship, does not mean
that Our Lord is not present among us.
I must confess that I failed on a
couple of opportunities when I went to Soup and Stations at my parish the other
day. There weren’t as many people there,
and a couple different arrivals were eating, set apart from everyone else. I was moved to sit with them, but decided
against it because of my own personal anxiety.
I regret not having moved over there to talk to them as each person sat
alone by themselves. Is this gathering
not to bring people together? In praying
the Stations of the Cross afterwards, the words brought out the seeing Jesus in
everyone, especially in His suffering and our call to be compassionate. Yes
Jesus, I failed to approach You in Your loneliness in my brothers and
sisters.
We may not be able to join together
as much as we would like, because of the virus; but we can smile at one
another, pray with Jesus in His set apart Agony in the Garden, and be
strengthened in the redemptive suffering of Jesus.
