Dear Parishioners,
I saw an interesting article about how things may change as a
result of the pandemic. It also spoke about how things have
changed. If we imagine that we are slowly coming out of our
houses, what world will we see, what culture will we experience
and what reality awaits us? Of course, I hope for all the good
things to remain. Although there is still strong divisions in our
society, I have felt a sense of strong community as my wife and I
walk around the neighborhood. I have had more conversations
with people I didn’t know than ever before. There is a picture of a
mountain range taken from a nearby city that has not been seen
for decades from that location. I have spent more time with my
grandchildren with whom I live than I really did prior to this. I
have heard from friends and communicated with others much
more than before. I feel a certain urgency and a need to connect
with others which before would have been put off as, “I'll get to
it later.” I have a group of friends from Indiana that I get
together with weekly over Zoom. It has become an important
part of the week.
Economically, it will be interesting to see what places survive and what places are gone after this. There is for sure great sorrow and tragedy in that loss for the people involved and for the community. We have lost a wonderful little coffee shop nearby for instance. I wonder as well what will be different about church? Certainly, we will have social distancing for a while and changes in how we do Mass. But will we look at church differently? Will we see it differently now that we have been kept away for a while? Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? But as well, has our relationship with God changed? Have we relied on Him to get us through? How is your prayer life? If it is the same as it was, then I wonder. My prayer life has taken on a bit more depth and seriousness. My brother had Covid but got through. My Mom in a nursing home had a roommate who tested positive, but she herself is negative for the virus. These are little skirmishes with death and doubt that call forth the need to pray and ask for God’s protection. They also call for thanksgiving at the little things that show us love and goodness. Of course, God will be the same. He is the same now and forever. He didn’t leave nor abandon us. Remember he doesn’t take away our crosses but helps us to carry them. So let us prepare to return to “normalcy.” I hope for the good and pray for God’s strength to carry us.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
