Brothers and sisters in Christ
THIS COVID-19 pandemic swirling around us is like a storm in which we are being battered and buffeted. If we were in a ship, unless we are securely anchored, we could sink.
When God’s people, Israel, were in captivity in Babylon, the Lord sent words of comfort through the prophet Isaiah; we read in Chapter 43 verses 1-2:
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burnt,
and the flame shall not consume you’ ”.
Brothers and sisters, even though we are practising social distancing, or may be in self-quarantine, or under curfew, we are not alone; the Lord is at our side, ready to keep our company, if only we would pay attention.
God is always present with us through his Word, and this is a good time to focus on reading and meditating on the Holy Scriptures. Use your Liturgical Calendar or Daily Missal, and read and pray over the readings for Mass. Go over them prayerfully and listen for the Lord speaking to you through them. The readings for the Easter season are full of hope, and in times like these, we need to hope in the Lord more than ever.
Spend time praying for your family and friends, and even for people you don’t know. Just sit there, close your eyes, and call them to mind, and ask the Lord to take them in charge.
And share the message of the Gospel with your church brothers and sisters, and even with nowhereians. Call them up on the telephone or contact them through social media. Let them know how God is walking with you at this time and assure them that He will walk with them, too.
The seventh chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, tells us that if we are well grounded
– if we anchor our lives on the solid Rock of Ages – then the ship cannot sink. Whatever happens, the Lord will be in the boat.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” (Matthew 7: 24-27).
Brothers and sisters: my message for you at this time is the same message of Easter. Jesus proved that death is not the end. After death comes eternal life. There will be life after COVID-19. CHRIST IS RISEN! ALLELUIA!