Strange Times...

What strange times these are. If someone had told us seven months ago that a virus previously unknown would infect the entire world and we would all have to stay indoors for weeks or months to keep from getting sick, would we not all have said, "Come on! That's not going to happen!" And yet here we are. In some sort of bizarre fantasy...except that it's real.

The isolation is driving us nuts. Is it not? How we long for and even need physical contact with other people. It's distressing to be isolated. Parents my age long to be with our children and our grandchildren. Even though we can see them on Zoom and FaceTime it's not the same. I find myself asking will I not be able to hug my grandchildren for months? Kind of rips our hearts out, doesn't it?

We are physical beings, bodily creatures. The Mass on live stream? Well, it provides some comfort. It's an opportunity to pray at the same time as other members of our parish community. We are praying at the same time, but are we praying with them? In a sense, yes, but it does not feel that way because we are NOT with them.

A live stream Mass is so much better than nothing, but in many very real ways it just falls short in comparison to physically being present at the Sacrifice of the Mass. There's a reason why watching a a Mass on TV is not a fulfillment of the Sunday obligation. We are dispensed from our Sunday obligation by our bishop, but we are not told that watching a live stream Mass takes its place. Because it doesn't. We are not attending Mass. We know it. We can feel it. And we are starving for the Real Presence of the Eucharist. Yes, the Presence. Not the live feed. Not a photograph. The actual Presence.

I'm not saying that our separation from the Eucharist is not important or required in a pandemic. I'm trusting that it is and leaving it to the epidemiologists to guide us. They are the experts and, conspiracy theories aside, I don't see any reason why they would not faithfully guide us where the facts take us. There are so many unknowns. We must acknowledge the unknowns.

Still, I hope our shepherds will think creatively and boldly, as I believe my pastor and many other priests are, to bring the Eucharist, especially the reception of the Eucharist, to the sheep. We need Jesus so badly. We especially need Him now.

Covid and Stuff

Mary was evacuated from Senegal by the Peace Corps. After several harrowing days of not knowing if/when she would come home, we learned that the Peace Corps had chartered a plane to bring home hundreds of their volunteers. Impressive work by the Peace Corps. She was quarantined for 14 days upon her arrival home. She spent it with her brother at his apartment.The photo below was taken through the glass of his porch-- the only way we could see her upon her return.

I feel for the emotional roller coaster Mary was put on, (although she seems fine :-) Deciding to serve in the Peace Corps, making all the preparations for her two year commitment, receiving a month or more of cultural training and intensive instruction in an obscure language, only to be sent home. I know I would feel like the rug was pulled out from under me. But she has a strong faith and I know she is trusting God for his plan for her to unfold.

Instead she has been a tremendous help to my post-partum daughter, a role that I would be filling but for Covid-19 restrictions.

In the middle of this health crisis my oldest daughter gave birth to our first granddaughter. (Fifth grandchild, but first girl. I have only been able to hold her once.

Since then we have seen her through the storm door. And through other open doors, leaving six feet of distance.

But, thanks to technology I was able to buy her her first Easter outfit. Now THAT was fun.

And here we are, as we bizarrely watch a live stream of Mass on Easter Sunday, the highest feast day of the year.

I'm gratefully for the technology and for the comfort of seeing my parish in real time. It was good to sing some familiar songs with the music group. But it was substantially different from assisting at Mass. (Attending Mass.) The substance of the experience is entirely different. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, according to the teaching of the Catholic Church, a participation in the reenactment of Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary. When we attend Mass, we are in the physical, bodily presence of the Lord. When we watch it on TV, we are simply watching it on TV. It's an entirely different experience. We can and should pray to receive a spiritual communion during this viewing of the Mass. Here is an example from Our Catholic Prayers.

Oh Jesus, I turn toward the holy tabernacle where You live hidden for love of me. I love you, O my God. I cannot receive you in Holy Communion. Come, nevertheless, and visit me with Your grace. Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto Your own. Amen.

Oh Lord, please don't allow us to be denied your Presence for much longer. We need you. You are the Bread of Life, our very sustenance. But until we can receive you again, may we grow in our hunger for you, and may our love for you in your Eucharistic Presence be stronger than ever before.

Blessed be God. May we all stay safe and well.