Helpless and Hopeful

This year’s Holy week and Easter celebrations are certainly different for all of us. It is the first time in our lives and journey of faith that we cannot gather as a believing and worshipping community. It may be the first time that families will not gather for the usual Easter meal. Every social aspect of our lives has been altered in ways that perhaps will only become more real to us after we have gone through this experience. These days are days filled with, fear, and anxiety, pain from sickness and loss of livelihood and death emanating from infection by the corona virus. Amid all this, it is easy to feel helpless as we wonder how it all will end.

Easter hope is the message of Christ who embraced our humanity in all its limitations apart from sin. Jesus Christ is not a stranger to suffering, pain and even death. His death and resurrection remind us that he embraced a broken world in order to renew it. He was not afraid in time of difficulty but continued to do his Father’s will to the end. Our help during these times of trial will come from God who never abandons us.

We are being called to continue to deepen our faith and trust in God especially during these turbulent times. It is perhaps time to revisit our prayer habits which often will tell us how much we depend on God and not ourselves and other created things. This is a good time to go back to the basics of our faith, recite the rosary, the creed, the Our Father. Pray for the living, the suffering the dying. Pray for those who endanger their lives for the sake of others, especially all those in the health profession.

Make an examination of conscience, every night before you go to bed. If you have time left read your Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church that you may have abandoned along the way. Pray for the spirit of perseverance and endurance.

When you have done all theses, spend some time in silence and meditation: it is good both for your spiritual and bodily health. Truly take this time to reunite yourself with God and you will rise again with him. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy Easter. .

Fr. Stephen.