Let’s start with some fantastic new, a record
465 chicken BBQ dinners were served to support Charlotte Comfort Home. Thank
you to all the volunteers and those who came to support this ministry of Our
Lord’s compassion. All the safety protocols were in place and no one felt
afraid to come to pick up their dinners.
After months of quarantine, after weeks of
protest and unrest, no doubt there’s a pretty lengthy list of things that we
are afraid of. That’s piled on top of the things we carry in our own lives and
families. Maybe you’re not worried about COVID, but about that friend
who’s dealing with a disease that’s far more known and can be far more
dangerous. Maybe your job has been interrupted by a temporary layoff. I’m
thinking of some police officers right now who feel more vulnerable and less
supported and protected than ever before. There’s no shortage of
fears to contend with on a pretty regular basis.
This morning, I was speaking with a friend
about their returning to Mass for the first time after months of
quarantine. All of the safety protocols that you could have imagined or
anticipated were already in place in his church. When I asked him how it went he
said “yeah I ended up not going.” He started going through a list of
things “yeah, well you know they said that the obligation is still not in force
and I’m nervous about going there just yet and I figure let me give it a few
weeks…” But I said to him – “dude, you were at Home Depot last Friday,
you’ve already got your hair cut, you get take out all the time, you keep checking for an update on when your
gym is reopening – not for nothing, that’s a lame excuse.” We’ll see how he makes out this
weekend.
Not to pick on him or anyone, and I am very cautious
and told my parishioners to stay safe and remain home if they are ill or have a
prior medical condition if they are fearful to come to Sunday Mass.
However, have we have allowed safety and
precaution now to grip us from receiving the most nourishing thing we can
receive for our souls, Jesus’ body and blood in the Eucharist…
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who
look to you for wisdom and courage during these scary times. In our prayers
today, may the Spirit guide us to return to our churches to be fed and
nourished by the Bread of Life. 22 attended Mass at Holy Family yesterday,
maybe another 22 will join them next Sunday to nourish our weary souls.
