Last week I shared why I continue to wear a mask at communion, and I still came down with a cold or the flu that took me out of the loop for the weekend. I have no idea where I encountered a virus or a bacterial infection, and probably will never know. I wore a mask for Mass on Tuesday at Draper Place. I wear a mask at Countryside, the hospital, and Blaire House for visits on Wednesday. Thursday night I was down and out. In any case, may it be a reminder to us all, that this is not over. Good news, I am on the mend and plan on being with you this weekend. I know my quick need for replacement put Pam on the line, and as usual she rose to the occasion and made all the necessary calls to find assistance so we could still gather around the tables of the word and sacrament. Thank you to Deacon Tom for taking us through our kickoff for Partner’s in Charity; and to Fr. Enock Kyeremateng and Fr. John Hamm for filling in on such short notice.
We are gathering for the Fifth Sunday and week of Lent. Several have commented on how quickly this Lent is passing. I believe the war in Ukraine has garnered a great deal of our attention and occupied much of our spiritual journey. The displacement and separation of families, destroyed farms, villages, cities and lives takes its toll. Concern for refugees and the impact the war is having on the world economy all distract our spiritual journey.
I encourage us to try to use this Fifth Week of Lent to refocus for the Holy Week Journey. We enter into the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus in a detailed way. I am going to use the filter of the events in Ukraine to be the filter through which I hear the Word of God. For example, as I Walk the Walk, I wish to walk in the shoes of those who had to flee their homes as refugees for safety. At the Last Supper, “one of you is about the betray me!” and the betrayal of a democratic republic. You get the idea. Doing it together as a community can be powerful source of spiritual nourishment for us all.