To watch Fr. Joe’s homily from the Sixth Sunday of Easter: CLICK HERE!
In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus say to his Disciples of the past and present, if you love me you will keep my Commandments…
As we know there are 10 Commandments that can be whittled down to: LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS, as YOURSELF.
Every time I hear Governor Cuomo remind people to be mindful of any number of actions to not only protect oneself, but to protect others, I think of the quote, “the proof of our love of God is seen in our love for one another.”
And several times this week, the Governor was asked about people not wearing masks or bandannas when in public, he said, “the wearing of face coverings is an act of respect for the other person.” Says the Governor, “It ain’t all about you,” it is about every one of every age.
Could it be, these surreal times are an opportunity for all of us to come to know God, in loving our neighbors in a self-offering manner that can only be demonstrated if we on some level already love God?
Opportunities that reflect our love of God thru our love of others are often all around us. Just maybe during this global pandemic, we are called to care for one another by taking extraordinary measures that include:
- The suspension of public worship
- Self-isolation and/or quarantining
- Tending to the sick
- Supporting first responders
- Avoiding public places
- Not hoarding supplies
- Working remotely
- Attending school remotely
- Washing our hands
- Social distancing
- Wearing a mask in public
- Even not going physically to Church buildings
Are themselves expressions of our love of God.
Just maybe, in this challenging and uncertain time, maybe we can remember the admonition of the first letter of John 4: 20, “For whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
So, for the love of God (literally), wear a mask, social distance, stay home, stay safe, keep watch and pray.