To watch Fr. Joe’s homily for the Third Sunday of Lent: CLICK HERE!
I saw a one box cartoon this past week of Tony the Tiger, whose famous line is, “They’re great!” (Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes) Tony the Tiger is laying on a couch, and he says to the doctor, “I don’t feel great.”
And maybe that is most of us, in a sense… Amidst the concerns of our world, our nation, our state, our county, our family… we do not feel great, and like the Israelite people in our Exodus reading, we to might think, “is the Lord in our midst or not?”
Personally, as I thought about all that has been going on these weeks and months and most especially the past few days, the questions I would suggest is, “what would Jesus do?” As people of faith, what are we being asked to do?
There is no doubt that news of the past week or so may bring uncertainty to some, to many some fear and increased concern for family and others…
Yet, the Coronavirus is not going to lead to the Zombie Apocalypse. (It is not the beginning of the end!)
From my understanding of what has been shared over the past weeks, there are a variety of things that need our attention and action, among them:
- Make every effort to stay healthy, not only for yourself and family but for others…
- Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands, and of course, wash your hands… for 20 seconds w/soap!
- Avoid one on one contact with people who are sick, not just for your health but for theirs. (But do make an effort to keep in touch with people. There are a few newly invented things we might consider: a phone call, Facetime, Email, a letter/a post card, etc. )
- We are advised to keep some space between our self and others. What are they suggesting? 3 to 6 feet…
- Cover your cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow.
- If you are sick, stay home.
- If you are sick, do not come to Church… Stay home.
(When was the last time you heard a Priest say do not come to Church, not often because our God does ask us to gather with our fellow believers; but when we are really sick, we should not be here.)
And besides, in the World we live in, when we are sick, from the comfort of our home we can watch the Mass Live Streamed every Sunday at 10:30 am. Just go to our Parish Website to do so: StMarysCrescent.Org
Oh, and don’t forget our ongoing financial support of your Parish, whether we are here or not, like everyone your Parish still has bills and salaries to be paid!
- Avoid shaking hands with people… Some eye contact and a heartfelt hello or good bye goes a long way.
- And I am sure you are taking many other everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, like the Coronavirus.
It seems that much of the present concerns are an effort to help lessen the passing on of the Coronavirus to others, especially the sick. Those who are 60 years of age plus, who may be more vulnerable than others. (That includes your Pastor, he’s almost 71, if you care and I sure you do; he would rather not be sick).
Often many of the challenges we face in life also present opportunities…
When it comes to the Coronavirus, what opportunities may be present with authorities cancelling many public events, with people cancelling travel plans, with schools closed, with people staying home maybe we can:
- Take some time to bond as a family…
- A meal or more together, might work…
- Family time, while watching a movie, playing a game…
- A phone call to all those people we’ve been meaning to call these past few years…
- A letter or note or card to a neighbor, a relative, someone you may even take for granted.
- And, not to be forgotten, pray… Pray personally… Pray with your family… Watch a Live-Streamed Mass together as a family.
Oh, and one more thing… Don’t hoard… Leave some pasta, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, even Doritos for others…
Care and share…
Maybe this Homily can be summed up like this: God loves us… God loves you… May others thru our actions of caring and sharing be reminded that God is indeed in our midst!