Communion Returns
This past Sunday we began a process of resuming public worship by holding communion services throughout the diocese. It is the first step that will eventually lead to the opening of churches for Mass. Here at Blessed Sacrament we offered communion from 9:30 to 10:30 am and again from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Despite the rain, we had around 240 people come to receive communion. Everyone brought masks and observed the rules of social distancing. Ushers were in place to help direct traffic and hand out umbrellas while people waited for their turn. They approached the entrance to the school in small groups where they were greeted by the priest and led in a short prayer service. They received communion and closed with a prayer and blessing. It took about five minutes. Another group then approached and the service was repeated. For the most part everything seemed to run smoothly. We plan to do it the same way this coming weekend. The times will remain the same (9:30 am to 10:30 am and 11:30 am to 12:30pm.) My hope is that in a few weeks we will be able to attend Mass in the church. I know that most of us certainly look forward to that time.
Sometimes we don’t know what we have until it is no longer there. Celebration of Mass, reception of the sacraments are things that too many of us took for granted. Suddenly they were not there and many began to realize something important was missing. This loss even brought some to tears. I remember the same thing when I was at the refugee camp in Africa. Because of violence and unrest, many had not been able to attend Mass or receive sacraments for quite some time. When they could finally go again, their response was not anger, but tears of joy. Maybe this pandemic will give us a new appreciation of what Jesus has given us. Jesus is not something we can take when we decide we want him. He is a gift. We neither deserve nor earn him. Letting Jesus control our lives can give us a new way of living in a world that we cannot control. It gives us a destination. It gives us someone to trust. If we find ourselves angry and upset at the things we cannot control, now would be the time to renew that surrender to Christ.
As the church struggles to get back to “normal”, this would be a good time to re-examine the treasures of our faith. Do we appreciate the word of God and listen to it regularly? Do we cherish the sacraments and receive them frequently? Do we see the needs of others and respond generously? For these are gifts from God to bring us peace of heart. The day may come when we are unable to find these gifts. Instead we will see unhappiness, frustration, and anger. Please don’t wait until then. It may be too late. Now is the time to seek God’s peace.