Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.” (Ps 18:7) In a reflection on the current reality, today’s psalm resonates deeply in my heart. For all intents and purposes, our lives have virtually (pun intended) been turned upside down. Distress. This week, Dr. Acton referenced the movie Groundhog Day, specifically how Bill Murray’s character went through the stages of grief. Distress. We have friends who live at a distance from close family who are being directly impacted by COVID-19 but they are unable to be with them. Distress. My college roommate is a diocesan priest and his heart aches at limitations placed on the sacraments and his ability to minister to others. Distress. Adults and students are under increased strain caused by isolation, creating vulnerabilities for depression and anxiety. Distress. Many are experiencing some sort of grief, fear, concern, distress right now. We pray for those struggling with sickness and those caring for them.
But let us read that response again: “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.” We are not alone in these times of #StayAtHome orders, social distancing, and remote work environments. God is with us. In these times of great distress, for many of us, lay great opportunity. “In my distress I called upon the LORD and cried out to my God; From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.” (Ps 18:7). If I were to be so bold as to extend that thought (I am), the next part would state, ‘and he guided his radical disciples into action’. My friends, how can we take this opportunity to support one another and be a source of joy to our neighbors, our friends, co-workers, family? We have been forced to take a pause in life--events are being canceled, restaurants are closed, sports are on hold, and the ever-popular cultural phenomenon of “busy-ness” has come to a screeching halt (for many). We are scared and distressed. Where can we turn? To the Lord. To each other (albeit virtually). Recent events have demonstrated the need for community and encouragement. I challenge us to be creative with our new norms. Pray together via zoom, Google meet, FaceTime, Duo, Messenger. Our family has been praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet with family and friends every night at 9pm via Zoom because (guess what?!), we’re home; we’re not busy; plans are canceled; let’s pray together!
If your home is now also a classroom or an office, I hope it is filled with peace, positivity, and some craziness...mine is pretty heavy in the crazy department as my new office mates tend to be pretty demanding, very goofy, but also fairly adorable (we live with kids ages 5, 3, and 1½). We’ve been to the moon (and the sun somehow) in their rocket ship, built giant tents with blankets and pillows in the living room, started seeds for a garden, attended “movie church” on Sunday, enjoyed lots of movies with popcorn, “hunted” for rocks and stuffed animals, and made mud pies (also known as chocolate poop, depending on who you ask). Our home right now serves as a source of joy. We hope to share that with others, to be a light in the darkness. If you are experiencing distress, think about how your home can be a source of joy, call upon the Lord, and trust that He hears you. If you need a source of joy or a connection to community, please let us know.
Abundant Blessings,
Brandon Meyer