COVID 19 Pandemic Prayer

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus story appears simple and straight forward, it is ordinary.  Two people are “downcast” and deeply disappointed.  In spite of their disappointment they offer hospitality to a stranger.  They long for Jesus and He comes to them when their hearts are burdened with their cares and hurts – they fail to see Jesus, literally right there with them.

An Academy Award-winning actress Marcia Gary Harden played her best role for the Make-A-Wish Foundation portraying Snow White for Bonnie, a

little girl dying of cancer.  Snow White was Bonnie’s favorite movie and she wanted to meet Snow White, so the date was set.

As Marcia was preparing for her bedside Performance, a casting agency called her to audition for a new Olive Stone movie.  The auditions were scheduled for the same day as her Snow White performance.  Neither could be changed, Her hospital performance for Bonnie or her chance for the Oliver Stone movie.  After a sleepless night and many tears Marcia decided to keep her promise to the little girl.  When Marcia (Snow White) entered the room Bonnie’s face lit up.

After the performance Bonnie asked Snow White, “When I die, will the prince kiss me and then I’ll wake up again?”  The room fell silent as Marcia

(Snow White) tried to think of what to say to Bonnie.  Finally, she said, “No, Bonnie, It is even better.  When you get to heaven, God will kiss you and then you’ll wake up again.”

Years later, Marcia said of that moment: “At that moment in the hospital room with Bonnie …. I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be, playing exactly the role I was meant to play.”  [Connections, April 2008, pg2]

The two disciples were searching for something, someone --- Jesus!  The sense of purpose, the sense of being part of something beyond self, to

discover what Jesus wants us to do is the Grace of Easter.  The Grace of the Resurrected Christ.  “… The disciples meeting Jesus on the

road to Emmaus mirrors the reality that God is with us in life’s most difficult, confusing, [and] desperate moments.”  [Connections April 2008 pg.1]

During our battle with the COVID 19 Pandemic many times we are like the disciples on the road to Emmaus wanting to flea the hardship of life at this moment, but Jesus reassures us He is with us.  Jesus says to you and to me, have faith in me I have conquered all, this is a blip on the road to eternity use it to walk more closely to me.  Marcia and the little girl remind us that our journey is a miracle, that our life here on earth is at its’ essence a spiritual journey.  The ordinary stuff of life: family, work, the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, the rain, the sunshine, a walk, a trip to the grocery store, etc. are the way we prepare for heaven.  Henri Nouwen wrote, “It is a story of God who wants to come close to us, … so close that there is nothing between us & him….”

[With Burning Hearts Henri Nouwen, pg.67]

The Easter Season reminds us that our journey is a gift from God!

May God Be Praised!