The Second Vatican taught, “We do not know the time when earth and humanity will reach their completion, nor do we know the way in which the universe will be transformed.  The world as we see it, disfigured by sin, is passing away. But we are sure that God is preparing a new dwelling place and a new earth.  In this new earth righteousness is to make its home, and happiness will satisfy, and more than satisfy, all the yearnings for peace that arise in human hearts.”  (Gaudium et spes. N. 39)

Our current pandemic lifestyle will not last forever, but more important is how we live our life as a disciple of Jesus Christ, even amid the dislocations caused by COVID 19.  Today take a few minutes to reflect on two blessings:

Irish Blessing

"The test of Gold is Fire

The test of truth is Time

The test of God's love are the heaven's above and everything sublime.

Treasures in life are many,

Dreams realized our few

But I know the test of God's goodness

Is when he gave me a friend like you."

From Circle of Grace

“If you could see the journey whole, you might never undertake it, might never dare the first step that propels you
from the place you have known toward the place you know not.

Call it one of the mercies of the road:
that we see it only by stages as it opens before us,
as it comes into our keeping, step by single step.

There is nothing for it but to go,
and by our going take the vows the pilgrim takes:

to be faithful to the next step; to rely on more than the map;
to heed the signposts of intuition and dream;
to follow the star that only you will recognize;

to keep an open eye for the wonders that attend the path;
to press on beyond distractions, beyond fatigue,
beyond what would tempt you from the way.

There are vows that only you will know:
the secret promises for your particular path and the new ones
you will need to make when the road is revealed
by turns you could not have foreseen.

Keep them, break them, make them again;
each promise becomes part of the path,
each choice creates the road that will take you to the place
where at last you will kneel

to offer the gift most needed—
the gift that only you can give—
before turning to go home by another way.”

God the Father’s most precious gift to us is His Word made flesh, Jesus Christ!  On your journey the Lord walks with you, your job is to reveal His Gospel to those you meet along the way.  Take a few minutes today to reflect on Isaiah 56:7 “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”   

[Jan Richardson, from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons]

May God Be Praised!

Hear my cry!  “Lord, listen to my prayer: turn your ear to my appeal.” [Psalm 143]   God, You are our refuge and our hope, I turn to you during this COVID 19 Pandemic and plead for Your intercession.  In Your mercy and Your compassion “… grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick ….” [Collect from Mass Time in Pandemic]

Provide strength to the first responders, compassion to the medical personnel, and wisdom to government leaders.  End this coronavirus scourge.  Bring Your light to all who wander in the darkness of this pandemic and give us hope in Your eternal love today and every day.  Amen.  [Dcn. George Kelly]