Lockdown and Gospel - Day 7, January 16 (Saturday of the first week of Ordinary time)

(How does the today’s Gospel speak to me during the lockdown? Allow me to share with you my humble reflection.)

« When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ » (Mark 2:16)

The Pharisees prided themselves on their strict observance of the law. They’re scandalized by Jesus’s proximity to those known for breaking the law. Yet Jesus is only showing God’s concern for all his children on earth. His liberal hospitality reflects the mercy that God wants to offer every human being, without any triage to weed out the unworthy.

As a disciple of Jesus, I am the object of his hospitality, he welcomes me into his home. But he also calls on me to be the agent of his hospitality in my surroundings. During this lockdown, how can I reflect Jesus's unconditional hospitality? Perhaps I could enlarge my “virtual bubble” by reaching out to those who feel forgotten or neglected by me.

Abba, Father, help me overcome my natural tendency to withdraw into a small group of close friends who resemble me. As Jesus did, I want to show your generous hospitality to those who sometimes feel left out. Teach me to welcome them around my heart’s table.

Amen.

Lockdown and Gospel - Day 6, January 15 (Friday of the first week in Ordinary time)

(How does the today’s Gospel call me to live the lockdown? Allow me to share with you my humble reflection.)

“Then some people came to Jesus, bringing a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.’ (Mark 2:3-4)

Jesus’ popularity continues to grow so that it becomes difficult to approach him. For a paralytic who cannot move, this is impossible ... unless you have friends ready to intervene and four strong men who aren’t afraid of tearing down walls to achieve their goal. Jesus, admiring their faith, heals the paralyzed man and forgives his sins.

I admire these friends and strong men who care for this feeble one. They have only one thought: the good of their crippled friend who alone can do nothing for himself. I admire their creativity and determination, their collaboration and generosity. In a similar way, I admire those who today, in the context of this pandemic, find creative ways to support the poor, the sick and the lonely.

Abba, Father, give me the generosity and creativity of the paralytic’s friends. Awaken in me the desire to help those who suffer from this confinement even more than I do. I can at least carry them to you in my daily prayer. And may my prayer generate in me gestures of friendship and solidarity. 

Amen.

Lockdown and Gospel - Day 5, January 14 (Thursday of the first week of ordinary time)

(How does the today’s Gospel call me to live the lockdown? Allow me to share with you my humble reflection.)

"A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’" (Mark 1:40-45)

In Jesus' time, people who suffered from leprosy were marginalized, cut off from social relationships, excluded from the human community. In addition to suffering physically, they were deprived of human warmth, affection and intimacy. The leper in this story dares to approach Jesus and Jesus dares to approach him. The master’s compassion purifies the leper and heals him in all the dimensions of his being.

The lockdown helps me understand what it means to be forced to keep my distance, to be cut off from those I love, to be deprived of affection. I understand more clearly the leper’s deep suffering. Perhaps the lockdown will also help me grow in solidarity with all the marginalized and those who are left behind: the homeless, the poor, refugees, exiles, ex-prisoners ... the list goes on.

Abba, Father, I would like to be like Jesus, filled with compassion when facing the suffering of others, attentive to their deepest needs, open to contact with them. I too would like to reach out to them, stretch out my arms to welcome them, open my hand to share myself with them. Give me your Spirit of compassion and generosity.

Amen.

Lockdown and Gospel - Day 4, January 13 (Wednesday of the first week in Ordinary Time)

 

(How does the today’s Gospel call me to engage the lockdown? Allow me to share with you my humble reflection.)

“Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever… Jesus came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” (John 15:11)

The first miracle that Mark recounts in his Gospel is an exorcism. The physical healing of Simon's mother-in-law is the second. Jesus frees people from illnesses of both the soul and the body. He thus manifests his dominion over the powers of evil that prevent human beings from being fully alive. In response to his healing, Simon's mother-in-law places herself at the service of others. Having recovered her health, she imitates Jesus by loving her neighbor.

The pandemic is making us all sick to varying degrees. I may not have caught the virus, but I am suffering the consequences of its spread in our world: impoverished relationships, difficulties at work, anxiety and isolation lead to discouragement, even to depression. Healthcare workers - blessed are they - are dedicated to freeing us from physical illness, but who will free me from the sickness of soul that this lockdown causes?

Abba, Father, I also need healing. Open my heart to your Spirit, the "hand" of Jesus reaching out to touch me and set me free. Restore peace and confidence in me so that, as did Simon's mother-in-law, I will happily serve others.

Amen.

Lockdown and Gospel - Day 3, January 12 (Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys)

(How does the today’s Gospel call me to live the lockdown? Allow me to share with you my humble reflection.)

“I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

Why has the Eternal Word come into our world and embraced our weakness? Why did he teach us the path of Life? Why did he die so painfully on the Cross? For one reason only: so that we may be filled with joy, and that our joy be perfect. But not just any joy: his joy, his very own! In the sentences that precede and follow the quoted verse, he explains how to receive his joy: by remaining in his love and by loving one another.

Finding joy in this lockdown is not obvious. I can’t seem to find too many find sources of joy in the present circumstances. But when I find no joy in myself, Jesus shares his own joy with me. He spoke of this perfect joy the night before his passion. Wouldn't that be a sign that the joy he's talking about has nothing to do with the circumstances I have to face? Rather, it springs from an inner conviction that I am loved since all eternity ... and from the decision to love in others in return.

Abba, Father, open me to the joy of your son Jesus. Help me understand how much I am loved. Show me how to share with others the love that Jesus gives me. Despite this lockdown - and any other obstacles in my life - I will experience a joy that the world cannot take away from me, a perfect joy. Amen.

Lockdown and Gospel - Day 2, January 11 (Monday of the first week in ordinary time)

 (How does the Gospel of today's Mass call me to live the lockdown here at home? Allow me to share with you my humble reflection.)

Jesus said: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” … Immediately, [Peter and Andrew] left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:15.18)

This is the gist of Jesus' message, according to Mark: the time is ripe for God to come and reign in our hearts and in the world, we just need to welcome God’s intervention. Peter and Andrew, James and John believed him, they left everything to follow him.

Very nice, but I have two objections. First, a lockdown doesn’t seem a ripe time for anything, it rather seems dismal to me. I can't see anyone, I can't do anything, not even go to Church to pray a little. And second, even though, like the apostles, this lockdown obliges me to give up many things, I have no choice, it is forced upon me. They were free, unlike me.

Abba, Father, help me to overcome these negative reactions. Make me understand that times are never ripe in themselves, that it is I, rather, who must turn them into a propitious moment. And teach me to freely accept the situations imposed on me, so that they become opportunities for growth and renewal. Your reign comes today, I only have to open my heart to welcome it.

Lockdown and Gospel -- Day 1, January 10 (Baptism of the Lord)

(Here is a short reflection on how I see the Gospel of today’s Mass calling me to live the lockdown here in Quebec.)

“People from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to John, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.... In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan."(Mark 1, 5,9)

The evangelist Mark relates how the people of Israel responded with one heart to John the Baptist's invitation to come and be baptized. Jesus joined this movement discreetly, without drawing any attention to himself. He mingled with the crowd of sinners and accepted to be immersed in the water with them. He joined his people as they sought to distance themselves from evil in all its forms.

The solidarity shown by Jesus in this scene invites me to be in solidarity with those around me during this lock-down. I also am a member of a people that seeks to avoid the physical evil of the coronavirus. This effort isn’t easy for any of us, and I might be tempted to think only of my own well-being. Yet, the Gospel invites me to follow Jesus in striving for the common good, the good others share with me.

Abba, Father, help me to recognize this lockdown as an opportunity to contribute to the good of my brothers and sisters by being patient, persevering and courageous. Teach me to follow the example of your Son Jesus, make me aware that we are all in this together.