Separation and Reunion
Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. (Jn 16:20)
Life can get complicated sometimes. When things get complicated a vague answer doesn’t seem to help. We see that in the disciples situation. They are agitated with doubt, mental conflict, or pain, when Jesus tells them that he is leaving them for a little while but will return. While He is absent, although they will weep and mourn, their grief will turn into joy. Life is filled with joy and sadness, life and death, ups and downs, failure and success, separation and reunion... In our own lives, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic or when tragedies happen, we may sometimes feel abandoned and separated from God. He may seem distant and unreachable. This separation is painful; it fills us with anxiety and fear. We may know in our hearts that He is always with us and never really far from us; that we can turn to him in prayer and trust in him. But still, we long for that final, complete reunion with Him in heaven. Saint Augustine beautifully expressed this truth in his Confessions: for you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you (Book 1, Ch. 1). Because our faith enables us to trust in God's goodness and love, we can look forward to this reunion with confidence. Imagine how infinitely happy we will be when we are reunited with the Lord in our true home where our heart can rest in him for all eternity. So, “Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
Prayer In the Time of Coronavirus
May our gracious God bless them in their dangerous work and give them the consolation of knowing they are truly doing His will in eliminating this newest plague on the world.
O Jesus, healer of all disease, help us to overcome fear and anxiety which prevents us from working together to overcome this human tragedy. Remain with us, Lord and Savior, as we endure the difficulties and disruptions of our daily lives. Give us patience, serenity and peace of mind and heart during these unsettling times. Help us to have profound trust that you are with us and will help us to prevail over this pandemic.
We remember, O, Lord, those who have died from this disease as we pray for their eternal peace in your loving embrace. Please give to those who mourn their death every consoling grace and strength during their grief and sorrow.
In this time of danger and fear, we turn in filial love and trust to our Mother Mary, the health of the sick and comforter of the afflicted, the Mother of Good Counsel, to intercede for us to be delivered from present sorrow and obtain protection from this world-wide scourge.
To you O clement and loving Mother, we entrust ourselves to your protection and deliverance from this present world-wide danger. Amen. (Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston, Joseph A. Fiorenza)
Hail Mary full of grace…
Peace in Our Risen Lord,
Father Vincent-Vuong Nguyen