Author: admin

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In these uncertain times it’s natural for all of us to live in some state of fear and anxiety, because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

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But there are two ways to combat these negative feelings.

The first is to be grateful. It sounds strange to say, but we still have so many things to be grateful for. 

Most of us still have our jobs, we have safe homes to live in, food on our shelves, and so many Americans working heroically around the clock to find a cure to the Coronavirus and to care for the sick. 

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We can also look back over other periods of uncertainty in our lives and see that God pulled us through. As it’s written in scripture, “God is faithful.”

He keeps his promises.

Abraham learns this, too, as we hear in our first reading. God promises to make of him a great nation with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. 

Today half of the world’s population calls Abraham their father in faith.

A reminder that God is faithful.

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That gratitude then leads to trust. 

One way we demonstrate our trust in God is to be generous to others.

Namely, feeding those who are hungry today. Caring for those who are sick today. Reaching out to those who are lonely today. Donating to charitable causes today.

The opposite of such trust means hoarding our resources and supplies out of fear that we may run out tomorrow. 

But remember the words we pray every single day, “Give us this day, our daily bread.” Our faith is based on a God who provides our daily bread.

We don’t need to worry about tomorrow.

Just today.

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That’s easier said than done, I know. 

But we’d still benefit from trying to maintain an attitude of gratitude in these uncertain times, trusting that the Lord will provide for us each day, so long as we do our part in providing for others.

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Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus, newspapers have been listing a series of books that you and I may want to consider reading in light of the times.

Examples range from Edgar Allen Poe’s, “The Masque of the Red Death,” to Stephen King’s 1,200-page thriller, “The Stand.”

Each novel entertains the idea of some silent killer wreaking havoc on society.

While timely, these books begin collecting dust as soon as we’re finished; we know how they end. So we place them on the shelf, perhaps never to be read again.

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Then there are the classics, books appreciated generation after generation because of their brilliance, wisdom, and wit. 

Authors like Dante, Shakespeare, and T.S. Elliot come to mind.

Their insights into humanity are timeless.

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Beyond the classics is the bible.

It’s more than a page-turner, and more than a classic. It’s meant to be read again, and again, and again, because it best teaches us how to live our lives.

Soaking in the words of Jesus, in particular, is a must.

As he says in today’s Gospel, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

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The word “disciple” comes from the Greek, “to learn.” To be Jesus’ disciple means to learn from him. 

So when was the last time I cracked open my bible or highlighted a particular passage? When did I last soak in the words of Jesus?

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Herein lies the difference between a novel like Stephen King’s, The Stand, and the bible. Both cost about 20 bucks on Amazon. 

But one ends up collecting dust on our shelf after reading it, while the other should be the most important point of reference in our lives. 

If we haven’t already, sit with the Word of God today for a few minutes.

Let Jesus speak to you.

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Some health officials have described our country as being at war with the Coronavirus. What makes it so dangerous is the fact that it’s an invisible enemy.

We can’t see it, we can’t touch it, we can’t taste it. We can only feel it… after we’ve been infected.

As a result, we’ve been instructed to self-quarantine, to retreat into our homes, to lock our doors until further notice.

Although that may largely protect us from the virus itself, there’s another silent killer among us.

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Loneliness.

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Loneliness is an indefinite state of sadness; that feeling that something is missing; that we have nothing to do, nowhere to go, nobody to talk to; like we’re alone in the universe.

It can hit us like a sack of bricks, especially while quarantined.

But it doesn’t have to.

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It may feel like I’m splitting hairs here, but there’s a world of difference between loneliness and aloneness.

While both imply a type of absence, loneliness makes us feel isolated. 

Aloneness, on the other hand, means being by yourself without feeling lonely; you still feel connected to others. 

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This must’ve been what Jesus felt quite often. 

A sense of aloneness.

Although he was separated from his heavenly Father, for example, he didn’t feel lonely. As he says in the Gospel today, “The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone.”

Jesus remained connected to his Father through prayer.

These were the moments when he poured his heart out, when he listened to his Father, when he begged for strength, when he felt the deepest sense of intimacy and belonging.

Although they were separated, Jesus remained connected psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually to his Father through prayer. 

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That’s also what we must do – remain connected to the Lord and to one another. Say a prayer. Pick up the phone. Have a real conversation. Be proactive in reaching out. 

A friend of mine has even started scrolling through his contacts, calling every person he can just to say, “hello.”

We combat the Coronavirus by staying home. But we combat loneliness by reaching out to God and to one another.

So who might you contact today?