We need God!

My dear friends in Christ,

As we continue to practice social distancing and are separated from each other due to this Coronavirus pandemic, it is likely that we can identify with these two disciples who were on the road to Emmaus. We are experiencing times of despair and disappointment. We have suffered tremendous hardships and losses. Perhaps these times have weakened our faith or left us questioning God’s plan for us. Just like the two we hear about today, we need something to bring us out of our gloom. We need our outlook lifted and our faith reignited. We need God! In Luke’s account, the two disciples were feeling bereft at the loss of Jesus but after they recognized Him through the breaking of the bread, they realized He was still with them. That’s true today. Jesus has not abandoned us. He’s present in His living Body to help us cope with our hardships. May this time of separation from receiving the Eucharist increase our love of the sacrament and the communities in which we receive it. May we remember that this Body knows no borders and that at the end of every Eucharistic celebration we are admonished to “go forth to love and serve the world and each other.” It’s up to us to bring our identity with the Body of Christ to life and not to leave it at the Church door — that is when we can finally return to entering those doors!

I wish to express my gratitude to all of you who continue to support our parish financially. Your generosity during this time does not go unnoticed.

May God bless you all,

Father John