Someone sent me a meme the other day: a cow is flying through the air, viewed through a car windshield, with a caption that says, “I’d normally ask a question but since it’s 2020, I’ll just keep driving……” I imagine we can all relate, and I know we are all wondering, “What more?” We are tired of restrictions on activities and travel, worried about our jobs, our families, our country. We must realize, though, that we are not unique. In every generation there have been very difficult tests and challenges. For my parents it was WWII and the Great Depression. There have been many other traumatic times throughout human history.
It seems to me that we can look at this exhausting year in a couple of ways: with sadness, despair, and anger; or with hope, faith, and ambition. I think most of us experience all of these at different times – I know I do.
In the realm of liturgy and music, there seems to be a sense of loss, since most of our parishioners are not able to be at Mass in person. Yet I have a sense of hopefulness for what is to come. In liturgy we celebrate with gathering, singing together, ritual actions of kneeling, standing, bowing, embracing. The liturgy is a window into the kingdom of heaven, and it is our rehearsal for living that kingdom here on earth. At the end of every Mass, we are sent forth to spread the Gospel.
What are we to make of the Mass in these times when few people are able to attend in person, and many more are attending remotely? When in my most hopeful, faithful states, I think we might be able to use our longing for the liturgy, for the singing, the embracing, as a catalyst for considering what it means to us. Perhaps we can use this time to make every moment of our lives an act of worship: praising God in every act; showing kindness and mercy to others; being grateful for our world and our lives. And how glorious will it be once we can come together, raise the roof of the church with song, and give each other a great big hug!
Peace and love,
Bridget Kelly Wenk
Note: Some of our cantors have been with me to prepare a reflection on the Responsorial Psalm each week. The singing of each week’s psalm is accompanied with a brief reflection. It is our hope that this might provide you with a couple of minutes of quiet prayer. You can find these on the Faith at Home page as well as our
YouTube Channel.