How well aware we are that the world pandemic is unprecedented in our history, especially in terms of its impact on our daily lives. The consequences of our essential shutdown as a nation, as a world, are far reaching and disturbing. I am sure that the many inconveniences, the lack of our usual freedoms, also fear, anxiety and distancing all make our lives difficult in ways we haven’t imagined. 

In the face of all of this, God is inviting us to a deeper, radical trust in Him. The realities we are facing may challenge us to question if we truly believe in God and entrust our lives to God’s mercy, or not? The truth is, our faith gives us a perspective, teaches us what to do in the face of adversity. On this Easter Sunday weekend, we hear the proclamation of Jesus, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” We are called to connect with the crucified Jesus, He who is not far removed from us, but is right with us in all that we are experiencing. Our faith in the Lord helps us to know that death and suffering always lead to new life … “I Am the Resurrection and the Life”!

We need to entrust our lives to our God who is powerful and almighty, but also who is near, who is intimate with our hurts, our fears, our hopes. I believe we want a God with skin on him. The Gospels are clear in teaching us that Jesus of Nazareth, the Word of God made flesh, took on skin and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Jesus was not just pretending to be human, a god masquerading in disguise on earth. Jesus was actually a man among us, fully human, as well as fully divine. It’s a great mystery, but it is the central truth about Jesus that the Gospels want us to know. It is this truth of our faith that gives us a profound hope always, and in a particular way now with all we are experiencing because of the wide spread virus. Our faith is in Jesus Christ who will bring us to new life! I do not know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future. 

As we practice “social distancing” as a way of life, we are bound together in the great Mystical Body of Christ and nothing can separate us from Him and each other. 

This prayer was shared with me, author unknown. 

May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake!

May we who have no risk factors remember those who are most vulnerable.

May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.

May we who can care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options at all.

May we who have to cancel our trips remember those that have no place to go.

And may we who are losing our money in the market, remember those who have no money at all.

May we who must settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.

During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our brothers and sisters. Amen.

— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Msgr. Larry M. Bakke is pastor for St. Clare of Assisi Parish and director of the Apostolate to the Handicapped for the Diocese of Madison.