Daily Reflection for Monday, April 13, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners!
We encourage you to reflect on Monday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041320.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33
Responsorial: Psalm 16:1-2A and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
Gospel: Matthew 28:8-15
Our reflection on Monday’s readings:
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it." (Psalm 118:24)
Although written long before the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the words from the psalmist ring true for Easter Monday. This is indeed a day in which to rejoice and be glad.
I have lived many different experiences over the years during the church season of Lent. With each journey into the time set aside for prayer and reflection, I find myself typically with a focus that gains clarity throughout the 40 days. Easter Sunday and Season are a joyful celebration of the new awareness, hence new life, I receive as a result of spending some very intentional time evaluating my faith walk.
This year began no differently, but quickly took a shift. This shift was not due to any inward journey I was on, but rather one from outside in the form of a virus impacting our whole world. Extra hours intended to be spent in my parish home were instead spent in a private prayer corner. Grace of technology and the current day resources we possess meant I could still see my church and pastors as often as I wanted, but was void of the connection of “in person” community.
I shared in my past two reflections during this season that a word that surfaced early for me was “connection.” What I thought this word meant became so much more as I walked a new way this Lent. My Easter joy is still coming as I continue to reap the benefits of this word “connection” in light of the risen Christ.
I know with certainty that this crisis will pass, and we will move back into our ordinary. My prayer is that some of the changes we have made which have called us to new levels of awareness will continue. The word connection for me starts with prayer now, whereas before, I thought it meant physical presence or time spent with others. To connect begins with me holding the one I am thinking of in prayer, and then discerning what I am called to do from that prayer. Perhaps it is a simple phone call to let the person know I am thinking of them or perhaps it is indeed more tangible such as providing a needed resource in a safe way. Not a drop and run, but rather an ongoing journey; checking back in with those I am praying for and finding out how God is touching their lives this day.
Connection also means my connection with God and keeping that center in all that I do. I pray in this Easter season, that the connection you feel with Jesus is refreshed and renewed.
In Heartfelt Joy,
Lynne Brennan