Imagine

Have you ever caught yourself participating in the Mass in church yet thinking about something else? I sometimes do. Last Sunday was one of those days when my mind drifted away as soon as I sat down to listen to the first reading. As the readings, psalm and the Gospel were being proclaimed, instead of a “what’s for dinner” thoughts, I thought about the readings itself differently. What if? I thought, instead of reading those readings in their original context, which is over 2000 years old, we re-write them fast forward to year 2020, reflecting the situation around the world right now. What you will read below is simply my imagination, but I hope you will enjoy it. I wonder what would YOUR version be? Biblical time (original text)

Year 2020 (Imagine you are part of these readings)1st Reading – 1 Kings 19:9A, 11-13A

At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.

Then the LORD said to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake there was fire but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.

When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

I was alone at home one day.

Then the LORD said to me, “Go outside your house; the LORD will be passing by.”

A bushfire came and destroyed my property and belongings, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a pandemic but the LORD was not in the pandemic.

And when the virus came, I lost the job but the LORD was not taking it away from me. After the loss of the job was a tiny whispering sound: Fear not, I am!

When I heard this, I hid my face in my jumper, put the mask on and continued a prayer from the safety of my home.

And I sung the song below:

Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

R.  Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD for he proclaims peace. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.

R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. Justice shall walk before him, and prepare the way of his steps.

R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.R.  Lord, let us see your kindness, and help us to be kind to one another.

I will sing my song to the Lord; for he brings me peace. He brings reassurance and hope, He helps to build the life anew each day.

R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and help us to be kind to one another.

Because when I am kind it is You who gives my heart your kindness. And it is You, who help me to forgive when others hurt me and when I hurt those close to my heart.

R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and help us to be kind to one another.

You know what is good and all goodness comes from You. You provide me with what I need and care for what I desire. R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and help us to be kind to one another.2nd Reading – Romans 9:1-5

Brothers and sisters:

I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.

For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh.

They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Friends:

I would like to share with you what I witness and see in this year of pandemic. They are things which break my heart to know that people are not helping one another at the time of hardship and tribulation.

For I could wish that at the times like this, we would show love and care to one another by simply following the rules and seeking not what is convenient but what is good for one another.

They are many people who serve others selflessly and unconditionally. For those I thank God and pray that their loving kindness will be rewarded by God. Amen.Gospel – Matthew 14:22-33

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.

At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.

But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

After they got into the boat, the wind died down.

Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”I was exhausted that day. After the entire day of doing things which you have to do and taking care of everyone in the family, I sat in the front of TV and flipped through the channels. There were so much disturbing news everywhere. The latest explosion in Beirut almost took over alarming numbers of Covid-19 cases in the country and around the world. Thinking about a loss of income and bills to pay and my family living overseas – instead of relaxing, I felt that it is all too much and I worried. Slowly, the images of everything shown of TV spun and tired of everything, I fell asleep. In my dream there was a deep darkness everywhere. This darkness was bringing fear. Then I  saw a person shining in the darkness and waving at me. “God, Jesus, ghost? Who could that be”- I thought. 

Surprisingly, I was brave enough to ask: Are you my friend? If you are God then help me to walk through this darkness.

“I am” – I received the answer. “Come, don’t be afraid”.

Taking one step at a time, I started walking towards the LIGHT. But at some stage I thought: “This is stupid of me, I do not even know if this is God and if He cares and I am walking in darkness and I can even be worse than I am right now. I better stop, I might even die on the way through this unknown”. 

When those thoughts came to my mind, immediately LIGHT surrounded me with a warm, peaceful embrace and I heard a voice: “ It’s OK to doubt, but trust me just one step at a time”. 

After that, I woke up on the sofa and realized that it was already way after midnight. Everyone in my household was deeply asleep. I knew that my dream was real.

I turned off the TV, sat there for few more minutes in the room’s darkness and then, feeling peaceful and loved, I went to sleep with a smile whispering: “ I trust You, Lord”.

Have a good week, everyone.

Sr Grace