Pentecost Sunday.
My Mom lives with my sister in Ottawa. They have been cooped up together for more than two months. I had not seen my Mom since before March break, so last week I took her up to the cottage for a few days for a change of scene. It was great weather and I was able to do some work for her — installing the air conditioner units, repairing and painting the deck, getting the garden started, cutting grass, etc. There is no wifi at the cottage and minimal cell phone reception so it was a short vacation from the daily news and the anxiety of the lockdown.
This interminable lockdown started as fourteen days to slow the spread of the virus — it has now been going on for almost fourteen weeks! We missed almost all of Lent, and all of Easter season. At the beginning of the lockdown, it did not seem unreasonable to accept some drastic measures to stop the virus, even if this meant closing the Churches during Holy Week and Easter. As Cardinal Collins has said all along, this was solely about protecting the vulnerable in our parishes. But this will not be the new normal. We simply cannot continue to live without the Eucharist!
We still do not know when or how we will begin to reopen our Church, but we should be prepared for some restriction on numbers, and guidelines for social distancing. The Cardinal has arranged for every parish in the diocese to receive a shipment of hand sanitizer and reusable masks. We have been advised that we will also need a large number of ‘volunteers.’ Practically, this means that everyone attending Church will be a ‘volunteer.’ Many hands make light work. When we come to Mass we come as members of our parish family, with our share of the common chores. It was St. Paul who said, “If any one will not work, let him not eat.” So, come to Mass prepared to lend a hand.
Hopefully, we will soon be able to celebrate Mass with limited attendance. If we cannot accommodate everyone on Sunday, we may spread out the attendance over the week with daily evening Masses. In that case, assisting at weekday Mass would satisfy the Sunday obligation. Those who are vulnerable will be encouraged to continue worshiping at home for the time being. There is some suggestion that the pews may need to be sanitized after each Mass. Since everyone attending is ipso facto a volunteer, this will not be an issue.
We are celebrating Pentecost this Sunday, even if we cannot worship together around the altar as we would like. Remember that when Jesus appeared to Mary and the Apostles in the upper room on that first Pentecost he came through locked doors. Those locked doors were no barrier for Jesus, and this virus lockdown is also not a barrier. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name …” Wherever you are this Sunday, invite Jesus in and he will be there with you. Keep praying for the day when we can again celebrate Mass together in our Church.
