Missing Our Mother:

Social distancing should lead us to deeper appreciation of community

By Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv.

Who would have believed there would be a first Sunday in May without the Kentucky Derby? Who would have believed that we would participate in Holy Week and the Easter Triduum liturgies through the internet in our homes? Who would have believed a pandemic like COVID-19 would have spread across the world and created such turmoil?

Back at the beginning of this year, I mused about how we could never know how the pages of the new calendar would be filled. Now, our calendars are filled with cancellations — long-planned events postponed, celebrations of milestones minimized or omitted. Even our sacramental life, usually celebrated in full force during this Easter season, has been put on hold.

Our celebration of Christ’s victory over death must continue, as it is his resurrection that gives us the ultimate hope that all of the struggles, trials and sufferings of this life are temporary while the life in abundance that he offers us is eternal.

In this beautiful month of May, we honor both our own mothers and Mary, the mother of Jesus and mother of us all. On Good Friday we contemplated Mary at the foot of the cross, when Jesus entrusted her care to the beloved disciple and entrusted the beloved disciple, representing all of us, to her as mother. On the final day of this month, we celebrate the 50th day of the Easter season, its culmination at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit. St. Luke tells us that Mary was in the Upper Room, waiting with the apostles, for the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit. She who had conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit already knew the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. She was present when the Spirit came and was made visible in tongues of fire and sensed in the powerful wind. Mary was present at that moment we traditionally call the birthday of the Church. On the day after Pentecost, Pope Francis has created a liturgical commemoration of Mary as the Mother of the Church, to honor that role.

In the language of our tradition, we often refer to the Church as “mother” as well. The Church gives birth to new life through baptism, nourishes her children with word and sacrament, guides and directs, comforts and consoles us throughout life. The Church, as a mother, teaches by word and example and prays for her children to live fully their potential as saints.

It is quite the understatement to say that our normal experience of Church has been disturbed. We know instinctively that we are most the Church when we are gathered in worship and in offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving in which Jesus becomes present to us in the Eucharist. When not allowed to gather together physically, it is painful and disturbing, and while the celebration of the Mass goes on and we do the best we can, the inability to receive Communion is a source of sorrow. As Catholics in the United States, even with the shortage of priests, we are so accustomed to having Mass and access to the Eucharist when we want it that we might forget there are many places in the world where the sacraments are not so readily available. Last fall’s Amazon Synod tried to address the critical lack of access to the Eucharist for the Amazonian people. Everything that is so readily available can easily be taken for granted. As di cult as our restrictions were, it was actually consoling to hear people say that they missed going to Mass.

Perhaps one of the blessings to come from these circumstances will be a greater gratitude for all that we have, spiritually and materially. 

Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us in ministry worried about the increasing sense of isolation, especially but not exclusively among the young, in a world where texting
frequently replaces conversations. Even when people are together, they seem more interested in their digital contacts. Maybe our forced social distancing and isolation will lead to a genuine longing for real community and togetherness. We might rediscover the importance of face-to-face conversations and value the importance of simply being together once again.

It is also true that crisis situations can bring out the best in people. I witnessed this in the grocery store, encountering people shopping for neighbors and shut-ins. There have been many acts of selfless service performed by people who put themselves in harm’s way to assist another in need. We should all be grateful to medical personnel and first responders who are always at our service, but who really rise to the occasion in these times of great need.

Holy Mother Church has been tested through this experience, but we remain faithful to our foundations in scripture and tradition. We must offer hope to a world in need and be eager to share the Good News of Christ’s redemptive love that is stronger than suffering and even death. 
Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!
 
Read the full May issue of Cross Roads magazine here.