Today we are reminded to have courage.
I like today’s Responsorial Psalm. “Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.”
I think we are feeling a little helpless and perhaps a little hopeless as day after day we are reminded of the pandemic that has crippled our world. But day after day, we come a little closer to encountering the incredible acts of helpfulness and hopefulness that loving persons are sharing.
I had a chance to witness this love when I recently visited with my Father-in-law who is locked down in a care home in Osoyoos. We had not been able to visit with him for over 2 months, but the opportunity came on his birthday to go and experience a “window visit” with him. The care staff had arranged for us to be outside, brought Dad down and set a chair for him inside. They then called us, and we communicated through the phone with him. Friends came from Armstrong and met us there – with them and family gathered we were able to sing happy birthday and spend precious time with him. We had not seen Dad smile like that in a very long time. After our visit, dad was brought safely back to him room, and the care aid cleaned the window, the chair and contact points inside and then came outside and carefully cleaned everything we had touched in anticipation of the next family that would come and share the same joy we had just experienced. She shared in our joy, in Dad’s joy, and in his safety, our safety and the safety of those she was yet to encounter.
God is keeping us safe; he is bringing us hope. We just have to see it when we encounter it.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rm 15:13)