Finding the Way in the Wilderness
Public Masses suspended, churches closed, the footy season paused, gigs cancelled, weddings postponed, borders closed, flights stopped, even the toilet paper is gone.
Have you ever seen anything like it?
Coronavirus is changing our lives in ways that seemed unimaginable months, even weeks ago. We’ve had to adjust to new realities such as social distancing and social isolation, and each new day brings a new wave of guidelines, restrictions and updates, not to mention more and more cases of Covid-19.
If you’re feeling worried, lost, confused, anxious, concerned, unsettled, overwhelmed, or any and all of the above, you’re not the only one (me too!).
For many of us, places of faith can be a great support in times of crisis. Whether it’s Mass, your local parish, simply praying in church, youth group, or other Christian groups, our faith communities are places we connect, feel supported and share something that is important to us, and together deepen in relationship with Jesus and encounter him. Yet, with churches closed and public celebrations of Mass suspended, we find ourselves in a modern wilderness, seemingly cut off from each other, from the Church, and perhaps, seemingly from God himself.
In the midst of this modern wilderness, the words of Jesus echo through time; “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20). Jesus is Emmanuel, God-with-us. He is with us. With us in our worry, in our confusion, in our anxiety, in our isolation. He is with us and he will never leave us. Whilst we might not be able to gather for the Eucharist, or adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, or come together for iStand or other youth groups, we can trust that Jesus is with us in a special way in the midst of this crisis. Knowing this, we can approach Jesus with confidence, we can turn to him in prayer and talk to him as if talking to a friend. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious or worried, talk to Jesus about it! Talk to him, ask him for his help.
As Catholics we believe that the Eucharist is the ‘source and summit’ of our Christian life (CCC 1324). The Eucharist is at the heart of our way of life as Catholics, and our going to Mass not only brings us together as God’s people, but it also strengthens us to be able to follow Jesus more closely and to love him more fully. Mass is a big deal for us! Not being able to go to Mass anymore is going to be difficult of a lot of people, and will stir up a mix of emotions. If you find yourself feeling sad, angry, confused, lost or any other emotion, that’s ok! Whilst Masses are suspended, priests around Australia and throughout the world are continuing to say Mass, and in particular they are praying for the world, for those who are suffering, and for everyone who can’t go to Mass anymore. That includes you! So know that your priests are praying for you, and are still available to care for you.
You might be thinking, now that we can’t go to Mass or pray in a Church, what can we do? Here are few practical examples that you might find helpful.
1. Spiritual Communion
When you view Mass online, you’re spiritually present, but not sacramentally present. Why? Because the sacraments are physical ‘things’ or ‘signs’ that point to a spiritual grace or gift that God is giving us when we participate in them. Because we can’t physically receive Communion, we can only participate spiritually. We can do this by making what’s called an ‘Act of Spiritual Communion’. This is a simple prayer that allows us to express our belief in Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist as well as our desire to unite ourselves with him and his Body, the Church. You can make a spiritual communion anytime, but it might be worthwhile saying the prayer whilst viewing a Mass online, at the normal time for communion. Here’s an example of a popular ‘Act of Spiritual Communion’, written by one of the MGL Patrons, St Alphonsus Liguori:
“My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.”
2. Live Stream Mass
Whilst you can’t replace actually being at Mass, accessing one of the many Masses that are being live streamed can be of great benefit. A number of priests, parishes and diocese are making masses available online for people to follow along at home. These masses are being offered at lots of different times both during the week and on Sunday, so you can easily find one that works for you. That being said, checking what your local parish or diocese is offering is a good place to start. You might like to take some time before Mass to reflect on the readings of the day, especially if it’s a Sunday. Also, hot tip – blessings from priests can be received live by electronic means, so best to watch a mass live, and not on replay! If you're not sure where to start, you can check out the MGL Facebook Page for some live stream Mass times here.
3. Pray!
There’s so many different ways to pray. Mother Hilda Scott often says “if there’s a million ways to love, there’s a million ways to pray.” You might like to pray with scripture, pray the rosary, to listen to some worship music, or even just sit quietly and talk to Jesus heart to heart. There’s no right or wrong way to pray. Check out the awesome article that Eilidh from the Perth team wrote just a couple of weeks ago here.
4. Connect with your faith community!
One way of being supported and encouraged in your faith is to connect with likeminded people. Whether its people from iStand, from another youth ministry, a mentor, a priest or a consecrated brother or sister, or even someone in your family, there’s heaps of ways you can connect. You might try and pray a rosary or do a bible study over video call, or join a discussion group on Facebook or even just check out and share as many Catholic meme pages as you can. We’re made for community, so do what you can to connect with others!
5. Look after yourself!
I think it’s important to acknowledge that with everything going on you might be feeling worried or anxious or overwhelmed. If you aren’t doing ok, reach out and ask for help. That might be by talking to a parent or a responsible adult, a mentor, a friend or a healthcare professional. No matter what you do, it’s important to know that what you are experiencing is normal and it’s ok. Headspace has some great resources available here. Know that in this time you’re not alone!
God Works All Things for Good
These are unprecedented and uncertain times. These are difficult times. But they are also times for hope. As Christians we can believe and trust that God works all things to our good (Rom 8:28). He doesn’t leave us destitute, but he comes to us (John 14:18). God has a plan for you and for me in the midst of this crisis. Whilst this is a time of difficulty and challenge, I firmly believe that God would want us to ask this question: “Jesus, what are you calling to do? Where are you calling me to be? How are you calling me to spend this time?” In the early Church, the bishops and priests would often finish their sermons by calling their people to “Conversi ad Dominum”, which translates to “Turn to the Lord.” How is God calling us to look outwards, to love him and to love those around us? In the midst of this crisis, I believe that Jesus is calling to each one of us, inviting us to a deeper encounter, a deeper experience of the fire of His love and a deeper relationship with him. As we find ourselves in this modern wilderness, perhaps we can remember that it was in the wilderness that Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist and the Desert Fathers encountered God in a way that gave their lives a new horizon and direction. Let’s together turn to Jesus in a renewed way, entrusting our lives and this crisis to him.
I’m praying for all of you!
Br Josh is in his sixth year with the Missionaries of God’s Love. Josh is originally from Campbelltown, NSW, and he loves his footy, sport in general, good food, history, and his friends and family! He is super passionate about helping young people know the joy that comes from encountering Jesus and his merciful love for them. Josh served on YMT Wollongong in 2009 & 2010.