FINALLY, we are resuming masses indoors without restrictions: 100% seats, no compulsory masks and social distancing! Of course, some of us are still scary and cautious, and we understand their situation.
At the Church of the Incarnation, we are committed to providing parishioners with a safe environment while we worship together. We are together in unity and peace!
We continue to pray that this pandemic will eventually end. And we are all together to meet the challenges of the ministry during the post-pandemic. We will encourage each other to return to church and continue to find new ways to reach out to all in the faith.
Fear will never cripple us. In fact, the Holy Spirit encourages us to embrace a new vision of being a parish community, aligned with the vision of Jesus Christ and the Church.
Indeed, the pages of world history will be full of stories of the year and three months of the pandemic. I hope our parish and school will be one of the many Catholic churches and schools that historians recognize because of our tenacity, creativity, and cooperation with state and city to protect the health of our people, by especially that of our children, young people, and the elderly.
This Sunday, our Bible readings encourage us to continue to trust the Lord and believe in his power to save us. No conspiracy theory lies, and disinformation would cripple our faith in fear. We know that the power of God is greater than any pandemic and any evil attempt to destroy mankind. God will never destroy the beauty of his creation. We have to believe this Scripture truth.
In the first reading (Job 38: 1, 8-11), God speaks to Job with maternal attention because of Job’s diminishing hope. God had been slow to answer Job’s prayers. Finally, he softened Job’s despair by saying:
“Who closed doors to the sea, when it sprang from the mother’s womb; and when I made clouds her garment and thick clouds her swaddling clothes?
When I set limits for him, I fixed the bar of the gate, and I said: You will go as far as this, but no further, and here will your proud waves be appeased?
In the words of Fr. John Foley, SJ, God said to Job, “Were you not present when I lavished such love on all that I have created? Don’t you remember my love Don’t you trust it? “
The infinite love of God has always been there. Apparently, God’s delay was necessary to strengthen Job’s faith and confidence.
I wouldn’t say more than how we can relate to Job’s story during the pandemic.
So, my friends, let’s continue to trust God, who has power over the storms of life. Let us continue to listen to Jesus, who tells us in our prayers:
“Calm down! Be quiet! Have faith!
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The opinions, beliefs and views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and views of The Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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Bro. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
