We hope that you and your family are well, and wish you a very Happy Easter. May it be filled with joy and blessings despite most of us being cooped up inside amid COVID-19 lockdowns.
This has certainly been the weirdest Easter ever. At least, in our lifetime. Thanks to modern technology we can attend mass (church) online, which is great. However, it’s weird seeing the priest processing into an empty church with one server, and maybe one or two other people. Almost sad. We have a strong desire to be there in person, together with the rest of our community, celebrating the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. There’s nothing quite like having things taken away from you to remind you just how precious they are.
As much as we wish we could go to church and meet up with people in person, there’s so much to be grateful for. We’re managing the “self distancing” isolation well, and we have each other. There’s no shortage of food. And, of course we’re grateful to live in the internet age, where we can still communicate with people across the globe.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the direct victims of COVID-19 and their families, and also to those who face financial stress and uncertainty, because the lockdowns have taken away their jobs and income. At the same time, this crisis has brought families and people closer together, which is a good thing. And we look forward to it being over, and all travel restrictions being lifted.
Time for Self-Reflection
We also hope that you’ve taken the forced down time to do some self-reflection on your life. The fast pace of modern life can have us running around frantically busy, chasing our tails, and we never stop to think about what we’re doing, why, and whether it even matters. So, were you living fully? Did what you were doing matter to you? Who and what are most important to you, and is your life in line with your values? Are you passing on good values, discipline and knowledge to your children? Do you think the life you have been living is what God created you for? Or are you going through life half-dead?
Take your time to ask these questions, and ponder the answers that come to you. If you feel your life is not what it should be; that you’re living more of a zombie life. Then, commit this Easter to join Jesus in rising from the dead. Commit to change; to start living more fully, loving more openly, and to make a positive difference in this world, starting with your loved ones.
The glory of God is man fully alive.
St Irenaeus
Cover photo credit: Image by 4222320.
