The verse that stands out to me from this week’s readings is John 29:19.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

I was thinking of some of the similarities between this verse and our current situation with the Coronavirus. The first disciples were hopeful, looking forward to Jesus leading them as the Messiah in some form of revolution that would result in the rebirth of Israel as a free nation once again and to end the Roman Rule that they were currently under. Things looked so positive on Palm Sunday as Jesus rode into Jerusalem.

Jesus was executed in the most humiliating way possible by law at that time. He was naked on a cross after being beaten, all of this going on in public view. The first disciples must have felt all hope of a bright future was lost. Their response after Jesus died was to hide in fear, as this verse tells us. They were in fear for their lives. The resurrection was an impossible event to expect. They could never foresee how Jesus would rebuild the Temple in the form of His body and make all things new.

Avoiding any form or political debate here, America was in pretty good shape economically at the beginning of 2020. Unemployment was at or near an all-time low; the stock market was at an all-time high. As Catholics, we were pretty much business as usual, while dealing with the ongoing abuse crisis and debating issues of Church reform.

Then Coronavirus appears, a totally unforeseen event as the Crucifixion was. The Apostles hid for their lives after Good Friday, we do the same in the form of self-quarantine. Businesses are closed, some foods are being rationed and grocery stores, and other items, like toilet paper, are almost impossible to find. Food scarcity is becoming more common, as it is difficult for people to get the store.

As Catholics, we all know the Churches are closed, with a date for reopening unknown at this time. Photos of the Holy Father in a vacant St Peters Square will go down in history. Our local Churches are trying to fill this void with online Mass. All I can suggest to everyone is to find the personal devotion that is a fit for you. As Catholics, there are many to choose from. We need to grow the presence of Christ
within us.

We are all waiting for our own Easter Sunday this year to arrive. Our hope is this coronavirus will soon come to an end. Our Churches will be reopened when it is safe to do so. People will find faith and devotion in God again in the midst of all this suffering and turmoil. Our nation will get back to work again and rebuild the economic damage. We will gain increased compassion for the poor as they are front line in this crisis.