The Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

HOW TO LOVE IN A TIME OF ALMOST POST-COVID

 

I am sure that most people breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday when we heard that all the regulations regarding the pandemic have been lifted and life is back to what it was before that fateful day in March 2020. If only that were true.

These two years of pandemic have scarred us. Our economy is significantly worse off than it was, unemployment is the worst it has ever been, over 100 000 South Africans have died. No one reading this pastors corner has been untouched by the pandemic. We are told that we can be free, but it doesn’t feel normal to walk around without a mask, or to not sanitise our hands as we enter buildings. Covid and it’s scars will be with us for some time yet.

How then do we show love to one another in this context? How do we as a community express our care for each other? We will continue to sanitise hands at the entrances of the church. While masks are no longer obligatory, we encourage people to wear them if either their immune systems are compromised or if they themselves are feeling sick. Celebrants at mass will use masks when distributing communion. There will be no sign of peace, and holy communion will be given under one kind only.

For now, this seems to be the wisest approach to living in our almost post-covid times.

Keep safe and stay blessed

Fr Bruce Botha, SJ