April 26

Today’s Readings: ACTS 2:1, 22-33 PS 16:1-2, 5, 7-11

1 PT 1:17-21 LK 24:13-35

I have to be honest. I’m a bit discouraged at the state of our country. Even a pandemic has become a divisive issue. Let me write that absolutely insane sentence a second time. Even a pandemic has become a divisive issue.

It is known fact—revealed by the unquantifiable number of denominations and unaffiliated Christian churches—the Bible is large enough that if you ignore context and/or cherry pick the verses you like best, you can make your own entirely unique church tomorrow.

In the same way, our current information age has found us with so many facts at our fingertips that we can push any agenda on Covid-19 that we prefer, ranging from “This is less dangerous than the flu and it’s probably just a test run for our rights to be permanently surrendered toward a rapid decline into communism” all the way to “This is the new normal and anyone who leaves their home before 2021 is just an ignorant Neanderthal trying to kill people my grandmother.” 

But, the problem is me. I keep hoping my country will be unified. I keep hoping followers of Jesus will be unified. Heck, I keep hoping Catholics could all agree on one Pope to “like.”

These are good and wonderful things to pray for, but if we truly want peace, we must first pray our hearts grow to be more unified to the sacred Heart of Jesus. We must extend empathy rather than demanding it. Today’s Psalm says, “Keep me, O God, for in You I take refuge.” Especially in times such as these.

David is the Director of Faith Formation at Our Lady of Joy.

If you have comments or questions, send your emails to dlins@oloj.org.

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