Pastor's Letter

40 DAYS

A Message from Pope Francis “Let us continue to pray for the sick.  I think of the families under lockdown. Children who can’t go to school, perhaps parents who can’t leave the house, some who are in quarantine.    May the Lord help families to discover new ways, new expressions of love, of living together in this new situation. It's a beautiful opportunity to rediscover affection, with creativity, in the family. Let us pray for families, so that the relationships within the family at this moment might flourish always for the good. United to Christ we are never alone, but we form one body and he is the head.  It is a union that grows with prayer and spiritual Communion, a practice strongly encouraged when it is not possible to receive the sacrament.    Our God lets us understand that he always operates in simplicity, in the simplicity of the house of Nazareth, in the simplicity of everyday work, in the simplicity of prayer.”

In spiritual circles, there’s an interesting insight going around right now. If you look up the word “quarantine,” you’ll see it means 40 days. 
 
Lent, of course, is 40 days.  40 was the number of years the Israelites spent wandering in the desert.  And Jesus spent 40 days in the desert as he fasted and prepared to ward off the Devil. 40 days is the time it takes. 
 
Our hearts go out to those who are sick and in a time of waiting.  Even if we may not be affected directly by the virus, we’re beginning to see that we’re also in this uncertain time of waiting.  We have to take the time it takes.  And, we need to rely on those who are trying to work for the common good of all to get us through.
 
It’s not in our hands right now.  We have to trust.  And that can be a scary thought.  But what is in our hands is the ability to connect with God and to continue to reach out and connect to others. 
 
Prayer is important right now. So are social media, phones and email.  I noticed there are new apps out there for working and staying at home.  There are plenty of experts and sites that provide tips so we don’t feel isolated and alone. Social distancing has become a new buzz word—but it’s not a distancing in terms of relationships and never should be.  We should never distance our hearts from doing the needful thing and trying to do what’s best for one another.
 
We’re not sure at this point the amount of time it will take (for instance will it be longer than Lent itself?),  but we do know it’s important to stay connected. 
 
I am saying a private Mass for you every day, we have developed spiritual resources to help you cope and pray, which you can find on our website at www.sainthubert.org or on our Facebook page at:  facebook.com/sainthubertchurch.  But so importantly, we need to pray for one another. 
 
We need the time it takes.
 
         –Fr. Mike