Reflection for Tuesday of Holy Week in Covid-19 Land

John 12: 20-36 (The Jerusalem Bible)

Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. These approached Philip, who came from Bethsaida in Galilee, and put this request to him, 'Sir, we should like to see Jesus.' Philip went to tell Andrew, and Andrew and Philip together went to tell Jesus.

Jesus replied to them: Now the hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. In all truth I tell you, unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me, must follow me, and my servant will be with me wherever I am. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.

Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour? But it is for this very reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name!
A voice came from heaven, 'I have glorified it, and I will again glorify it.'

The crowd standing by, who heard this, said it was a clap of thunder; others said, 'It was an angel speaking to him.'

Jesus answered, 'It was not for my sake that this voice came, but for yours. 'Now sentence is being passed on this world; now the prince of this world is to be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all people to myself.' By these words he indicated the kind of death he would die.

The crowd answered, 'The Law has taught us that the Christ will remain for ever. So how can you say, "The Son of man must be lifted up"? Who is this Son of man?'

Jesus then said: The light will be with you only a little longer now. Go on your way while you have the light, or darkness will overtake you, and nobody who walks in the dark knows where he is going. While you still have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light. Having said this, Jesus left them and was hidden from their sight.

Reflection

Visited family (from the street) daughter nannied for

-         One boy having great time

-         One bored

There are whole range of ways people are reacting to this time in lockdown

For some this is a time of great anxiety around their health and wellbeing  and what the future may hold

Others have seen their jobs disappear, or fear their jobs are next, with all the raft of emotions that go with that including anger and anxiety about the future.

Some are struggling with the people they are living with in their bubble, for all kinds of reasons, including being in abusive or broken relationships but have no easy way out.

Some are struggling with a loved one or friend dying and having very little contact with them in person, or not being able to attend a funeral

Some are bored

And some are finding this to be a gift, with space to do all those jobs that usually sit on the to do list, including reading books, catching up with people on the phone or other non-physical means, or just having space to be.

What ever your way of experiencing this, this is in many ways a time of death – where much of how our lives have been lived is at least on hold. One wonders what life will look like when we are allowed out.

Which brings us to today’s reading

St. Augustine of Hippo says that humanity had forgotten that we are made in the image of divine love. That planted within us all is that seed of love. In “On the Trinity” St Augustine talks about how The Word came among us so that in Jesus’ life and ministry, in his death and resurrection, we are reminded of who we are – made in the image of this love seen in Jesus. The story of Jesus is the new seed that allows us to remember who we are, and to live out of this divine love.

I invite you to spend time in your garden, to find some seeds or autumn leaves and to hold them in your hand.

-         What have you had to let go of, to let die

-         What is that like for you?

-         Speak to God about that.

-         What seeds of life are being planted in you during this time?

I also invite you to light a candle for all those who are struggling during this week, for whom this is a time of death. Pray that they may know light of Christ and find the seeds of hope.

Most High and glorious God,

enlighten the darkness of our hearts

and give us a true faith,

a certain hope and a perfect love.

Give us a sense of the divine

and knowledge of yourself

so that we may do everything

in fulfilment of your holy will;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Prayer before the crucifix, Francis of Assisi