Suddenly I am presented with an extra window of opportunity for prayer: Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Devine Love of God. It also gives me a window of opportunity to share with thousands of children who have suddenly had to isolate for two weeks when someone in their school bubble is diagnosed to have the COVID virus. Then to be isolating in a house that you know has someone with the virus make it clear; that obviously I do not want to catch that virus. So I am regularly testing and keeping as much as possible out of harms way. It certainly highlights the decisions that are made, and the rules to be enforced. That is why in the seminary training the amount of time that is given to “The Rule”, the classic is “The exception proves the rule”. Unfortunately of late, and particularly to do with the virus, and indeed with quite a lot of other things that the rules are so poor, that the exception opens the way to something else becomes the new rule. So there can be no exception.
Please God, for His greater fatherly care and a great “thank you” for all the help and support that we get and is given. This help and support is at the heart of life is love, and for all the love that is expressed and given to me, I am truly grateful.
So to begin with the masses this weekend, and the fact that it coincides with our Children’s First Holy Communion Breakfast is very providential. To come back to share and to give thanks. This is greatly important as we relax to church, as efforts are being made to return to normal life, can be an incredible opportunity, lets say it truthfully loud and clear “it will raise the risks and windows of opportunity to get things wrong”, yes maybe some feel we need to say it again. But it is much more important to see it as a window of opportunity “to get things right”. Sometimes even in the midst of a pandemic, human dignity becomes important, and to get it right proves how Jesus sums it up. “Good trees, bear good fruit”. May our children who have just received their First Holy Communion grow up in Christian communities of faith that gather to celebrate one wonderful gift of the mass with the communities at St George’s and St Wilfrid’s.
Plans are beginning: so we with God’s help can prepare and coordinate our development together, and please God, we will grow from strength to strength. So please help me to do my job much better, and I am sure you all agree with me “that it can be done”. We need to reach out again to each other. Lets do so with the help of God.