Pastoral Reflections, The Third Week of Epiphany, the Umpteenth Week of Official Pandemic Status — January 29, 2021

I just recalibrated how many weeks of official pandemic status we’ve endured so far. Counting from the third week of March last year, it should be forty-six. I think. Somewhere my numbers got off. Your calculations may differ from mine, but as most of you know public math is not one of my strengths. Perhaps we all agree however that it’s just been way too long.

What are the best lessons we can take from this extended unwanted adventure? I don’t have an answer, at least not yet. Perhaps we don’t get to know, but it will be something future generations will tell about us. I hope they will be good things.

Christ taught us to be all about good things. To bring good news with every word and deed. This is not an easy thing, because good news isn’t just whatever benefits me. Good news comes out of laying down your life for others. Just as Jesus did. That’s the gold standard. Lent is coming (details on that are coming soon) and as always, it can be a time to reflect and grow in faith.

In the meantime, life goes on with beginnings and endings. Just this week we learned that my mom Phyllis has a fierce cancer. So now her journey will begin to tend in a new direction – toward comfort and peace with the help of Hospice. There’s no way to number this walk in weeks or months. It will just be. My siblings and I will accompany her as best we can, and I already know that you will also. We are very grateful for you.
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Blessings, Pr. Beth