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Eucharist in the Time of Corona
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December 23, 2021I remember as a child when I would get a new pair of shoes. I would take them out of the box and put them on my feet as fast as I could. I would tell my sisters and brothers: "Now, I can run faster with these new shoes, and no one can outrun me! Do you want to race?"It was a silly thought now as I reflect on it. In today's Gospel Peter is outrun by the other disciple (he must have bought new shoes) who arrived at the tomb first. But he did not go in the tomb, he waited for Peter before he entered. Was the other disciple waiting out of respect for Peter? Or was he afraid to enter alone? Was he just tired from the run and had to catch his breath? Or did he pray and contemplate on what he saw?I am not sure why he waited. But living in the time of this Pandemic it feels like I am running a lot these days. Running to get vaccinated, running to find my Mask when I go out in public. Running to comfort my friend who lost his wife to COVID. Running to assist my neighbor who needs help due to an illness. Running to keep up with my job that has been affected by this pandemic. Running to a zoom meeting. I feel like I need new shoes to keep up with all this running!When Peter arrived, he entered the tomb and saw the burial cloths of Jesus there; then the other disciple entered the tomb. He immediately saw and believed! I must ask myself where am I running to these days? Do I remember what I have heard? what have I seen with my eyes? What have I touched with my hands? Do I proclaim eternal life with God that was made visible to us? Pause a minute from your running the next few days and see, hear, and get in touch with our God who is with us on our journey.