Hope in times of Trouble: Family Reflection Video

One of my cousins sent me this poem. Kathleen O'Meara's poem, 'And People Stayed Home,' written in 1869. I found it very meaningful especially during this troubled times.

And people stayed home

and read books and listened

and rested and exercised

and made art and played

and learned new ways of being

and stopped

and listened deeper

someone meditated

someone prayed

someone danced

someone met their shadow

and people began to think differently

and people healed

and in the absence of people who lived in ignorant ways,

dangerous, meaningless and heartless,

even the earth began to heal

and when the danger ended

and people found each other

grieved for the dead people

and they made new choices

and dreamed of new visions

and created new ways of life

and healed the earth completely

just as they were healed themselves.

So we’re not the only ones!  Others have been challenged too.  And with the help of God, others have found a new life.  We too can have a new life if we let God use our experience to transform us. Whatever situation we are in now, whatever uncertainties we are going through now, God can touch and transform and restore us to fullness. As the psalmist says, the “Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. He is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.”

In the first reading Ezekiel prophesies that a “river of life” will flow from God’s throne in the Temple. This water will transform everything it touches, bringing life, healing, and restoration.

In the gospel Jesus see transforming a crippled man's life to wholeness by healing his body.  The man comes to the pool helpless and desperate to be healed.  Jesus asks him if he wants to be healed and then demonstrates God’s mercy and power by telling him to get up and walk. 

Today, Jesus asks us as He asked the crippled man, “Do we want to be healed?”

God wants to free us from the power of  our sinfulness and make us whole again.   During this pandemic, I am so impressed to see the Goodness that is around us. I hear people reaching out to those who are lonely, Dolphins returning to beaches, all of nature learning to coexist. As the poet sang, may we make new choices, dream of new vision, create a new way of life, and heal the earth completely just as we will be healed  ourselves. May this be a time for us to transform ourselves to the saving grace of life in Christ and grow in holiness.

Father Pinto's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)

To view the daily homily and Rosary prayer streaming live, please visit our Facebook page at 11:30 am EDT, Monday – Friday. Please invite your loved ones to join us too! (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)