Saturday, February 22, 2020

7th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 22.02.2020

Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 / 1 Cor 3:16-23 / Matthew 5:38-48
To be in a dilemma is to be in a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two alternatives, and usually both alternatives are equally difficult.

Obviously it is far from pleasant to be in a dilemma and obviously there is no win-win outcome.

It is more like how much is going to be lost and can we bear the loss.

It is almost like a choice between the frying pan and the fire.

In life, we will have to face our dilemmas at one point or another.

It may be a health issue or a financial issue or a relationship issue.

Such dilemmas make us look at the issue squarely and in the end we will have to make that difficult choice and commend everything to God.

As we spend the second weekend with Mass still under suspension, we can understand the dilemma that the Archbishop and the Church is facing.

Whether to continue the suspension or resume the Mass, the whole issue is about social responsibility versus faith in God.

On the one hand, the Church needs to exercise her social responsibilities by joining in the efforts to contain the virus infection and hence the suspension of Masses.

On the other hand, the Church also wants to exercise her faith in these times and to have recourse to the unity in prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist to go through this period.

Yet it seems that both are not compatible because if Mass is not suspended, it may seem that the Church is indifferent and irresponsible.

But now that Mass is suspended for the time being, faith seems to be shaken and questions are being raised as to when will Mass resume.

This is the dilemma that the Church is currently facing and a resolution needs to be found quickly.

Meanwhile there are efforts going on behind the scenes to prepare the Church to resume Mass quickly, as the season of Lent is also approaching.

But these efforts cannot bear fruit without the prayer of the People of God.

So as much as we have our opinions about the directions the Church should take at this time, let us also be docile in faith and united in prayer.

This current situation is like a Pandora box that was dropped out of nowhere into the Church and many disturbing things have come out of it - confusion, apprehension, disappointment, fear, etc.

But there is one more thing, maybe it will be the last thing, that will and must come out of this box, and that is hope.

Not only must we have hope that with the grace and blessings of God, this situation will pass, let us also hope that the Church will grow and learn to be stronger in faith and united in prayer.

May that be our hope as we continue to be united in prayer.