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Monday, April 20, 2020
4.19.2020
Living Faith in Troubled Times
I had mentioned in my homily last Sunday that this certainly did not feel like the most “Eastery of Easters” we have ever celebrated. Then again, with that odd mixture of both fear and hope that we are all experiencing right now, perhaps this Easter was, in fact, more like the original than any we have observed in recent times. And, of course, last week in my bulletin message I talked about the hopeful signs of spring, but as I write this they are forecasting several inches of snow in our area! We live in strange times and in a strange world in which circumstances can change as quickly as the weather in Iowa. Not a few times in recent weeks I have heard the term “whiplash” (emotional, financial or otherwise) used to describe our experience in the past month or so. It is an apt analogy. All the more, then, in this time do we long for something stable and secure, a “harbor” or a “handle.” This is where a living faith comes in, and not as some “opiate of the masses,” or psychological crutch to get us through until we can safely resume life as usual. No, I mean a living faith, a lived relationship with God, in the person of his only begotten, crucified and risen Son, Jesus Christ. I know we are not accustomed to speaking like this as Catholics - but to heck with it! Right now I want a person, not a concept. I want a savior, not a guru. I want someone who is more than just a teacher, but also my friend. This is Jesus. He came, he lived, he walked, he taught, he died, he rose, he is alive! And I believe with all my heart that he is with us now. Perhaps it is a coping mechanism or it is that indefatigable and uniquely human trait called hope that already makes us look for the potential positive in any situation, but as I look at what our world is going through right now, I can’t help but also see the possibility for meaningful and positive change, specifically for a greater moral and spiritual awakening. I hope and pray that this will be driven by the Holy Spirit. Given the Easter we have had, what will be the Pentecost? --Fr. Thom
Fr. Thom and Megan Grady host a podcast where they discuss pop culture as well as topics regarding faith.
Next Wednesday, April 22, marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day in the U.S. To celebrate, our friends from Green Life invite everyone to participate in an Earth Day Litter Cleanup! Thanks for helping nurture our planet!
Give Us This Day:Give Us This Day has made available at no charge a digital file of their periodical, which includes daily Mass texts. Visit GUTD.net and select "Digital" in the upper right of the screen.
The Diocese of Davenport: The Diocese has been posting updates about how COVID-19 has affected the Diocese as well as spiritual care resources.
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The USCCB: The USCCB has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and suggested several online resources, live-streamed Masses, and prayers, especially seeking the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
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I had mentioned in my homily last Sunday that this certainly did not feel like the most “Eastery of Easters” we have ever celebrated. Then again, with that odd mixture of both fear and hope that we are all experiencing right now, perhaps this Easter was, in fact, more like the original than any we have observed in recent times. And, of course, last week in my 
