Draw Near, O Lord our God

Tonight the light of the moon appears to be so far away from earth, so high in the sky, one wonders if the hand which guides it has gone astray.  “Where are you, Lord?  We need your guiding light into our dark troubled world.”

Nature in the form of a virus has done its thing and devastation is upon us; we shake our fists in anger at God. So long as God acts as we imagine a god to be, we are ready to acknowledge His lordship. This makes us the divine craftsmen who mold a god in our power.

How many times in Jesus’ life did He offer comfort and love to those in need?  To the official whose child was close to death; to the woman who had no money left to buy food; to Bartimaeus who cried out, 
“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Now is our time of need.

One cannot help drawing comparison to Jesus’ death by asphyxiation and COVID19 pandemic death by infected man’s inability to breathe.   Hung upon the cross, there was an involuntary panic, for man found that while he could draw air into his lungs, he would be powerless to exhale unless he raised himself up on his bleeding feet.   

“Christ’s last breath was no normal death gasp, but the pouring forth of His Spirit,”says Fr. Anthony Giambrone, “so we might come to new life in holiness.” Death then should have no sting for the Christian.  New life Spirit we now need injected into our heart and soul to move forward to waiting Jesus.

At the time of Christ’s death the sky continued to darken until the sun could be stared at with the human eye. Darkness lasted for the rest of the day. Mary, His Mother, suffered as our beloved ones suffer for those dying. She understood His death would not be defeat, but glory everlasting. Our loved ones need to feel His Spirit,  to feel  that glory, His loving arms to hold them close. Light and love coming from Christ is as necessary as is wine to soothe our parched airways. 

                                           Draw near, O Lord, our God,

                                           Graciously hear us,

                                           Guilty of sinning before you.

                                  O king exalted, savior of all nations,

                                  See how our grieving lift our eyes to heaven,

                                  Hear us redeemer as we beg forgiveness.

                                 Humbly confessing countless sins committed,

                                 Our hearts are broken laying bare their secrets,

                                 Cleanse us, redeemer, boundless in     compassion.