The Weariness of the Covid Journey

   "But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,"
   I do not know about you, but I AM SO WEARY OF THIS COVID JOURNEY! Mainly when I hear the "covid" word spoke so often, especially in Mass; I hear 'cussing' for to me 'covid' is from the devil to kill, divide, confuse, anger, and lead us into despair and depression!!
    Then to hear words from the priest--"We can't do this because of 'covid,' makes me want to scream out loud---"BUT GOD SAID WE CAN DO ALL THINGS IN HIM!!"
   We are in the Temple of God, we are the Temple of God!  The Presence of God is in our churches and in us! We proclaim at every Mass--I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER THE ALMIGHTY!! 
   Therein lies the problem--just what do we believe when we profess our faith on a daily basis? Just Who is God to us? Do His Words and HIS PROMISES live in our hearts and resonate in our lives??
   The Apostles went forth to preach, and show Jesus' love to all--healing and leading by example! THEY FACED DEATH AS THEY DID!! Only John died of old age. The rest were KILLED!!
    And we too, we face death in all forms every day we live. To get into a car and turn on the key is an act of faith and trust in God's words to us--"I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, I WILL PROTECT YOU!" Then we follow the rules and drive carefully as we go!

    Obedience to His words gives us LIFE daily and eternally. WE are blessed, fruitful and live productive lives walking with our God in FAITH and TRUST in HIM!
  Yet, when our time comes---we will die--regardless of faith in God--but we know Who waits for us and so we do not fear death!! "Oh death where is your sting?" We do not see death as something to be feared, we see death as the DOOR to eternity with our Lord and everlasting JOY beyond all measure!!! Until that time when we see God face to face--we must be servants walking by faith and sharing His Word and LOVE with others!
   So just like the police, the fire fighter, EMTS, nurses and doctors all the front line---doing what they MUST--so must we as Catholics--WE MUST LEAD by FAITH, not by fear as we face covid--we must show We believe in a GOD ALMIGHTY!! And yes we follow the covid safety rules as we do.

   Note the last part of that reading that day--
"In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents,
which bit the people so that many of them died.
WE DIE BECAUSE WE DISOBEY, JUST AS THEY DID!!!
Then the people came to Moses and said,
“We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.
Pray the LORD to take the serpents away from us.”
So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses,
“Make a saraph and mount it on a pole,"

   How many have a Crucifix in your home, in every room even? How many are wearing a Benedictine cross or a Miraculous Medal around your neck?
How many 'BELIEVE--that I can do what JESUS did and even greater --IF I BELIEVE?"
    Being a Catholic is more than going to Mass every week, saying your daily rosary, and morning offering. Being Catholic is BELIEVING in the WORD of God and living His Word in our daily lives. Showing by our faith filled actions that we are not afraid of ANYTHING that comes our way!! ANYTHING. Storms, unforseen accidents and the temptations of the devil trying to steal our souls!!
The battle continues, and the evil is increasing in our world ---we need to be the faith filled warriors on the battle front, showing all that GOD IS ALMIGHTY and we "DO NOT NEED TO FEAR!!"
   So ENOUGH 'shepherds' with "we cannot do this or that because of COVID!" Might as well say we can't do this because of lack of faith in God. Oh, how about this last phrase? "The devil made me do it! Or not do it!!"
                                  So Jesus said to them,
                          “When you lift up the Son of Man,
                              then you will realize that I AM!"