When you can’t get to Church

It’s tough when we are separated from our Church family no matter what the circumstances. In difficult times, it is even worse. We can feel lost or isolated. As Catholics, we mourn the loss of the Eucharist. It can help us to remember though, that Jesus is present in the Word. Indeed he is the Word.

The Catechism tells us:

103 For this reason, the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s Body. She never ceases to present to the faithful the bread of life, taken from the one table of God’s Word and Christ’s Body.

104 In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, “but as what it really is, the word of God”. “In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them.

Read the Word

On the United States Bishops website, you can find the daily Mass readings and the entire Bible online.

This week, if your Church is not open, read and pray with the Scriptures. Discuss them with your family; if you live alone, call a friend on the phone or Skype, reach out to someone else so that you make a connection.

Keep Holy the Sabbath

The command to keep the sabbath comes from God.  Deuteronomy 5:12-14 says, “Observe the sabbath day—keep it holy, as the LORD, your God, commanded you. Six days you may labor and do all your work,but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God. You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your ox or donkey or any work animal, or the resident alien within your gates, so that your male and female slave may rest as you do.”

Your home, your family, no matter how many people, is the Domestic Church. Are you able to keep the sabbath as a day of rest? I am not good at it at all, but as it is our challenge this week, I’m going to do it!

Our Not Lukewarm challenge this week is to make Sunday, the sabbath, a day of rest. Do only what is absolutely necessary, no extra projects or cleaning. Spend time with your family, read, go outside, play a game.

And, as a bonus this week, since most of us are probably a bit isolated and need a pick me up, join me on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at 7:30 pm to Gather in Praise on a Facebook Live event. Like and follow me, An Every Day Catholic, on Facebook .

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