The Lessons

Learning to calculate area happened in our backyard garden, and it didn’t feel like learning. Learning to make change happened with family at trips to stores. Learning happens in sustained ways during school time; yet learning happens in numerous ways and nearly everywhere.

These days young people are learning at home; and parents quickly have become classroom teachers. The switch may be welcome; it may be overwhelming. Moira Cullings offers encouragement to all parents-turned-teachers:

• “don’t panic”
• “remain calm…confident”
• ”schools' resources are enough”
• take advantage of ”unconventional learning”
• let "older children help...younger ones”

Ms. Cullings concludes with a schedule to help everyone. Read all her encouragement at her post at The Leaven.

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Wiki-image Homework by “Sigrid Hjertén - the-athenaeum.org | PD-US"

The Talk

The work was necessary and temporary. One essential worker felt embarrassed not to distance 6 feet routinely. After the work was completed physical distance felt prudent. Staying home and limiting contact does limit Coronavirus infections. [Watch this 1-minute BBC video.]

Everyone is not staying home. It is difficult to change routine abruptly. Yet we willingly change for serious reasons. If I know someone who doesn't stay home? Registering concern and asking questions is wise. Convincing usually makes a person less willing.

Catholic social teaching reminds that human dignity and solidarity undergird believers’ concern and the questions they pose. In America Magazine Julie Hanlon Rubio counselled “not to alienate people but to find ways to reach them, as quickly as possible.”

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Wiki-image Lending an Ear by “Alex Proimos | CC BY 2.0"

Water for Life

The Vatican Dicastery (Department) for Promoting Integral Human Development today published its “Orientations on Water.” It “describes three aspects or dimensions of the use of water.”

Given the mantra to wash hands plus the fact that numerous peoples go without water, the press release notes the Catholic Church is shaping “a strategy…to address the situation regarding water, sanitation and hygiene in the broadest sense (WASH) in health care facilities belonging to the Catholic Church.” Its brief, helpful press release can assist reading the document.

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Wiki-image Low washing basin by “SuSanA Secretariat | CC BY 2.0"

Stay Close While Staying In

Week 2 of the podcast Pray As You Stay is available. From Twitter feed of British Jesuit e-zine, Thinking Faith.

Week 2 of 'Pray As You Stay' is now available. Stay close to God, as you stay wherever you are: https://t.co/wphBB3zHmR pic.twitter.com/wAR0OVGesb

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) March 30, 2020

Mental Health of Children, Bear Hunts, Bioblitz. . .

National Geographic continues to curate helpful information to help navigate the Coronavirus crisis in healthy ways. Its email at the top of the week is filled with links for keeping kids healthy (immune system and mental health), engaged (bear hunts, bioblitz) and exploring (mapping and reading). Nor does it forget adults (gaming and forest bathing). Explore it.

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Wiki-image Yellow column by “Arntor | CC BY-SA 4.0"

U.K. Challenge To Businesses: Make Ventilators

Dyson was the first business to produce much needed ventilators in the U.K. Dyson, known for vacuums, makes various products (click on Products at top of this page) for a “healthier home.” The story offers a glimpse into the switch businesses can make to produce essentials needed in emergency situations.

Dyson has designed and built an entirely new ventilator, called the "CoVent," since founder James Dyson received a call 10 days ago from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "This new device can be manufactured quickly, efficiently and at volume," he said https://t.co/Z0xIue1QuG

— CNN International (@cnni) March 29, 2020

The Guardian posted its story. It led with Dyson; it described the challenge and names other businesses.

Closing Churches Happened in 1918

Father A. Schrenk (Diocese of Pittsburgh) discovered that closing schools and churches and suspending masses happened during the 1918 influenza pandemic. From his Twitter feed:

The closure of churches and suspension of public Mass continues to be difficult to accept, but as I do further personal research into the 1918 flu pandemic, I find more and more that these actions are by no means novel, nor symptomatic of an age that has lost faith. pic.twitter.com/boWxGeL9Lk

— Fʀ. A. Sᴄʜʀᴇɴᴋ (@frajds) March 27, 2020

Imagining the Sunday Gospel

On the Fifth Sunday of Lent many Christians hear the gospel passage of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead [RCL; RCL]. We have the time to read it reflectively while we are home. Reflective reading allows us to inhabit the scripture; its word is living and effective. We can allow scripture to have an effect on us.

Jesuit Brian Purfield walks us through the narrative. At the outset he asks, “How can [the raising of Lazarus] speak to us in our current situation?”

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Wiki-image Jesus Wept by “James Tissot  | PD-US"

Front Lines

Health care professionals are working over overtime everywhere. They face very steep challenges and deep shortages. Pope Francis has called nurses “experts in humanity.” Doctors, and all “medical caregivers and the authorities…are pillars, who help us go forward, and defend us in this crisis.”

Hospital chaplains are vital caregivers, too. They are having to protect themselves and the patients they serve by praying “through glass” instead of personal contact. Chaplains are attending more to medical staffs. America Magazine published brief accounts of four chaplains in different areas in the United States.

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Wiki-image Simple Bible Logo by “Crutons  | CC BY-SA 3.0"

Prayer, Blessing, Encouragement, Call

The days of Christmas and Easter have been the occasions for popes to bless the city of Rome and the world (Latin: urbi et orbi). Yesterday Pope Francis blessed the world from Rome. It followed three-quarters of an hour of prayer. Francis’ reflection on the occasion spoke to our current fear and noted an invitation resides in the pandemic: “to reawaken and [enact] solidarity and hope.”   

[The previous link includes the YouTube video of the event.]

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Wiki-image Basilica of St. Peter by “Siyatalebi  | CC BY-SA 3.0"

What Is Known and What Is Not Known

Staying home defends and protects against Covid-19. Health professionals continue learning about the disease. Which treatments do they know are effective? National Geographic reports that people are confused “over simple matters such as which pain relievers to take, or how to care for sick family members at home.” This recent post available to everyone discussed those matters and others.

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Wiki-image Yellow column by “Arntor | CC BY-SA 4.0"

Half Hour with Dr. Anthony Fauci, MD

Dr. Fauci was a member of the Class of 1958 at Regis High School, New York City. In June 2019 he spoke to alums of the school about his education, his career with National Institutes of Health, working with presidents, medical care and public health.

A more detailed story appeared today in ncronline.org.

Invitation to Grow Closer

St. Athanasius helped 4^th-Century Alexandrian Christians prepare for Easter. He closed a section of his letter:

Such is the wonder of [God’s] love: he gathers to this feast those who are far apart, and brings together in unity of faith those who may be physically separated from each other.

Three days ago Sojourners Communications Assistant Miguel Petrosky began his conclusion:

“We can believe that God is present and still be either six feet away or in the safety of our homes on Sunday morning. The church will always be the church no matter how physically close its members are. God isn’t just found in the confines of a physical church building—God meets us where we are.”

Humans transcend distance, too. We are transcending with greater intent from online classrooms to online chapels. Jesuit Novice Bosco Noronha described “a consoling sense of unity in the body of Christ” as he helped others worship by livestream.

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Wikimage Panathenaic Webcam Icon by "Mazenl77 / CC BY-SA 3.0"

The Long Reach

When Moses fretted to the Eternal God, wondering how Moses could feed the wandering people, the Eternal replied it would be done by divine power: Is the Eternal One’s hand too short? (Numbers 11.23). Some  translate: Is there a limit to the Eternal’s power? One renders it colloquially: Is this beyond the Lord’s reach? 

Feeling as though we are beyond God’s reach is easy these days. We are out of reach of nearly everyone. Prudently foregoing access to the usual ritual behaviour that assures us God and humans are near stretches us to find other ways to recall and to feel God’s eternal closeness. Churches are trying to remind us the “outstretched hand” of God is not too short to hold all humans. The metaphor belongs to one “at the global epicenter of the crisis,” Angelo Cardinal Bagnasco of Genoa. Mr. John L. Allen Jr. related Cardinal Bagnasco’s pastoral care and “optimism.”

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Wikimage Panathenaic Genova panorama… by "Bbruno / CC BY-SA 4.0"

Spiritually Fit

Ancient moral teaching was replete with athletic metaphors, chiefly the Olympic Games. St. Paul capitalized on the footrace and boxing:

Do you not know that all who run in the stadium compete but only one receives the prize? So run that you may win. …I do not run aimlessly; I do not box like one flailing the air (1Corinthians 9.24…26).

Theology professor Holly Taylor Coolman builds on St. Paul's encouragement to be spiritually fit. She asks,“Are we up to the task?” She encourages “that the readiness to which we are called is not only the result of our own efforts. We are borne up by a power greater than our own.”

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Wikimage Stadium of Athens, Greece by "Marcok / of it:wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0"

Adapting Prayer, Receiving Support

The very popular prayer-site Pray As You Go has added a “prayer-support series” during Covid19. The original audio-aid to praying continues with its 3 aims:

• become more aware of God's presence in your life
• listen to and reflect on God's word
• grow in your relationship with God [from its About page]

Learn about Pray As You Stay in its Welcome.

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Wikimage Earbuds / CC0 1.0"

An Opportunity

Our powers of self-observation, self-knowing and self-discovery are rich and rewarding. Sadly we are often distracted from exercising them. The isolation experienced in these trying days may be an opportunity to exercise them. Bishop Robert Barron has been pondering that and shared his thoughts (video is 14 mintues).

On Solemnity of the Annunciation: the Pope’s Midday Prayer

At Noon in Rome Pope Francis prayed with and for the people of the world. His prayer is at the Vatican News site.

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Wikimage Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore 05 by "Nicholas Gemini / CC BY-SA 4.0"

Astronauts: Self-isolation Tips

Numerous items first used in space become familiar on earth and well used. NASA calls them spinoffs: its technology made available to the public—GPS, Bowflex, cordless vacuums and many more.

A timely shift is from technology to human advice. Astronauts have dealt with isolation on their missions. Five of them offered advice as humans deal with isolating from the nCOv2: Surviving Isolation: A Lesson From 5 Astronauts.

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Wikimage US_Space_Walk_1967_Issue-5c.jpg by "Bureau of Engraving and Printing - U.S. Post Office / PD-US"

In Spanish, Polish, English: Masses

These United States parishes and chapels staffed by Jesuits live-stream masses. Times, days of the week and languages link to the sites. Bookmark this link for convenience. 

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Wikimage Reflection of stained glass window on wall by "Jebulon / CC0" 

Not Without Thought. . .

...was the following posted. A number that only recently is given attention is the number who recover from Covid. The numbers of cases (new and ongoing) and of deaths seemed to make the future abysmally dark.

Covid remains very serious for people at higher risk (also: Who is at risk of…severe illness?) and because no vaccine as yet exists to prevent disease in everyone. Reinfection is unlikely, but to date that is based on behaviour of viruses (See Question1 here). 

Parents in Michigan got infected after their son returned from abroad. The son did not know he carried the virus until he was sick. The family wrote their story to help others overcome the stigma attached to the disease and to let people know that recovery is possible. They also recommend people stay home. Their reasons for writing are the reasons their story is posted here.

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Wikimage Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) by "Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0"

Living It Better

A friend required immune-suppressive therapy last month, and the incursion of Covid was terrifying. Wondering about God in our current crisis came up in the conversation. It influenced this post.

The Coronavirus causes suffering for societies and individuals. Suffering spurs many to question God. First, the experience.

Suffering is not one-dimensional; its “dimensions [are] the physical, the psychological, the social, and the spiritual,” noted  Passionist Father Robin Ryan in a March 2016 U.S. Catholic interview. [Context: Fr. Ryan referenced Paris often; suffering was experienced because of the November 2015 Paris attacks.]

Suffering is a “mystery.” As a result, “Human beings will never understand why suffering exists. But even in the midst of our pain, there is God.” As in 2016 God remains present now and every day. This interview can assist us to live this “mystery” better today.   

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Wikimage Schwanenstein, Lohme, Insel Rügen by "Ansgar Koreng / CC BY-SA 4.0"

New Title & Tackling Moral Quandry

Last week “the governors of three states…designated grocery employees as emergency workers, which makes their children eligible for free care at schools.” Grocery workers are providing great service in this crisis. They are among the lowest paid. CSM Staff writers Laurent Belsie and Sarah Matusek offer more.

CSM Staff writer Harry Bruinius covered the workers—often volunteers—who help the most forgotten and very vulnerable: the homeless and the hungry. These workers a responding from their humanity and also from their faith. They are heroes who are being “smart and wise and careful.”

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Wikimage by booledozer Homeless shelter, NE corner of Queen and Sherbourne PD-self

Everybody Home: “might be a good thing”

National Geographic senior editor Christine Dell’Amore reports that “prep work and consistency” aid the transition of being at home with kids all day. Her essay contains more tips and several links to help families move through this pandemic and grow in the process.

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Wikimage by Robbie Sproule 3D Tic Tac Toe CC BY 2.0

Pauses

Friday Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed the State of New York. He declared that New York was on pause: the word was its acronym for policies assure uniform safety [for] everyone. 

Photojournalist Newsha Tavakolian posted her experience of the “hard pause” Coronavirus has imposed on Iran. She describes how the pandemic forced her to photograph: “I feel as if I’ve stepped into some dystopian future.” Her photoessay humanizes our global crisis. Tragedies “smack” and defiant hope sparkles in it. As she discovered herself anew Newsha offers a truth from which everyone can profit: “slowing down reignites your senses.”

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Image: GoogleMaps NYC-Tehran 

Sunday word, 22 Mar 20

Lenten Sunday4 A (22 Mar 2020)
1Sm 16. 1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ps 23; Eph 5. 8-14; Jn 9. 1-41

Homily of Fr. Paul Panaretos, S.J., blogged during Coronavirus

Presence and Attitude

Ours are sobering days. Physical distance limits social contact and interaction. Concern is personal as well for others. Fear lurks close behind concern, and fear can close doors that caution allows us to open. The door of self-restraint leads us to make better choices about what not to do and what to do.

In these unprecedented days—unprecedented for us who experience them—are we aware of a Presence close to us, upholding us, working new things in us? These critical times have changed our routines, yet they do not change the goal of Christian living: risen Christ Jesus. Our crisis can help us deepen our friendly union with him: how we recognize Jesus in our present experience; ways Jesus has enlightened us in the past that may help us in our markedly different circumstances; ways Jesus is clearing  our inward sight and freeing our hearts.

The encounter the man blind from birth had with Jesus allows me to notice more clearly Jesus’ attitude and St. Paul’s conviction about it: we have his attitude.¹ We often think of Jesus’ attitude as expressed in action: gentle self-giving, and that is correct. Jesus’ focused trust on God allowed made his self-giving possible. The man born blind came to enjoy this trust when Jesus gave him sight. Two moments from the encounter: his language and his experience.

The man used the language Jesus spoke, soon to him, before to the woman of Samaria² and later at Jesus’ arrest and trial³: I am. People of biblical faith had long noted it echoes God’s name God gave Moses: tell the Israelites [enslaved in Egypt] that I AM sent me to you.⁴ God was clearly concerned for the suffering.  In today’s gospel encounter Jesus showed that God’s concern continues. Neighbours were uncertain if the man had been the blind beggar. He replied I am (the man). The man had a presence, a value he had not had before. His attitude had become like that of Jesus.

After neighbours the religious authorities interrogated him; he braved them. The religious authorities had created a climate of fear. They had questioned the man’s parents. They were afraid of the authorities’ publicly known verdict: expulsion from the synagogue…[of] anyone [who] acknowledged Jesus as the Christ. When the authorities interrogated their son their verdict did not intimidate him. He expressed himself matter of factly about who Jesus was: He is a prophet.

Jesus’ language and Jesus’ attitude: both deepened an insight: healed by Jesus causes us to be like Jesus. Healed by Jesus does not cause us to mouth Jesus’ words in an empty fashion. Baptism into Jesus—our healing from world-oriented living to spirit-led godly living—causes us to act like Jesus, our healing saviour: with greater courage, feeling and generosity for and with others.

When so many must forego eucharist that sustains our baptisms into Christ, we need to draw courageously on Christ really present in other ways: close to us; upholding us; working new things in us; communicating to us via hope, faith and love. Perhaps the absence of being in a gathered faith community that nourishes itself with the eucharist opens us to modes of divine presence we could not know.

In your daily 15 minutes with Jesus this week, 

• Rest in our triune God
• Ask the man blind from birth to present you to Jesus
• Chat with Jesus: praise him for dying and rising for us; thank him for baptizing us with his Spirit to be like him
• Ask Jesus for grace to sense his presence abiding with us in our days empty of their routine
• Close saying slowly the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus gave it to us to grow more like him, alive with his healing Spirit, more trusting in God and filled with hope in everyone’s value.

Link to this homily’s Spiritual Exercise

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1. Philippians 2.5; 1Corinthians 2.16.
2. John 4.26, last Sunday’s gospel; followed by: 6.35, 41, 48, 51; 8.12, 24, 28, 42, 58; 10.7, 9, 11, 14; 11.25; 12.32; 13.19; 14.2, 6; 15.1, 5; 17.24; 18.5-6, 8.
3. Arrest, 18.5-6, 8; trial, Mark 14.62; Luke 22.70.
4. Exodus 3.14.

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Wiki-image Blind man washes in pool at Siloam PD-US; Pool of Siloam PD-Release