LENT AND THE CORONA
[Notes taken from Cardinal Tagle's homily @Good Friday 2020]
A friend shared this sermon by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines, who is currently based at the Vatican. I received this on Good Friday, a bit late for Lent, nonetheless a wonderful sermon so worth listening to.
The cardinal creatively linked and reflected three points of the coronavirus and the bible - the washing of hands before meals, Pontius Pilat's washing of his hands and the Corona (Corona in Latin means crown) vs the Crown of Jesus.
Here’s a snapshot of his three points, but please take time to listen to his sermon in full. The gems of wisdom and his heartfelt delivery cannot be conveyed in these few words.
#1 The washing of hands before meals (Matthew 15:2) - As we go about washing our hands to ward off the coronavirus, may be too let God wash us from within. A proud heart no longer listens to God’s voice. It is the heart that listens to God's Word and eats God's Word that become the source of what is good. The Word of God received, remembered and observed in the heart purifies and clenses the heart. So let us take care not to spread the virus of malice, envy, greed….these that come from within because we have refused the washing that the Lord wants to accomplish in us. Let God’s commandments be our food, to purify us from within.
#2 Pontius Pilat’s washing of hands (Matthew 27:2) - For us to avoid Pilat's way of washing of hands: being indifference to neightbours, not taking responsibilities for others. May we in these times of uncertainties, reach out to our neighbours, extend a helping hand to those who have less than us and still having to battle the same situation.
#3 The crown of thorns (John 19:2) that becomes the crown of glory if accepted like Jesus, in faith and in love. He reflected that this crown for us may be a crown of thorns, a crown of suffering, but with the eyes of faith, it might be lived to God's glory and for our good, if handled well, and with Mary to show us the way.
Cardinal Luis reflected, that amidst this mysterious corona, as we cry out for help, fall to our knees, turn to one another, we begin to enjoy each other's company. It may be a cause of suffering, but in God's hand, it can lead to wisdom and strength, making us more humble and more dependent on God.
Link to the full sermon:
May you be blessed as I have, by Cardinal Luis’ teaching.
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