LIVING LIFE | KAIROS GLOBAL | NOVEMBER 2020

A Lockdown Epiphany

It happened during lockdown, while attending Sunday Mass online. When the priest raised the Host, I had to strain and squint my eyes to see a pixelated Holy Eucharist. That’s the exact moment I realised that I had been taking this for granted, my entire life. And I couldn’t control my tears, as I remembered a time when I could see Him freely and feel His presence within me. But all I could do now was to dream of receiving him again… The hardest thing during the lockdown was ‘the waiting’. I realised how much Jesus must have waited for me to come to him. The only thing that kept me was the grace, obtained from receiving the Holy Communion and going to the confessionals pre-lockdown. After the churches reopened here, my first time receiving Jesus was yet another inexpressible experience. One thing I clearly remember was, lifting my teary eyes up to the altar and being able to see the Holy Eucharist. I murmured, ‘Thank you Jesus, for waiting for me.’ 

Evelin Mariya Joshy/Nova Scotia, Canada

Hozier’s message is certainly different from our thirst and longing for Mass in our Father’s house. Like a lover separated from his partner, the heartbreaking months of being separated from physically receiving Jesus did not pass by fast.  I am certainly grateful for the millions of masses that were streamed online which allowed our favorite priests’ homilies to be just a click away. The creativity and flexibility of online prayer meetings allowed us to come together in fellowship, though miles apart. Tears of joy and smiles of thanksgiving are all I can recall from that first day back in our Father’s house. Certainly felt different singing behind a mask and giving the sign of peace, social distanced but I still blush thinking of the moment I got reunited with my Love – Jesus!  All praise and thanksgiving be to Him alone!

Limi Kalapurackal, The Netherlands

Celebration of daily Holy Mass was the essence and motivation of my life here in Muscat. I would surrender my loneliness, struggles and workload to the Almighty and in turn experience the Lord’s presence close to me on this journey. The Holy Mass and the silent personal prayer before the Eucharist was my bastion of life. The greatest loss for me this pandemic was missing the Holy Masses celebrated in Church. Right now, I am passing through a spiritual dryness for the lack of the Eucharistic Celebration. I eagerly wait for the day churches will reopen and for the non-stop celebration of Holy Mass.     

Jithu Jomcy, Muscat