Monday of the Third Week of Lent

Readings of the Day

Hungry. Thirsty. Sick. Alone. Today's readings offer us several images of people at their most vulnerable. Perhaps they were also experiencing high levels of anxiety. I imagine the widows during Israel's 3 1/2 years of drought and famine to be anxious about when the rains would finally come and how they would survive. Naaman is likely anxious when he expresses anger at Elisha's simple instructions. 

In my community, and at the Catholic Charities agency where I am privileged to work, we are currently focused on how the Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19 will affect all those we hold dear. Can we provide a safe space for program participants to continue to come in for services? Will our childrens' schools close? Are we able to protect our senior neighbors or those with chronic illnesses? Will I get sick? Will my loved ones? Our anxiety levels are high. 

During these anxious times many seek reassurance ("When shall I go and behold the face of God?" "My soul longs for you, O God."). Let us pray that, during each day of this pandemic, we are able to be a source of comfort and of relief to each other. We will not alleviate all anxiety and many fears may come to pass, but we can support one another in small ways.  

Shannon Kelly is the Chief Operating Officer at Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan & Ulster, one of the human service agencies of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. 

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