Sunday, March 29, 2020

“Heart and Soul”

“Come, let us return to the Lord…he will heal us…After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

Hosea 6:1-3

Not every morning dawns with a dramatic display of vibrant hues of pink, lavender and gold, giving way to clear blue skies.  Some days it rains and it seems that it will never end.  Many watch water levels rise, as the snow melt continues, and they add to their anxieties worry about flooding, in the midst of a global pandemic.  Our world is weathering the terrifying storm of COVID 19. People in Canada talk about ‘My 14 days of self-isolation will soon be up’ but they are not over!  If you have returned from travel outside the country, or if you have been exposed to the virus, you will be marking off those 14 days of mandatory quarantine on the calendar. Then you will move into the period of self-isolation, which as yet has no conclusion date, joining every other responsible person in our community. 

But as Christians we are confident that spring rains can also be a symbol of cleansing and of  growth.  It’s not just that “April showers bring May flowers”.  The hope inherent in the season of rebirth, of Resurrection, remains, in our natural world and in our hearts and souls. We are not alone.  We walk with the ‘Gardener’ and we walk together. 

Tonight, March 29, Lent 5, The Most Rev. Linda Nicholls, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, invites us to ‘gather’ as the Church, online, to ‘return to the Lord’ and to pray for the Communion and for the whole world engulfed in COVID 19. She writes “I will be lighting a candle and offering prayers live on Facebook at 7 p.m. EDT for any who wish to join me.

Please, at 7 PM, follow this link: https://www.anglican.ca/news/a-national-call-to-prayer-on-lent-5/30025949/

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining…

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,The Rainy Day‘.