ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE

TEARS OF JOY​

For more than two months now, public worship has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. This past weekend, on Pentecost Sunday, the church lifted the suspension and once again we assembled for public worship. How appropriate on this particular Sunday.

While being sheltered in place many of our parishioners have written their thoughts and their memories of living with this pandemic and sent them in to be published on our website. We read articles about making masks, and feeling isolation. We read about the stations of the cross set-up in a family's living room, as well as cooking during the pandemic. My personal contributions were memories of my father, his devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and some silly family stuff during the shelter in place.

Now that we are publicly worshiping again, and the shelter in place guidelines are being relaxed, as of this writing, “Christian and Coronavirus: Staying Connected in Christ” comes to an end. But it will not be forgotten! All of your articles are going to be compiled into a single book and placed in the Saint Andrew archives. Hopefully in the year 2022, these articles, as well as other artifacts we might pass along for posterity, might be placed in a time capsule to be opened in 2122. You see our church building will be 100 years old in 2022. Wouldn't it be fun having a time capsule in place for the worshipers in 2122 to open and read about this pandemic?

But today's article is about “Tears of Joy.” Last Sunday while distributing Holy Communion so many of you received our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist with “Tears of Joy.” It is true that absence makes the heart fonder! And not being able to share in the Eucharist for more than two months was cause for grief. This period was a Calvary moment. But with Calvary comes resurrection. In our resurrection on Pentecost Sunday was hearing the words, “the Body of
Christ.” And the many “Amens” were spoken through masks, with broken voices and tear-filled eyes. Truly “Tears of Joy.” Hopefully when the Catholic Community in 2122 reads these articles they might be as joy-filled and misty eyed.

Your Brother in Christ,
Deacon Tim Schutte