As COVID 19 pandemic infected people everywhere, there were questions and doubts raised in the minds and hearts of many such as, “Is this pandemic a plan of God?”. It is unquestionable as to why this doubt was being raised because this pandemic was the reason many were dying while others were admitted to hospitals for days or weeks depending on the situation and health reasons. The pandemic caused the lockdown which affected the global economy causing many to lose their jobs.

As I try to make sense of what is happening in the entire world after Covid brought chaos, confusion and disorder, I recall the scene of the Israelites who walked in darkness. This shadow of darkness dawned on us like a bolt of thunder awakening, slowly tracking into chaos and thereafter the real aftermath. We ask like little innocent children, Why is God doing this? Our whole being is turned upside down and tragically torn apart. An experience of disorder in totality.

The shutdown of Palestine State in the Middle East had forced me to call off the planned Jordan/Israel pilgrimage departure just 72 hours prior to our travelling date. This was when I began to feel the first effects of Covid-19, but underestimated the extent of it.

I have been in the tourism industry for more than 35 years and until this year...

I struggled with the lockdown regulations and conditions in particular depriving me of my normal and usual fellowship with members of the Church, colleagues and friends. In particular, I am unable to receive our Lord Jesus sacramentally compared to as and when I can during normal days. For the initial few weeks, I felt the spiritual ‘pain’ and ‘loss’ especially during Sundays....

Of course nothing is a bed of roses. Being close to Jesus is not attractive to many. I have encountered many challenges, and have fallen short, doubting Jesus when my prayers were not answered. It’s a test of faith to endure and wait patiently that everything unfolds in his time.

To follow Jesus is not easy but it gives me such joy. I feel God is testing me to be stronger and yet he never fails to remind me of his promises, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me”.

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, empathizes with our suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Being keenly aware and sensitive, he exhorts all peoples, Christians, and non-Christians, in the spirit of our Risen Lord, to be strong, not to give up, to fight on, and to be sensitive to the sufferings.

We have struggled to live with the pandemic for a year and beginning to see a ray of hope in the far end of the tunnel but the uncertainties haunt us if and when we are able to return to our life like before the pandemic a year ago. During this year, I am offered more time and opportunity when I can choose to listen to the Word of God, treasure and share its riches. All the more I feel there is an inner struggle within me to comprehend this question: “what is true freedom?”

“Let there be no poor among you” (Dt.15:4). Seems too good to be true, especially in this world of grinding poverty.

Last Advent was vastly different in many ways and the biggest difference was not having weekly Sunday masses physically in church. No doubt, we were following the virtual Masses but I’m sure we can all agree it just isn’t the same as attending Mass in the church.
As Advent approached, I wondered of ways to make the season more special and spiritual since I couldn’t go to church and participate in the usual activities that would usually go on either. In prayer one day....