Sacred Sense

A few thoughts with a lockdown flavour: Sacred Sense 

The last few months have been strange indeed. The pandemic silently came on to the scene and made an impact on all our lives. The initial burst of panic, of illness and death led to a confusing lack of direction from those who govern. Mixed messages bombarded us on a daily basis, each a new turn to take. Eventually it led to the closure of churches and the denial of the sacraments to the people of God. It felt like being thrown in at the deep end, and expected to paddle, to float, to build a raft and negotiate the storm. 

Each priest had to come to the conclusion quickly or otherwise, to call upon his relationship with Christ, built over many prayerful conversations and celebrations of Mass. What am I to do when faced with empty pews and silent responses? Priests are people centred it is the nature of ministry, to suddenly become isolated and alone was a challenge indeed. Yet wonderfully uplifting, I found in the silence, a rediscovering of the intimate closeness of Christ. In the stillness there was a profound call to reverence, to not take for granted, to appreciate the beauty of Christ and the Mass.

Every cloud has a silver lining, and how this manifested in the Masses celebrated in my empty parish church. I never felt alone, with Christ at the very heart, with the communion of saints, those participating via a webcam. I felt that I was a drop of water, flowing into an eternal ocean. I felt loved, and for the first time in many years being able to be silent enough to understand that this love was not a shadow hovering, or a word expressing, but a reality taking place there and then. Christ is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament and that presence is my very life, my greatest hope, my ultimate purpose, my leaving, my arriving at my destination, and my reason for setting out on the journey in the first place!

I wrote this following verse to bring together my thoughts.

Sacred Sense

Alone,
but never abandoned,
at peace with the silence

Rediscovering
the incredible value of presence

Swimming
at first,
then learning to
float upon tranquillity

Speaking,
then learning
to be quiet
to listen intently

Love
revealed

Friendship sealed

For now, the joy of reverence

Leading
to receiving,
the gift
of a welcome returning
to a permanent sacred sense.

Fr Patrick Brennan 2020 ©