CHARLOTTE — Jesus offers “an encouraging and uplifting message” to us on this Fifth Sunday of Easter: He loves us and wants us to be with Him and Almighty God forever in heaven.
That was the message in the day’s Gospel reading from John 14:1-12, which Bishop Peter Jugis reflected upon during a private Mass May 10 streamed live on St. Patrick Cathedral’s Facebook page.
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit North Carolina in mid-March, St. Patrick Cathedral also offered two public Masses May 10. The liturgies took place outdoors in the cathedral’s parking lot after Gov. Roy Cooper relaxed the state’s “stay-at-home” order to allow larger in-person worship services moving forward, as long as the services are held outside and people remain safely distanced. North Carolina has seen a slowdown in the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and the governor’s move this week is part of a “phase one” easing of restrictions on travel, business and public gatherings.
In his homily, Bishop Jugis reflected on the day’s Gospel, in which Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life” and “Do not let your hearts be troubled … In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.”
Jesus’ words to His disciples – and to people today – are “an encouraging and uplifting message” particularly meaningful during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop Jugis said.
Jesus offer the answer to life’s eternal question: What is life all about? Where is all of this leading?
“To be with Jesus forever – that is the desire of our hearts, that is our goal, and that is why Jesus came to win pardon for our sins and set us on a new path to eternity,” the bishop said.
“He loves us and cares for us so much as the Good Shepherd, and He knows that we love Him and want to be with Him so much that He says, ‘I will take you to myself so that you may be with me.’”
That is what Lent and Easter – and indeed, our entire lives – are all about, Bishop Jugis said. We are urged to turn away from sin and turn towards God.
“My brothers and sisters, that is the Paschal mystery that we live our entire lives, not just during Lent and Easter, but always.”
Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life,” the bishop quoted from the Gospel passage. “ Jesus says, ‘I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly.’
“Abundant life, that’s life with God forever in eternity, sharing in God’s life,” the bishop said.
“That is the full and abundant life that Jesus gives us. And there’s nothing more abundant than that.”
Keeping our eyes fixed on the goal of attaining heaven, he said, “Jesus will bring us through all of the difficulties and shadows and darkness of this life – even the darkness of the pandemic.”
In honor of Mother’s Day, Bishop Jugis also offered a blessing to all mothers: “Bless mothers for all their efforts to keep us their children on the straight path, so that we reach our life’s goal of heaven with them.”
During the intercessory prayers at Mass, Bishop Jugis also repeated the prayer he has asked the faithful to pray throughout the pandemic:
“Merciful Father, through the intercession of Blessed Mary, St. Roch, and St. Rosalie, deliver us from the current attack and subsequent suffering we are enduring from the coronavirus. May we seek to assist those in need in body or spirit and ourselves turn away from sin and trust in You. We ask this in the name of the Divine Physician, Jesus Christ Our Lord.”
Learn more about this special prayer here: http://www.catholicnewsherald.com/90-news/local/5575-bishop-jugis-asks-for-intercessory-prayer-to-end-coronavirus
— Catholic News Herald
Pictured at top: “Crowning of the Virgin,” by Diego Velázquez (1645)
Watch all of the Easter Sunday Masses