Friday Thought with Fr Chris Ferguson

With restrictions relating to social distancing and seating capacity, there were concerns expressed about managing numbers returning to Mass. I never thought as a Church, we would have concerns relating to having too many people returning to Mass. As you can imagine, we’re all in new territory, and literally learning as we go along. Some parishes resorted to a first-come policy whilst others employed a booking system. It seems strange to be discussing booking seats for Mass. All sorts of thoughts crowded my head, would there be season tickets, a loyalty scheme involving certain perks for loyal parishioners, such as being allowed to attend the celebration of an extra rosary.

How do contend with social distancing measures? No one wants to see a parishioner being turned away from Mass or being told they can’t attend.

Obviously a plea went out to those shielding to remain at home, and follow the liturgy through the webcam. If we decided to use age as a discriminator and asked the over seventies to remain at home, there would be no issues with crowds and social distancing in our churches. Another possible option was to assign different areas of the parish, to certain Masses, either over several weekends or to particular days during the week. I suggested using a height restriction and then I realised I wouldn’t be allowed in the Church to celebrate the Mass. Then I remembered a conversation I had two weeks ago with a Waterside native. Very honestly, she explained how her family and she, were going to find it very difficult to go back to Mass. Over the months of the lockdown they had gotten used to watching Mass from home, eating their dinner, and enjoying a glass of wine. The experience has taken the notion of table fellowship to another level. Obviously, the length of the sermon determined how many glasses of wine they enjoyed.

With Father Gerard, you would probably finish a full bottle. What’s important in our lives, reflects what we value in our hearts. If the seed of the Word of God is deeply implanted in our lives, then we will continue to seek the nourishment Jesus provides through his body, the bread of life. If the Eucharist is the source of our life, then being transformed into another presence of Christ should be of paramount importance. Being concerned to develop the mind of Christ, enables his disciples to perceive Jesus in other people and in the events of daily life. Having eyes that can see and ears that can hear, means becoming attuned to the rhythms and cycles of God’s presence in the sacrament of the ordinary. Indeed, the kingdom of God is present among us, to the extent we have eyes that can see and ears that can hear. Without making space in our hearts, and enabling ourselves to be in a real relationship with Jesus, we will become blind and deaf to the approach of God. Too easily we will dismiss the occasions when Jesus speaks in our lives.

Too often, Christianity can be reduced to morality, thinking, as long as I’m a good person, not doing anyone any harm, I’ll be alright in the eyes of God. However, if we fail to become attuned to God’s ways, learning to recognise and perceive Jesus in the world around us, how can we expect to recognise him at the end of our days. Jesus wants to be in a relationship with us, here and now. Any serious relationship has to be worked at day and daily, demanding time, and many sacrifices. Frequently, I have placed prayer at the bottom of my list of priorities, becoming consumed by my own concerns and wants. Being in a loving relationship changes us challenges us and opens our hearts and minds. If we are closed in our own world, locked within in our own hearts, we need to experience the healing, which enlarges our hearts and minds. The good news, Jesus does the heavy lifting, what is required of us is an openness and willingness to be in a relationship. Can we allow the gift of the Spirit to transform us in a healing presence of Christ?