Friday Though with Fr Chris Ferguson: The new normal

The queue was very orderly, most people standing six feet apart, and a few people standing sixteen feet apart. I was going to suggest, judging by the age profile and the gender imbalance, you would have thought, I was waiting outside a Daniel O’Donnell concert. Well, that’s what Fr Gerard thought, when I described the scene, as I was counting out his change.

Although this description would be inaccurate, as the queue around me consisted mostly of middle-aged men. Apart from the social distancing, we could have formed our own support group.

As a shopping experience, at one level it was quite eerie, on another, it was very relaxed. For over half an hour, I was pushing the trolley, as I shopped for Fr Gerard’s essentials. Mind you, I’m not sure when Just for Men, became an essential item. I tried reassuring my colleague, that standing at this distance from the camera, no one would notice the colour of his hair, even Nasa would have trouble spotting it, with their satellites. Honestly, I was too embarrassed to go to the check out with Just for Men, in case the assistant thought it was for me. Now, don’t think me vain or heartless, I did come up with a solution; instead I got Fr Gerard, brown shoe polish.

From shopping, to schooling, working and socialising; we find ourselves in a new normal. The frustrating aspect, is the not knowing, no-one has ever lived through times like these before. In many respects we find ourselves like the disciples after Jesus death, their only foreseeable horizon was Jesus’ absence and their own heartbreak. Just as we don’t know what the future will look out, without the gift of foresight; so the apostles and Jesus’ followers, stumbled about blindly in new territory. Like watching the news, you can imagine the small band of Jesus’ disciples, listening to the rumours, the reports of certain facts, which are to be contradicted a few hours times. Firstly, no sooner had they been devastated by Jesus’ death, the next rumour they hear, is that Jesus’ body has disappeared, the tomb is empty, the tomb is empty, the tomb is empty. As the first light of dawn announces the beginning of a new week, little do the followers of Jesus, realise what is really being ushered in is a new time, and a new relationship with Jesus. A few hours after reports of the empty tomb; some, more remarkable bulletins begin to circulate, Jesus is not dead.

Like ourselves, regarding predictions about the present, some would have reacted cautiously, more would have dismissed the reports as sensualist fantasy. Later in the morning and early afternoon, even more stories of sightings, appearances and unexplained occurrences. Jesus isn’t simply a resuscitated corpse like Lazarus, who would die again; something new is happening, an event, encountered on a whole different level.

Eventually, after second hand accounts, the disciples, themselves experience the Risen Lord. These encounters with the Crucified and Risen Christ, transform a shell shocked and despondent community of followers.

Within days and weeks, this community, are so transformed, they will go to the ends of the earth and stake their very lives on the reality of the Risen Lord. In these uncertain times, are the doors of our homes and our hearts, open to welcome the Resurrected Jesus, who transforms and heals.