Page 107 - spiritual_accompaniment_montreal_archdiocese

HOMILIES

God wants to be close to us.

As we pass through these uncertain times, we have the option to pray. We are called to prayer,
we are invited to turn to God. But we are just as much invited to pray for those who do not
believe in God, for those who are perhaps not yet at the point of praying to God themselves.
In his love, God wants to be close to the heart of everyone. He wants to answer the needs and
be in the hearts of all who believe in him. But he also wants to answer the needs of those who
have perhaps forgotten him in their life. Jesus has come into the world to save all humanity.
God loves all humanity. God wants to be close to every human being. During this pandemic,
we discover or rediscover that we are all brothers and sisters as human beings, even when we
have different faiths. This is indeed the right time for us to come to see the essential in all the
essentials, the opportunity to think of the love of God for both those who are far from him
and for those who remained close.

While we pray, we are certainly invited to pray for ourselves without forgetting to pray for
each other, to pray for all persons, and to pray for all of humanity. When we go into the depth
of our heart, now when all of humanity is plunged into uncertainty, we ask ourselves, will the
whole world become sick?

It is clear to us that the whole world will not get sick, but even just one person, one victim, is
already one too many. It is already one victim whom we must draw close to us, for whom we
must pray, and for whom it is demanded of us to show compassion.

Uncertainty, solitude: God comes knocking at the door of our hearts!

Lately, we feel a lot of uncertainty while we also experience a lot of solitude. We live in
a time of isolation when we have to observe physical distancing, which can make people
feel alone and isolated from the rest of the world. Many are alone at home. We must think
of them as victims by collateral damage caused by this pandemic. Let us be ready to hold
their hand, figuratively speaking, or lend an ear, to call them, make a phone call, as signs
of life to establish a real connection.

Today, we also go through economic uncertainty. But whether it is about health or solitude or
economic uncertainty, or even if we are not directly touched by the pandemic, let us take time
to recognize that we are all visited by God who knocks on the door of our heart. We cannot

(cont’d)

Collection of texts by the Most Rev. Christian Lépine 107