Page 113 - spiritual_accompaniment_montreal_archdiocese

HOMILIES

This way of praying, modelled by Jesus Christ, can become our own. When we feel abandoned,
let us pray to Jesus and turn to Him. Let us look upon and contemplate Him. Place a crucifix
in your home, be it on a wall, your desk, or a table. Contemplate the crucified Christ who is
praying to his Father. Look upon Jesus and pray! Begin praying, even if you feel as though no
one is listening. “Lord, I pray to you! Lord, I pray to you! I pray to you because I am fading
from myself; even if I am no longer moved to pray, I know that you will not abandon me.” Pray
to Jesus in the same way He prayed to his Father, by offering up your sorrow and feelings of
abandonment, “Why have you forsaken me?”. Pray to Him and offer up your pain from feeling
deserted, alone, and neglected.

Remember others who are also struggling alone and pray for them. Pray that God’s mercy be
poured out over all mankind, dwell like a balm in our hearts, and bring comfort and consola-
tion. In the same way, while we find ourselves alone before Jesus, before his own solitude on
the Cross, we can each lift up all of mankind in prayer during this pandemic, all those who
suffer in their isolation. We can each continue to place our whole life in God’s hands, in the
hands of Jesus Christ. May we come to know that Jesus Christ will never abandon us.

We are living in a time when, in ways that can be conflicting and unclear, we find ourselves
experiencing increased levels of isolation. It is true that physical distancing must be prac-
ticed and is essential in helping prevent the spread of infection. At the same time, however, as
we try to avoid spreading the virus, we also seek human connection and ways to bring people
closer together, perhaps more than ever. This is perhaps one of the blessings that can emerge
from the adversity we currently face. While we’ve been pushed to our limits, and forced to
distance ourselves physically, we have worked, and continue to work, towards renewing our
means of communication, to seek alternate ways of reaching out to others, i.e. small gestures
that have the power to touch hearts, like a phone call, however brief, or a message through
social media, using the internet, and always staying current and relevant in the way we
connect with others, all while renewing our prayer life at the same time.

We can feel alone as we face the unknown, our hearts filled with uncertainty. Let us pray to
the Lord. Let us call upon his Mercy for all mankind, for our families, for each one of us, and
let us place our lives into the God’s hands, He who will never abandon us.



Collection of texts by the Most Rev. Christian Lépine 113