Dear Friends,
‘Accompaniment’ is a word which Pope Francis uses often. He wants to see more accompaniment and more listening in our journey with our brothers and sisters, particularly those of little or no faith. It is a beautiful teaching and a necessary counterbalance in a culture that is drowning in words!
The days of Holy Week are upon us. How are we going to journey through them? Perhaps we can accompany Jesus. Watch, listen, enter into the events we know so well. We will be overwhelmed if we open our hearts. Such extreme suffering and sadness is too much for us to think about for long. We are staring into the face of pure love!
We may begin by accompanying Jesus. We will gradually find ourselves being accompanied by him. He has much he wants to teach us. Are we able to listen, to ponder, to be silent? There is no other way of entering into these days.
Let us listen carefully to the accounts of the Passion of Jesus in our live-streamed services. Allow our hearts to be opened a little more. There is no better preparation, surely, for the reopening of our churches and our celebration of the great Easter Feast next weekend.
May God bless you and those you love
Father John