Hearing the Word of the Lord

Unlike Fr. Quinn, I am not a big fan of podcasts. As a general rule I would rather read an article, book, or commentary than listen to it. However, there is one exception to the rule: I love to hear scripture read out loud. Don’t get me wrong, I love to read scripture myself and do so daily, but there is just something about hearing it that forces me to pay a little more attention. Even though we have the printed passages on Sundays, I do not read along but rather give all my attention to our reader. (And by the way, we have some excellent readers and I want to thank each of you for your ministry.)
 
Sunday, March 15, was probably one of the strangest Sundays in my life. For the first time in I-cannot-remember-when, I did not drive to a church to attend service. Yet I still attended service and was able to hear scripture read aloud. Through the marvels of technology, I saw and heard Fr. Quinn lead Morning Prayer. I confessed my sins, said the prayers, canticles, and creed out loud right along with him, and — although I could not hear the voices of those who also attended service virtually — I could feel your presence and I knew I was in community with you.
 
St. Francis once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times and only when necessary use words.” During this confusing time, I hear the Gospel through so many different voices and by so many different means. I hear the Gospel in a Facebook post offering help to friend, neighbor, and stranger. I hear the Gospel in an email or phone call checking in on me and my loved ones. I even hear the Gospel in the solitude of my house as I try to keep my distance from other people and therefore not contribute to the spread of the virus.
 
My brothers and sisters in Christ, together we will come through these times. Together we will proclaim the Gospel in our actions and in our words. And together, when the time is right, we will gather at that part of God’s Kingdom we call St. Peters to hear the word of the Lord. And to that I say, “Thanks be to God.”
 
Yours in Christ,
Deacon John