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Each weekday, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19?   BREAKING THE FALL SETTING: with the Cross, a memento or symbol of a time when you were encouraged or helped out of, saved from a difficult situation. Prayer to begin: Today, enter this time of prayer with your own words. Speak to God from the feelings in your heart at this moment. Then, clear your mind and listen. Believe strongly that, with this prayer, you are beginning a conversation. Do your best to ensure it is a two-way conversation. If you are unfamiliar with this type of praying, or find it difficult, take up an earlier prayer from this series of reflections, one that appealed to you, one that perhaps you have already returned to. Use this prayer to draw you into today’s time with God.   The Lord supports all who fall and raises all who are bowed down. [Psalm 145:14] Those words from Psalm 144 are wonderfully consoling to people of faith – on two levels. First, there’s an acceptance on our part that we “fall”, make wrong choices, mess things up. Second, we get “bowed down” – stuff happens to us that we can’t control; we get hurt, sick, or feel helpless when those we love suffer. On both levels, God is with us, “supporting” and “raising up”. At the time you may not realise this and feel that God has left you to it! But if you can step out of your anger or frustration for a while, you will see a sign that tells you you’re not alone.

Each weekday, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19?   NEW LIFE, NEW HOPE SETTING: Prayer of praise: Alleluia! A word that has been, like us, in lockdown! It’s out again as Lent retreats and bursting with life. We give you thanks and praise, O God. Alleluia! He is risen! Death, though it separates us from those we love, cannot destroy love or separate us forever. The resurrection of Jesus is our victory and our hope. We give you thanks and praise, O God. Alleluia!   Jesus’ closest companions, the ones he’d handpicked for ministry, did not believe Mary Magdalene when she ran to them with the news that Jesus was alive. Coming to the tomb in the early morning she found the stone rolled away and no sign of the body. She confronted a person she thought to be the gardener, enquiring, Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him. The “Gardener” spoke her name and she immediately knew it was Jesus.

Each weekday, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19?   IT IS A TIME NOW… SETTING: in your prayer space, place a photo, drawing or craft model of a boat. Prayer for a new beginning: God, ever faithful. You know the aching in our hearts as we live through this worrying time. It’s like the stuffing has been knocked out of the whole world. Isolated from one another we crave for a new day and another chance to honour your gift of community. In your faithfulness heal our brokenness. Bring us back together, for we now know, as you have always known: It is not good that the man should be alone. [Genesis 2:18]   In a special liturgy on Friday 27 March, from a very empty St Peter’s Square in Rome, Pope Francis spoke of the “deafening silence” and “distressing void” that had engulfed the world from the impact of Covid-19. He said we had all been caught off guard and were “fragile and disorientated”.

Each weekday for the next 14 days, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19? HOLY WEEK (3) SETTING: the Cross, with two lit candles. Prayer at the foot of the Cross: There’s a barrier between us, dear Jesus. Everyone’s being kept at a distance I cannot draw near to touch, to hold, or to comfort. I hear you forgive those who nail and spear you I sense your peace and I wonder at your courage and the strength of your love. A virus has brought suffering to our world and we seek someone to blame. But standing here, our suffering seems such a small wound. Help us walk the path of forgiveness that we might return to one another healed and at peace. This is the final of three reflections centred on Holy Week. Their themes are not confined to this particular week so can be used at any time. However, they may have special relevance for you in this lockdown phase of our struggle with Covid-19.

Each weekday for the next 14 days, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19? HOLY WEEK (2) SETTING: darker colours – purple, scarlet… Pieces of greenery. A lit candle near the cross. Opening Prayer: I know the plans I have in mind for you – plans for peace, not disaster, reserving a future full of hope for you. [Jer.29:11] Loving God, unfold your plans for us as we struggle through this time of unknowing. Strengthen our hope through our doubts and our fears. As we follow the path of Jesus with his cross of isolation may we never lose sight of the empty tomb beyond Calvary and the peace and joy that shines from it. Let this be our consolation, bringing trust and calm. **** O God, who willed your Son to submit for our sake to the yoke of the Cross, so that you might drive from us the power of the enemy, grant us, your servants, to attain the grace of the resurrection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. [Prayer of Holy Week Mass]   Scripture – Paul to the Philippians 2:6-11 His state was divine, yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as people are, and being as all people are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names, so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus, and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Each weekday for the next 14 days, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19? HOLY WEEK (1) SETTING: highlight the cross, together with some stones and greenery. Prayer in awe of this sacred time: In this treasured week, O God, when we witness the extent of your love for us I close my eyes in humble thanksgiving. The cries of Jesus, isolated and fearing he has been abandoned, pierces my ears and my heart. I offer my own isolation in this pandemic moment for all in pain and without support, for those alone and lonely, for those lost and afraid. I praise your love, mysterious and awesome. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends – see John 15:13 This description of love came just after Jesus had given his “new commandment” to love one another as I have loved you. [Jn 15:12] Within a few hours of speaking, Jesus would live that commandment to the full. To truly follow Jesus, I have to be prepared to give of myself, just as he did, for the good of others. During this uncertain time, living with the threat of Covid-19, this is exactly what everyone is being asked to do: to put the good of others ahead of my own.