At the end of the liturgy on Holy Thursday evening, in every Catholic Church around the world, the Blessed Sacrament is removed to the altar of repose, the altar is stripped, the church is bare, empty. Tomb-like. It is a striking and heartbreaking tradition, and I make sure to attend each year, to allow my heart to break, my tears to fall, my spirit to be clouded in gloom and dread, preparing for Good Friday, and Christ’s passion.

This year the priests will celebrate this Mass as they have most of the Masses throughout Lent, alone, without the faithful able to attend due to the Corona virus. Most churches are now closed to the faithful, although many congregations are able to worship online, have virtual Bible classes, and many other activities.

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MT 21:1-11

When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem
and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives,
Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,
“Go into the village opposite you,
and immediately you will find an ass tethered,
and a colt with her.
Untie them and bring them here to me.
And if anyone should say anything to you, reply,
‘The master has need of them.’
Then he will send them at once.”
This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Say to daughter Zion,
“Behold, your king comes to you,
meek and riding on an ass,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them.
They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them,
and he sat upon them.
The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
while others cut branches from the trees
and strewed them on the road.
The crowds preceding him and those following
kept crying out and saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David;
blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;
hosanna in the highest.”
And when he entered Jerusalem
the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?”
And the crowds replied,
“This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

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Gospel Jn 11:1-45

On Thursday night hundreds of people in cars surrounded Cartersville Medical Center in Georgia to pray for the sick patients who are suffering from the Corona virus, and for all the medical personnel who fight for their lives. Camden McGill organized the event, called the Circle of Prayer.

Staff members watched from the rooftop and the lawn, and those patients who were able could see the cars from their windows.

The Fox 5 article says Cartersville was one of the first hospitals to treat a Corona patient, and the Georgia town has been particularly hard hit. Check the link for details and video.

As of today, Georgia reports 98 cases in Bartow county, where Cartersville is located, 2001 cases for the state, and 64 deaths statewide.

Gospel Jn 9:1-41

I have been grateful and cheered to see lots of business owners, community leaders, city and county governments, and just individuals like you and me step up during this time to help those in need, by feeding the children who depend on school lunches, helping seniors who are home bound or not able to shop, volunteering in so many ways.

People are encouraged to help small business owners, buy gift cards, and even pro athletes are paying the salaries of those hurt by these shut downs. I’ve seen too many good causes to mention all here, and some truly special ideas, from having home bound kids write cards and letters to be sent to nursing homes, to wonderful videos of the indomitable spirit of mankind exhibited beautifully by people of all ages singing from their balconies in Italian towns.

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