Before Mass today, I paced and prayed in an empty cathedral. I know you all miss the opportunity to gather together for Mass and to receive the Eucharist. I hope you also know that we as your pastors miss all of you and the ability to gather together to receive the Lord and celebrate our faith. May this distance serve to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ and his presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us continue to hold each other close in prayer.

In going to console and grieve with Mary and Martha after Lazarus died, Jesus demonstrates his humanity. As Jesus visited Martha and Mary during their time of grief, so he is present to the many people throughout the world who grieve the loss of loved ones to the coronavirus.

In raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus demonstrates his divinity, and his power over all things, even death itself. As Jesus called Lazarus to rise from the dead, so he is present to those who have died during this present pandemic.

Jesus teaches us that he is the Resurrection and the Life. When we believe this, and live with this faith, we find our freedom to live this new life in the world, with hope in the life that is to come after our own earthly death.

Here is today’s Mass and Homily:

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