By Sister Jean Ann McGrath
At the parish school where I worked, we had a long standing tradition each Ash Wednesday. As part of our prayer service, we symbolically “boxed up” the word “Alleluia” as a way to tell the children that the next forty days are a special time in the church year and that they would not be hearing that word until it is joyously proclaimed at Easter. As I think about this blog, I am wondering how we will unwrap the Alleluia this year.
If you, like me, are spending hours scanning various screens during our imposed isolation, you are probably experiencing a surreal world. One of the most difficult things for me has been trying to balance scenes of overcrowded emergency rooms and the daily announcement of mounting casualties with the amazing tales of heroism, creative ways to stay connected with friends and families, virtual concerts, and inspiring messages of hope from around the world. Trying to balance both is in itself a challenge to my mind, my heart, and my desire to be a person of deeper faith and trust.
This blog will be posted right before Holy Thursday, the beginning of a Triduum time which none of us could have imagined and that most of us will be celebrating very differently this year. We will not be at mass together. We will not be witnessing the ancient rite of the washing of feet, the reading of the passion narrative, the lighting of the Easter Fire. We will not be having Easter egg hunts, lavish Easter brunches, or spring vacations to sunny and warm places across the country.
But will we be able to unwrap the Alleluia?
What will we do to ensure that we can shout the Easter Alleluia even if it is from our front porch or on our computer screen?
As we approach the holiest time of the Church year, I am challenging myself and you to make sure the Alleluia rings across our world, our neighborhood and in the confines of the homes in which we are literally confined.
I am going to start with prayer; prayer for those who have contracted the virus and for those who love them. (A friend of mine, the mother of nine and grandmother of 27 has the virus and is totally quarantined from them. Her isolation is more painful than the horrific cough that has lingered for weeks.) I am going to pray for the first responders, those doctors and nurses who literally put their lives on the line every time they report for a new shift. I am going to pray for the President and his staff. Although we may have vastly different political views and I wonder “why” and “if only”, the challenges they face are enormous. I pray that the difficult decisions they need to make each day will be informed not only by scientific data but also by deep wisdom and heartfelt compassion.
I am challenging myself to be less frightened and more faith-filled during these Triduum days. Discouragement is itself a contagious virus but I am encouraged by the words of a journalist whom I deeply respect: “the only thing that spreads faster than this virus is hope.” If you look, you will see hope everywhere.
Finally, I am going to find small concrete things I can do from my isolation booth (my apartment). Maybe make an Easter basket for the nurse across the street? Maybe make phone calls to seniors in the parish whom I know will be alone on Easter Sunday. Maybe a gift card for the girl who cuts my hair who will be out of work for another six weeks…. The alleluia opportunities are endless.
There will be no Easter liturgy in our parish this year to unwrap the Alleluia, but it will be unwrapped and will be an anthem to sustain us well beyond the recently extended days of social isolation. It will be the heartfelt hope that unites us even if we must stay six feet or six thousand miles apart. It will be the promise of new life in Spring, in Easter, and in all of us.
And so, (a few days in advance) ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA
About the Author
After years as a Catholic School Principal, Sister Jean McGrath is looking forward to volunteer service now that she has retired. She loves a good book, a good conversation and a good bargain!
Jean, this is wonderful! Thank you for this. I will consciously and joyfully unwrap the Alleluia on my balcony Sunday morning. In the meantime, have a blessed Triduum!
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Thank you Judith!
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Oh Sister Jean, it is so comforting to hear your words . Thank you for your wisdom and message of hope. Happy Easter! Christ is Risen! Sending you our love.🙏🐣
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Thank you Maria! Love to you!
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Thank you and I wish you an Alleluia in all our hearts.
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Thank you!
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II wish all a nice Easter.
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And a nice Easter to you, Veronica!
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Thank you for this, Sr. Jean – I am holding you and all the sisters in gratitude and in prayer – Bobbie Nye
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Thank you so much, Bobbie!
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Thank you, Jean Ann – what a WONDERFUL reflection.
Blessings on you and your ALLELUIA.
Love and peace,
Mary Ellen
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Thanks so much Mary Ellen!
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Thank you Jean!
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Thanks Kathleen!
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wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Jean! thank you for these words and message of hope and “Alleluiaing” B.
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Jean, Thank you so very much for this holy, and wholly practical and down to earth, response to how celebrate Easter in a time of plague. With gratitude to you, your sister, Mary Kate
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Thank you, Mary Kate!
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Thank you, Sister Jean. Your mention of the journalist’s words about hope reminded me of Studs Terkel’s book: Hope Dies Last, with the much relevant subtitle: Keeping the Faith in Difficult Times. We will get through this together.
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We will! Thank you for your thoughts, Anne!
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Your thoughts brought a wonderful smile – as usual. Thanks
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Thank you, Janet!
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Jean—-I knew your words would be inspiring and they certainly were! I love the image of unwrapping the Alleluia! Thanks for such lovely words in a time of great challenge. Easter Blessings!
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Thank you Kathleen! Easter Blessings to you!
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Sr. Jean, Thank you for the inspiring, wonderful reflection. Happy Easter!
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Thank you, and Happy Easter!
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Thanks, Jean, for challenging us to ring our Alleluias during this time in our history……So appreciate your beautiful reflection. A blessed Easter to you and all.
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Thank you Brigetta! A blessed Easter to you!
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Thank you Jean. Such a wonderful image and message of hope.Blessings.
Sandy csj
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Thank you Sandra!
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Thank you for the beautiful reflection, Sr. Jean. Triduum and Easter blessings to all. Jesus Christ is risen! ALLELUIA!!!
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Thank you!
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Thank you Jean! Your wonderful words of hope open space for cherishing the gifts that are right here.
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Thanks MJ!
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Thank you, Sister Jean! This is beautiful. I have been praying for your friend and hope she is on the mend. The message of Easter is more meaningful to me this year than ever before. Alleluia!
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Thank you Mary!
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Beautiful thoughts for this Easter season❤️ You are a wonderful person and so Blessed that I know you🙏 I agree with your idea, take time to call “people “ as I’m the elderly now😬. Not only during these trying times, but year round as well. I always send cards to people and during these trying times, I try to call 6 people every day. It brings HOPE, to me as well 🙏🙏❤️ Blessings to you Sr. Jean, you are a beautiful person inside and out🙏❤️😘😷
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How beautiful, Bonnie. Thank you for sharing, and for your outreach to others!
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Jean, Such a hopeful wonderful message. Thank you for lifting my spirits at this time.
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Than you Diane!
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Thanks Jean! Your thoughts lifted my spirits and faith!
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Thank you Gail!
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Sister Jean, you gave a wonderful message of hope. Thank you also for those difficult prayers for those we do not agree with, for they may be the ones that save us.
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Thank you Brenda!
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What a beautiful reflection, Sr. Jean! Your wisdom and compassion are always appreciated and missed often…thank you!
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Thank you!
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Jean,
This was simply beautiful and was just what we all needed! I passed it along to “my people” for them to enjoy reading.
Stay Well~
Cousin Maura♥️
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Thank you, Maura!
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As always Sr. Jean, your words bring us a sense of peace! Wishing you good health!
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Thank you, Carole! Wishing you and yours good health as well!
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