THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY

Dear Parishioners,

For the people of Israel, the Babylonian Captivity was a time to reflect on the loss of their identity as God’s chosen people. They witnessed the destruction of their holy places and were sent into exile by their captors. They were a defeated people who were no longer free to worship their God in a foreign land.

As an enslaved people they wondered if they would ever be free again, and why their God had allowed this to happen to his anointed people. Their time in captivity gave them the opportunity to remember the old days. Because of their prosperity they had forgotten their God and the covenant he had made with them. Whenever they had forgotten their relationship with God, they lost their identity as God’s people, and became a “no people.” Then the prophets would call them back to renew this important relationship.

It would take many years of weeping and mourning for the people of Israel to be restored to their country and their worship. It was in fact God’s plan to return them home by using the pagan King of Babylon. He showed Israel that he works in strange and mysterious ways.

Although people become unfaithful to God, God never is unfaithful in the promise he made with his people. God remains faithful to his covenant.

In a sense, this past year could be the pandemic captivity. It has made us go into exile from each other, and from the life we once enjoyed. It is not a punishment from God, but rather an opportunity to reflect on what is important and lasting. It has changed us in ways we have yet to discover. Our children will tell future generations about how we endured and managed our lives during this past year.

It is my hope that we have grown to be a more wise and intelligent people. I hope we have reflected on things we used to take for granted. The freedom to worship, to attend school, to celebrate with family and friends without restrictions, and to value things that really matter.

I look forward to the day that our churches will once again be open to full capacity, and we can come together without social distancing to celebrate the rites of Christian burial and all the sacraments.

It will be a day of great joy when those who have been away from church this past year can once again receive the Holy Eucharist without worry or fear. I look forward to the return of our choir, our children, and our altar servers.

The coming celebration of Holy Week and Easter will be the beginning of this return. May we experience a new spring and a new summer. May God continue to bless our efforts to complete the good work he has begun in us and in our faith communities. “Let us go forth rejoicing to the house of the Lord and find peace and safety within your gates O Jerusalem.”

I express my thanks for the support you have shown me and our parish family during this past year. Let us continue to support each other in prayers and good works.

Father Gagne