Life isn’t back to normal, here in Sauk Centre, and won’t be.
Not if I see “back to normal” as “being just exactly the way it was two years ago.”
Time and reality don’t work that way.
Life may not be back to normal. But this fifth Sunday of Easter is less not-normal than last year’s.
The COVID-19 pandemic is still in progress, but regional rules — state and church — are relaxing a tad. Partly, maybe mostly, because mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are not just in the pipeline. They’re here. And that’s another topic. Topics.
At any rate, life and my routines are less not-normal than they were at this time last year.
The COVID-19 pandemic — along with decisions made by Minnesota’s secular and Church leaders — being what they were, I stayed home during last year’s Holy Week.
That wouldn’t have been my first choice.
But I can only decide how I deal with reality. Altering reality — on the ‘change global events’ level — is well above my skill set.
“This is Our Faith”
I can also decide whether to fret and fume over missing one of my favorite ‘once-a-year’ faith events: or enjoy experiencing it again after a pandemic-provoked postponement.
Postponement from my viewpoint.
We made the annual renewal of baptismal promises last year, as usual. But not with me in the church.
I vastly prefer enjoying what is, over brooding on what isn’t possible. So I enjoyed joining the folks in my parish in this year’s formal ‘this is what we believe’ statement.
I enjoyed it a lot.
“Do you renounce Satan, and all his works and empty promises?
“Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
“Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father?
“Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who today through the Sacrament of Confirmation is given to you in a special way just as he was given to the Apostles on the day of Pentecost?
“Do you believe in the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
“This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(From “The Renewal of Baptismal Promises” Order of Confirmation, English translation © 2013, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Liturgy Office, England & Wales (www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Confirmation/OC-Renewal.pdf (May 26, 2017))
Maybe that looks familiar. I’ve posted the ‘England & Wales’ version of the declaration before, back in May of 2017. The wording in ours is a little different, but not much; and the ideas are the same.
Somewhat-related posts:
- “Sunshine, Holy Water and a Trip to the Emergency Room”
(April 11, 2021) - “Emotions, Options, Faith and Making Sense”
(February 4, 2021) - “New COVID-19 Vaccines: Goodish News, Ethical Issues”
(December 16, 2020) - “Holy Week: Staying Home”
(April 4, 2020) - “We are Many, We are One”
(June 4, 2017)
This delighted me as I’ve been thinking the same thing. I was out of town for this Easter Vigil and once more saw the beauty of our united faith in the renewal of our baptismal promises. And so thankful to be back in church all around!
🙂 Maybe in this case, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ applies. And it definitely is good to be back.
Do you renounce Satan, and all his works and empty promises?
I believe it is significant that this takes precedence in the proceedings. Satan exists all right; although many people don’t believe so. He plays on our minds to take us astray from God. And often succeeds.
God bless.
Yep.
With my history, I’m (very) leery of claims that some music genre, hair style, or whatever is ‘Satanic.’
By the same token, with my history I’m (very) aware that Satan is real – and not at all trustworthy.
One of these days, maybe I should talk/write about that again.