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Just as the sufferings of Jesus have opened the gates of heaven for us, so the suffering of today will bring about light– even in the darkest corners.

For most of us, we have likely never lived in a world that is so aware of sanitizing everything as we are today. We wash our hands constantly and use sanitizer when we can’t wash. We are wiping every surface that can be touched. We are wearing face masks to help protect others in case we are carriers of this awful virus. We are trying to sanitize our environment, our world from this new suffering. That is all good and necessary.

Yet in the midst of today’s sanitized world, there is still suffering. Children are still hungry. Leaders of nations still abuse their citizens. Poor counties aren’t in ordinary circumstances able to care for their sick; today it is much worse. In the United States today, there is the suffering of medical and front line personnel fearing for their own families and that they may take this virus home to them. There is the suffering of families who aren’t able to be with their loved ones as they lie dying in the hospital. And the suffering of not being able to be together at the times when families need to be. There is the suffering of not knowing when this will end – of the uncertainty – of not knowing when we can resume our lives, our normal lives.

Just as the sufferings of Jesus have opened the gates of heaven for us, so the suffering of today will bring about light– even in the darkest corners.

We are seeing that families and households, while not being able to go places or be with others such as sports events or practices, are having to remain in household units, and are finding ways to be a family again. We are seeing that we as a society are finding virtual ways to connect with others. We are finding ways to bring light to those who are in the midst of this fight against COVID-19.

Dominican Sisters here at Marywood and Aquinata are making masks and writing notes of gratitude to those on the frontlines. And we pray.

Our faith in God and the spirit of God within each of us and our life in community is what unites us to each other and to our world no matter how long we have to remain in physical isolation from each other and how far away we are from each other.

Jesus’ death on the cross was not in vain. Let us remember as we are in the midst of this pandemic, that after all our Good Fridays throughout life, comes Holy Saturday and Easter – we will rejoice in the resurrection. For Jesus’ death on the cross is our salvation and WE are an Easter people.

Note: This content is an excerpt from the preaching of Sandra Delgado OP, first shared during liturgy on Good Friday, April 10, 2020 in Dominican Chapel at Marywood in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Read entire preached content.