While the whole world is suffering the scourge of the COVID-19
pandemic, our Jewish brothers and sisters are preparing to celebrate the Passover. Part of their time of prayer involves reflecting on the ten plagues that Yahweh inflicted on Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to set the people free. You can read all about them in the Book of Exodus. There were plagues of blood, frogs, boils, hail, locusts, etc.

To help, retailers, such as "Bed Bath & Beyond" and "Party City," offer ten-plague finger-puppets to help the children learn about the ten plagues. Some candy makers too offer ten-plague chocolates to help to teach the lesson to the children.

It may strike some as disturbing to give a child a puppet of a drop of blood to represent a plague that inflicted misery on so many – or a piece of chocolate in the shape of a locust or, maybe worse, in the shape of a boil or lice to symbolize such horrendous scourges.

Yet, somehow, it is fitting. The mystery of the Passover, and the mystery of our commemoration of Lent and Holy Week, beautifully holds everything together – the bitter and the sweet, the joy and the sorrow, the innocent and the wicked, great love and great betrayal.

That’s good to keep in mind as we muddle through our own time of “plague.” As difficult as it has been, it’s easy to find some sweetness amid all that has been bitter. Our entire world is united in a common purpose in a way that I have never experienced in my lifetime. We are all sacrificing to protect those who are vulnerable. Our Bishops are calling us to greater prayer and fasting. People are seeking new ways to reach out to their neighbors. Great glory springs from great trials.

Think about Good Friday. People come forward to kiss the Cross. What madness is it to kiss an instrument of torture and death? Yet, I remember one year. After the Good Friday veneration was over a young mother approached me and said, "I have a highly sensitive child. She has nightmares about characters on cereal boxes. Yet she is not even remotely afraid of the crucifix. I think she sees that the Passion of Jesus is a story of love – powerful, consoling, beautiful love."

Here at St. Vincent de Paul, we might not be able to kiss the Cross on Good Friday this year. How beautiful it is that this pains us. Still, we can enter deeply into these final weeks of Lent. Bring it all – the bitter, the sweet, the full contents of your hearts and lives. You will see that the only force that can hold it all together and bring glory from it all is the great love of our Lord.

Thanks people. You are inspiring me in many ways.

Fr. Dennis Zehren
Pastor