Whistling in the Dark

We’re into the seventh month with no end in sight. It’s hard to believe we’ve been living with this virus for six months. But those are the facts. We wonder when it’s going to end. Liturgically we are at that mid-point between the events of the Great Paschal Mystery and Advent. It’s the time of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, and right alongside, several feasts of Mary, the Mother of God: her Birthday on September 8; her name’s day on the 12th, her sorrows on the 15thand that ancient feast of Our Lady of Ransom on the 24th. 

What is this Great Mother we call the Church thinking? First of all, who on earth wants to exalt the cross, that instrument of torture? And then, what does this humble woman have to do with the cross? I think a lot. Mary is always ourselves –fast forwarded. Yes, she is what we shall be after struggling through the agony and darkness of faith. She is us...come to fullness after hanging on for dear life by our fingernails. She stands there...Star of the Sea, and calls to us to get out of the boat and walk on water. 

Water in scripture is pure chaos. Many of us are doing just that. Our faith upholds us and we keep walking.Not only are we walking,we are whistling in the dark. No matter how dark it gets, we have an assurance. We have Someone walking with us...holding us, in fact...and carrying us at times. That faith enables us to walk on water...the chaos of Covid-19. It is, for now, the cross that has us hanging. But while we wait, there is that assurance. So,there is that little secret smile. So,we whistle in the dark.

 Are you there?

 Do you have hold of us never to let go? 

 Sometimes it gets so dark we think the Son is never going to come up. 

But faith tells us otherwise. 

You ran to the cross. 

You said you had to ‘enter into your glory.’ 

Was it because the cross revealed your immense love?

 Was it because you knew the cross would tell us all was made right?

 Was it because you wanted us to know you would be there, when it is dark? 

So through our tears there is that knowing smile... 

You are our assurance.