I often refer to the famous REM song, “Everybody Hurts.” I guess if there is a theme song all of us can relate to, it would be this one.

Sometimes everything is wrong
(Now it’s time to sing along)

When your day is night alone (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go (hold on)
If you think you had too much
Of this life, well hang on

In the Gospel, the Jews did not realize that God was in their midst. With what is happening to us in the world right now, we might also be tempted to ask, “Where is God?”

Hence we reflect on three things when we are hurting:

1. Everybody hurts because we realize that we are not in control. How can you fight this war against the pandemic when the “opponent” is unseen?  Then again, we must realize that God is in control. His ways, timing, and wisdom are different from ours, but he is always in control.
   
2. Everybody hurts because we can figure out what the future holds. We are approaching two years, yes it seems that the virus is still evolving. We must realize that in the anxiety that the future brings, God is already there. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
   
3. Everybody hurts because our securities are shattered. The money, the property, the power, and the influence that we aspire are meaningless to the virus. It affects all and does not choose. Yet, how often do we forget that God can be trusted. He alone is our security because He will never abandon us.

May we continue to pray for all of us who are hurting. We remember the saying all happens for a reason and purpose. This pandemic reminds us to kneel down. As we kneel down we are given the strength of hang on, hold on.