ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ CALLS ON ALL PEOPLE TO LOVE WITHOUT HOLDING ANYTHING BACK ESPECIALLY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN HIS WEEKLY ANGELUS COLUMN
May 20, 2020  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

In his weekly column in Angelus (angelusnews.com), print and online magazine of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Archbishop José H. Gomez reflects on the life and ministry of St. John Paul II as he prays for all those who are suffering during this time of global pandemic. The full column is available at https://angelusnews.com/voices/love-alone-casts-out-fear/.

“Jesus had told his disciples on that first Easter night, ‘Do not be afraid.’ St. John Paul repeated these words in his first homily as pope,” wrote the Archbishop in his column in English and Spanish. “‘Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors to Christ,’ the pope told us. These words speak more clearly to us in this time of plague.”

Archbishop Gomez wrote that he is keeping those impacted in his prayers, “I am praying for all of you who are worried about your businesses, your jobs, about what the future will look like for your children and loved ones, for our economy and our way of life. I am praying for all of you who are grieving and feeling abandoned and lonely.

“We are in this together, we are suffering together. In his Providence, God is allowing this pandemic to happen to all of us,” added the Archbishop. “And God is asking us to bear these burdens without the consolation of the sacraments, without being able to come to church for many weeks now. This is a profound sadness for me, as I know it is for you.

“We closed our churches out of love for our vulnerable brothers and sisters and concern not to spread the disease. Now, we are working on it, trying hard to open our churches back up.”

“Our society needs the Church, perhaps now more than ever. Love is the only answer, the only credible way to proclaim Christ. And love alone can cast out fear,” continued the Archbishop.

The Archbishop ended the column by calling all people to love without holding anything back. 

“Jesus is calling us in this hour to love without holding anything back. We need to help our neighbors get back on their feet,” concluded the Archbishop. “We need to help them mourn their dead and heal their wounds, to begin their lives again. We need to make sure the poor are not forgotten. We are in this together. And we are stronger together, better together.”

###